News Release
May 29, 2007

Laramie small-acreage workshop topics include water-wise plants, weed management

Water efficient plants, drip irrigation, weed control and identification and pasture management are part of the Albany County Small-Acreage Hands-On Workshop Saturday, June 2, in Laramie.

The workshop is 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Albany County University of Wyoming Cooperative Extension Service (UW CES) office at the Albany County Fairgrounds. A $5 charge includes lunch. Information about the workshop is online at http://www.lrcd.net/. Pre-registration is encouraged. Interested persons can register online at the Web site or by calling the Laramie Rivers Conservation District (LRCD) at (307) 721-0072.

“This workshop provides a terrific educational opportunity for persons living on small acreages in the Laramie Basin,” said Calvin Strom, UW CES educator for Albany and Carbon counties. “It will showcase all of the resources available through CES, Laramie Rivers Conservation District, and the Albany County Weed and Pest Control District to the residents of Albany County.”

The workshop is sponsored by the above entities and the Non-Point Source Task Force (Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality).

The schedule includes:

Water Wise Plants – Jennifer Jones of the UW CES will discuss plants that can be used to create water-wise landscapes in the Laramie area.

Practical Weed Control – Weed treatment techniques and treatment options will be presented by Lindsey Cawthra, supervisor of the Albany County Weed and Pest Control District.

Weed Identification – Stephen Enloe, UW CES weed specialist, will give a slide show and present weeds encountered in the county. Participants are encouraged to bring their unknown weeds for identification.

Planting Trees with Drip Irrigation – Matt Scott, LRCD resource specialist, will demonstrate proper tree planting techniques and how to set up a drip irrigation system.

Building Green Outbuildings – Tim Nyquist, of Laramie County Community College construction technology, will talk about using Earth-friendly building materials and techniques for outbuildings.

Managing Your Pasture – Strom and Martin Curry, LRCD resource specialist, will take participants through an exercise to estimate grass production in a pasture to understand how much grazing can be sustained on small acreages. They will also discuss creating paddocks and a plan for rotational grazing.

In addition, an optional demonstration and field trip are available. An electric fencing demonstration will show participants how to set up an electric fence system. Attendees can also tour several locations in Laramie to view how water-wise plants can be utilized.

For more information, call Tony Hoch, LRCD manager, at (307) 721-0072, or Strom at (307) 328-2642.

Story Contact: Steven L. Miller, Senior Editor
Phone: (307) 766-6342
E-mail: slmiller@uwyo.edu

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