By Dawn Weber
Member-at-Large, Plant Sale Chairperson, and
Chairperson, Technology Committee, Wild Ones – St. Louis Chapter
The 7th Annual Sustainable Backyard Tour is a grassroots, all-volunteer event showcasing yards and gardens throughout St. Louis that demonstrate features of sustainability and organic gardening. The tour will take place on June 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m, rain or shine.
More than 40 hosts will welcome tour-goers this year to see the many ways to live more sustainably in our own backyards.
Included in those hosts are five Wild Ones members:
- Scott George
- Chandan Mahanta
- Kevin King
- Dawn Weber
- Besa Schweitzer
- Sue Leahy
Note: If you are hosting and we’ve missed you on the list, please let us know, and we’ll add your name and location number.
Susan And Fred Burk’s vegetables from the 2016 Tour
Although not exclusive to native plants, the Tour’s mission fits well with our Wild Ones mission – to teach about and encourage others in our community to landscape with native plants, for the benefit of the wildlife AND the people.
The Tour is FREE but registration is encouraged, because it helps the organizers determine how many people are attending. During the registration process, by providing a way to contact you if you win (phone or email), you are automatically entered into a drawing for attendance prizes, and can participate in voting for the People’s Choice Yard Award!
The Tour booklet and map are now available online.
Besa’s Schweitzer’s Bee Haven from the 2016 Tour
Printed hard copies are available at the following local retailers:
- Kakao Chocolate Maplewood or Clayton
- Kitchen House Coffee
- Greenscape Gardens
- Isabee’s Beekeeping Supplies
The starting place is wherever you are. Read the hosts’ descriptions of their yards. Choose locations nearest you that most match your goals or interests.
Even if you are attending, not hosting, wear your Wild Ones nametag and spread the word about native plants and our organization.
We look forward to seeing you that day!
My house is on the Sustainable Backyard Tour and I am looking for a Wild One (or Ones) to talk to visitors in the front yard and explain the landscape challenge project, as well as the plants and features. Contact me at 314-401-9980 if you are willing and able to help. Thanks in advance!
I am helping out at number 39. I hope to come to some of the others.
We missed Kevin King on the tour list – he is #10 – and is added to the list above
Why oh why did you schedule this on the same day as the MBOT garden tour? I purchased tickets for that one long ago. So many gardens, so little time