Autumn Fest to kick-off fall season at Lake Tahoe Demonstration Garden

The Tahoe Resource Conservation District will host the the 6th annual Autumn Fest at the Lake Tahoe Demonstration Garden, on the campus of Lake Tahoe Community College from 11am-4pm on Sunday, September 16.
The free festival, run in cooperation with LTCC, is quickly becoming a Tahoe fall tradition packed with activities for all ages, including a silent auction to raise funds for the demonstration garden and conservation landscaping programs in the community.

A celebration of sustainability, gardening and the seasons in Tahoe, Autumn Fest will feature live music, a silent auction, a local artisan market and food vendors, crafts and games, pony rides and talks on backyard conservation landscaping and local environmental issues. New this year is the plant swap—“donate a plant, swap a plant, or donate for a plant”—to highlight native and Tahoe-adapted varieties. As always, the silent auction will offer great deals on outdoor gear, tickets, local restaurants, artwork and more. Pumpkins and lavender will also be for sale by Bluestone Meadow Farm of Apple Hill. All donations, including proceeds from the silent auction, go back toward the upkeep of the demonstration garden and conservation landscaping programs, such as the Green Thumb Gardening workshop series.

“Autumn Fest has grown into such a popular and positive-vibe community event,” said Jen Cressy of Tahoe RCD, “not only is it a blast, it’s also inspiring to see local businesses, the arts, the gardeners, local organizations and everyone else come together on behalf of the garden.”

Following the Demonstration Garden’s focus on sustainability, Autumn Fest is a zero-waste event. South Tahoe Refuse Co. and Full Circle Compost of Carson City, NV, are graciously donating their recycling and compost service to help keep Autumn Fest environmentally sustainable. Additionally, those who bike to the event instead of driving receive an extra door prize ticket and free bike storage with the bike valet.

About the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (Tahoe RCD)
The Tahoe RCD’s mission is to promote the conservation and improvement of the Lake Tahoe Basin’s soil, water, and related natural resources by providing leadership, information, programs, and technical assistance to all land managers, owners, organizations, and residents. The Tahoe RCD is a non-regulatory public agency. Funded primarily through grants and private donations, Tahoe RCD works with a variety of partner agencies to implement programs and outreach, which currently focus on erosion control, runoff infiltration, terrestrial and aquatic invasive species control and prevention, and conservation landscaping.

— Writer Kirsten Lindquist is an Assistant Watershed Coordinator/AmeriCorps Member with the Tahoe Resource Conservation District (Tahoe RCD).