Petaluma City Hall gets green makeover

Much of Petaluma City Hall's grassy environs soon will be transformed by volunteers into a "water-harvesting eco-scape."

In two events this month organized by the city and nonprofit groups Daily Acts, Petaluma Bounty and Rebuilding Together Petaluma, green-thumbed volunteers will turn the site from a water-eater to a water-saver. They will install landscaping that acts as a catchment system, including community gardens with native and edible plants.

Today from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., as many as 20 volunteers will help remove bushes and cut edges in the sod around walkways.

On Oct. 24, a major transformation will come at the hands of about 200 volunteers, said Jane Hamilton, executive director of Rebuilding Together Petaluma.

Professional landscapers are serving as team leaders and will oversee small groups of people on various parts of the lawn conversion. Participants don't need gardening or landscaping experience.

The new landscape will provide food and habitat as well as serving to demonstrate the cutting edge in water conservation, Hamilton said. Volunteers will be learning theories and techniques for sheet mulching, water catchment and planting systems so they can do the same at their homes.

The section of lawn used for youth soccer will not be torn out.

More than 100 volunteers have signed up, but there is still space, Hamilton said. To participate, register at www.rtpetaluma.org or call 765-3944.

Staff Writer Lori A. Carter can be reached at 762-7297 and lori.carter@pressdemocrat.com.