Ocean Friendly Gardens

The largest source of water pollution cannot be traced to any one point — it’s all of us. Pollutants “run off” our streets, neighborhoods and landscapes, wastefully and needlessly fouling our coastal waterways and ocean. But you can take simple steps in your own garden to create beautiful landscapes that capture the eye of your neighbors while capturing the polluted runoff that flows to our local beaches.

The WLAM Ocean Friendly Gardens group works to raise awareness of the harm caused by water that runs off our residential landscapes and educate Surfrider members and the general public on garden design and maintenance techniques intended to minimize such harmful run-off. These techniques revolve around the principles of Conservation, Permeability and Retention, or CPR, pursuant to which landscapes are designed with climate appropriate plants that conserve water, permeable surface materials that increase infiltration, and trenches, basins and other features that collect and retain water.

Come join us for an Ocean Friendly Gardens Basics Class and learn how to develop your own Ocean Friendly Garden using native and climate-appropriate plants, water-efficient irrigation systems, permeable materials and water retention techniques.

Or perhaps you would like to participate in one of our Hands-On-Workshops (HOWs) in which participants get hands-on experience implementing specific elements of an Ocean Friendly Garden.

You might also like to roll up your sleeves and pitch in at one of our Garden Assistance Program Workdays (GAPs) in which we help to transform the landscape of a Surfrider member into an Ocean Friendly Garden through the application of CPR.

Visit us at www.oceanfriendlygardens.org to learn more about the program and find out about upcoming events including Basics Classes, HOWs and GAPs.

We’re actively seeking volunteers to help us spread the word about Ocean Friendly Gardens. If you have any questions or want to find out how you can get involved with the WLAM Chapter’s Ocean Friendly Gardens program, drop us an email at oceanfriendlygardens@surfriderwlam.org.