Tour of Chemical-Free Gardens in Watertown Planned for Early May

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Charlie Breitrose

Learn about the garden at the Arsenal Project that attracts pollinators like this butterfly.

The organizers of a tour of gardens which do not use chemicals will be held on May 6, 2018 , from 1 to 5 p.m., at homes around Watertown.

Organizers provided the following information:

We look forward to Watertown’s 20th Life-Friendly Garden Tour!

Imagine a Sunday afternoon in May, redbud and dogwood in blossom, tulips and late narcissus in bloom, where bees are buzzing, robins are singing, and you are viewing flourishing plantings and learning from your host or hostess about healthy, earth-friendly gardens. On Sunday May 6 from 1:00 – 5:00 p.m., a chemical-free, admission-free garden tour will be sponsored by Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice, and the Environment. This will be the 20th Life-Friendly Garden Tour since the first one in 2007!

Owners of the sites on the tour will share their growing spaces, large and small, where plants of all kinds thrive best without the use of synthetic chemicals – pesticides, fungicides, herbicides. “Cide” means kill and these products threaten the wellbeing of plants and animals, and of the planet. Synthetic fertilizers do indeed feed the plant, but at the expense of the soil, which it degrades. Visitors will see that plants are fed best by compost, which in turn, thanks to natural micro-organisms, nurtures disease-resistant and insect-resistant plants. Feeding and nurturing living organisms in the soil also sequesters carbon. Visitors return to their own gardens confident in setting aside toxins.

A chemical-free growing space, however humble, is a welcoming place for beleaguered honey-bees, bumblebees, butterflies, moths and other important pollinators! Twice a year, gardeners all around Watertown who grow beautiful gardens without artificial pesticides or fertilizers, offer a chance for you to visit. Ask questions, share hints, have fun!

Any gardener who has not used chemical fertilizers or pesticides for at least a year is eligible to participate as a garden host. Hosts will receive copies of the map to share and a flag to display on the day of the tour. This is your chance to see how beautiful a garden can be without the use of chemicals.

This self-guided tour is free and open to the public. Click here to download the map.

This event is sponsored by the Life-Friendly Garden Tour group in Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment.

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