BOULDER, CO – February 23, 2016 – As warming winter temperatures tease landscapes with thoughts of spring, a unique program helps local homeowners jumpstart their garden plans and conserve water.
Starting on March 1, the Garden In A Box program launches for the 2016 growing season, making it easier for families throughout the Denver metro region to plant water-saving gardens. More than two thousand families participate in the popular program each year, which is run by the nonprofit Center of ReSource Conservation, based in Boulder.
One of the largest programs of its kind in the United States, Colorado families have planted nearly 1 million square feet of the low-water gardens since the program started in 1997, saving millions of gallons of water. Garden In A Box plants use up to 60% less water than typical residential grasses.
“Colorado water supplies are not unlimited,” said Neal Lurie, president of the Center for ReSource Conservation. “Garden In A Box makes it easy to conserve water. We work with xeriscaping experts to select gardens that are ideal for the dry Colorado climate. By using less water these gardens help families save money.”
Bulk purchasing by the nonprofit keeps the prices low and a special partnership with fifteen local water utilities, including Denver Water, provides customers an extra $25 discount to encourage participation in the program.
“This is an innovative program,” said Jeff Tejral, conservation manager for Denver Water. “It introduces our customers to xeric landscapes and is highly educational. The Garden In A Box program facilitates a shift to more water efficient landscapes which is integral for conservation.”
Other partnering communities and utilities offering the extra discount include: Arvada, Boulder, Brighton, Denver, Erie, Golden, Greeley, Highlands Ranch, Lafayette, Longmont, Louisville, Loveland, Thornton, and Westminster – though gardens are available to families throughout the Front Range.
“We wanted to make xeriscaping simple, accessible for the rest of us,” added Natalie Sullivan, who manages the Garden In A Box program for the Center for ReSource Conservation. “Every garden comes with a plant-by-number guide and step by step instructions to remove the guesswork for planting a beautiful garden.”
Gardens go on sale on March 1, though the program tends to sell out for the year in a matter of weeks. All gardens are Colorado-grown, pollinator-friendly, and available for pickup starting in May. Learn more at: resourcecentral.org/gardens.
Note to Editor: Garden photos available upon request.
About the Center for Resource Conservation:
Founded in 1976, the Center for ReSource Conservation (CRC) is a nonprofit social enterprise dedicated to putting conservation into action. Its programs serve more than 50,000 community members each year and make it easy to conserve water, energy, and materials. Learn more at resourcecentral.org
Contact:
Natalie Sullivan, CRC,
nsullivan@resourcecentral.org
