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Sustainability takes root at 14th annual Corrales Garden Tour
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Five gardens across Corrales will show people the importance of sustainability while displaying the beauty of the village this weekend.
Inspired by water availability issues caused by a broken siphon that brings water from the river to ditches, the 14th annual Corrales Garden Tour on Saturday, May 17, will showcase properties practicing water conservation.
“The purpose of this tour is to show people that they can spend less, do less work and use less water while still having just as much beauty,” Sam Thompson, chair of the Corrales Garden Tour committee, said. “Teaching people to be a little bit wiser about their use of water can be very useful.”
To highlight the theme of conservation, five gardens will show visitors techniques they can use and adapt to their own personal gardens. From former lawns turned pollinator meadows aimed at attracting birds and bees — and using less water in the process — to gardens that implement passive and active rain water capturing features, the tour is focused on educating guests.
“I’m excited for everyone to see what all of the properties have done because everybody has taken this so seriously,” Thompson said. “They want the public to really appreciate what they have, and they want to offer something they think is really important.”
This year, the tour will also offer classes at the Corrales Community Library from 2-4 p.m., where a panel of guests will discuss various sustainability lessons.
“One of the guests is Dr. Marisa Thompson from (New Mexico State University), and she is very much a specialist in trees, and she can help people to understand sustainable practices for maintaining their new and old trees,” Thompson said.
There will also be a session on vermicomposting, also known as worm composting, which will teach people how to make use of kitchen scraps to create compost that can be used in gardens. Other experts, like Ciudad Soil & Water Conservation District and the ABQ Backyard Refuge Program, will be on site to provide their expertise.
Eventgoers are encouraged to visit Corrales stores and a number of businesses will offer discounts to those wearing an event wristband.
“This is a great opportunity for people to see some beautiful sights, meet knowledgeable people and take as much education from the tour as they want,” Thompson said.
