When state forestry officials piloted a 2018 workshop showing people how to maximize the natural use of their property, they were impressed with the results.
“We had a great turnout with more than 200 people at Butler County Community College,” service forester Celine Colbert said. “The feedback we got was really great, and a lot of people reached out to our office saying they wished there was one closer than Butler.”
In March there will be: The Pennsylvania Forestry Service will partner with Murrysville officials to host “Making the Most of Your Piece of Nature: A Sustainable Backyard Workshop” on March 16.
The workshop will be from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Franklin Regional Senior High School, and there is no cost to attend.
“As more areas are becoming developed, people are seeking ways to encourage good habitat, and we thought this would be a good way to reach an audience that the bureau doesn’t always connect with,” Colbert said.
Topics will include:
• “Birds in Your Backyard,” presented by Laura Jackson, vice president of the Juniata Valley Audubon Society.
• “Managing Stormwater in Your Backyard,” presented by Kathy Hamilton from the Westmoreland Conservation District.
• “Control of Invasive Plants,” presented by Penn State Extension educator Dave Jackson.
• “Identifying and Appreciating Wildflowers,” presented by Will Taylor from the Jennings Environmental Center.
Towns such as Murrysville, which have a municipal separate storm sewer system, are required to provide educational opportunities for residents on ways to reduce stormwater runoff as well as pollution. The workshop will serve that function, and will be coming to other parts of western Pennsylvania as well.
“There will be one in Butler and one in Edinboro this year,” Colbert said. Those dates have not yet been announced.
See YourPiece2019.eventbrite.com to register. For more, see the “Murrysville News” section online at Murrysville.com.
The high school is at 3200 School Road in Murrysville.
Patrick Varine is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Patrick at 724-850-2862, pvarine@tribweb.com or via Twitter @MurrysvilleStar.
