The Great Frederick Fair

September 16-23, 2006

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It's that time of year again. Summer is winding down, kids are heading back to school, and the air is beginning to have that crisp feeling of fall. Those in Frederick know what that means. It's time for the annual Great Frederick Fair. For the third year in a row, the Monocacy & Catoctin Watershed Alliance will be hosting a booth in the City Streets, County Roads exhibit at the end of Machinery Row.

The Fair opens at noon on Saturday, September 16th. The gates will be open every day from 9 am until 9 pm. The Fair concludes the following Saturday, September 23rd at 7 pm.  For additional details about the Fair, please visit www.thegreatfrederickfair.com. 

Topics for the Alliance booth will change each day, see the schedule of topics below. Volunteers will be on hand to answer questions and provide information on anything from water quality in Frederick County to volunteer restoration events, to things that you can do around your house to help decrease your impact on the environment.

Make sure to pick up a free giveaway such as a rain gauge, compressed sponge, magnet, or sticker! While you're there, pick up lots of information and handouts on a variety of watershed topics.

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Schedule of Topics:

Saturday, September 16th:  Slowing Down the Rain

Check out a gurgling rain barrel, learn about harvesting rain water for watering plants & converting some of your lawn to a beautiful rain garden that attracts birds and butterflies, absorbs pollution, and helps to recharge groundwater.

Sunday, September 17th:  Native Trees & Shrubs

Join folks from the Potomac Conservancy, the Audubon Society of Central Maryland, and the Frederick Forestry Board to learn about which native trees and shrubs attract which types of bird and insect life.  Hear about the Growing Native initiative, an effort to collect and plant nuts and acorns to increase native trees and shrubs.  Learn about the Backyard Buffer program that provides free native trees and shrubs to citizens along waterways and swales.  Learn about the benefits of having a Forest Stewardship Plan.

Monday, September 18th:  Regional Water Supply

Find out about research sponsored by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) to monitor ground and surface water extraction in the Monocacy River watershed.  Learn about strategies to conserve water.

Tuesday, September 19th:  Natural Landscaping

Learn about strategies to cooperate with nature to create a healthy yard for you and your family, your pets and other living things and to minimize the amount of turf that you must mow and manage.                     

Wednesday, September 20th:  Protecting Headwater Areas

Join Catoctin Mountain Park staff and other Alliance volunteers to learn about headwater streams and their critical place in a healthy watershed.  Check out “kinder” practices in landscape design to help reduce, cool and slow down rainwater to limit its negative impacts on headwater streams.  Learn about new “greener” materials for sidewalks and parking areas such as pervious pavers.       

Thursday, September 21st:  Help Restore Your Local Watershed

Talk with staff and volunteers from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation to discuss the variety of ways that partners can join in watershed restoration including choosing natural lawn care practices, using their Farm Stewardship program, volunteering for tree planting events, and participating in their VoiCeS program coming to Frederick in 2007.

Friday, September 22nd:  Monocacy & Catoctin Watershed Alliance

Share your concerns and interests in watershed health with Alliance volunteers.  Learn about the various Alliance partners and the variety of interests they bring, from protecting fisheries to limiting lawn fertilizer.  Suggest topics that you, your neighbors or civic group would like to learn more about.  Identify potential sites for restoration projects.  Check out our new Watershed Steward signs that acknowledge the efforts of many area citizens who are good watershed stewards – a growing trend in the County.

Saturday, September 23rd:  Natural Household Cleaners