On Saturday, May 4th 2019 from 10am to 1pm, Daily Acts partnered with the City of Cotati and Sonoma-Marin Saving Water Partnership’s Eco Friendly Garden Tour to host an inspirational and educational guided tour of resilient homes and demonstration gardens in Cotati.
Led by Chris Clarke, Program Coordinator at Daily Acts, the Resilient Homes of Cotati Tour visited four gardens highlighting different water conservation features and aesthetic styles. The tour began at Frog Song Cohousing where participants learned about grey water, swales, water-wise, multi-function plants, and interface with the Laguna. From there we walked to Pocket Park, comparing different landscapes along the way. We discussed lawn solarization, xeriscaping, sheet mulching, and diverse landscapes and maintenance approaches as they appeared in landscapes in Cotati. At Pocket Park we did an overview of many beneficial plants, drought tolerance, and the opportunities and constraints of public food forests. From there we walked to Kim and Dennis’s home that featured a 500 gallon rain catchment system, additional 50 gallon DIY rain water systems, community building features, home fermentation projects, food production, all with an artistic flair. Participants were particularly inspired at this home about the balance between water wise and eco friendly features along with the joy and fun of building community and living a meaningful life. Our tour wrapped up at Sue’s house that was on the main EFGT and featured a beautiful rain garden along with native, insectary, and food producing plants.
