Lori Palmquist

Landscape & Irrigation Classes Set for Roseville Utility Exploration Center - Spring 2012

2012-01-21T21:00:00.000-08:00

Creating Beautiful Gardens with Less Water
March 24, 2012 (a Saturday)| 10:00 am-3:30 pm | CourseCode 56033
Instructors: Elaine Applebaum, Cheryl Buckwalter, Lori Palmquist
Learn how to design and install abeautiful garden that uses water efficiently. Spend the morning learning thefundamentals of design, plant selection, and irrigation. In the afternoon, headoutside to apply what you have learned, as we evaluate the existing landscapeand the water-conservation garden. We'll create a mock garden by measuring thesite, place and plant plants, and position drip irrigation. You are invited tobring your lunch for the half-hour lunch break.
REGISTRATION: Pleasecontact the staff at the Roseville Utility Exploration Center to reserve yourspace for this class or those below. You may call them at (916) 746-1550or register through the RUEC's website at: www.roseville.ca.us/explore/workshops/default.asp.Residents receive discounts on workshop fees. Families pay one fee.

Introduction to Drip Irrigation

April 7, 2012 (a Saturday) | 10:00am-12:00 pm

Instructor: Lori Palmquist | Course Code 56035

Learn the basics of designing, installingand maintaining a drip (or low-volume) irrigation system for your home. Findout why drip is such a great solution for water conservation, and why it isconsidered the most efficient mode of delivering water to your plants. Learnhow to determine the number of emitters each plant requires, how to schedulethe system and how to make regular adjustments, as weather changes.

Irrigation System Design and Installation

April 7, 2012 (a Saturday) | 1:00pm-3:00 pm
Instructor: Lori Palmquist | Course Code 56037

Builda mock sprinkler system and a mock drip system. Emphasis will be placed on theactual components required and how they fit together in cohesive water-efficientset-ups. Reference handouts will empower class participants to apply what theyhave learned to their own gardens. Whether you are starting with a blank slate,or looking to upgrade an existing irrigation system, you will come away with theknowledge and tools to ensure that your irrigation system uses water wisely.

SUCCESS! 27 MORE QUALIFIED WATER-EFFICIENT LANDSCAPERS ARE AUDITORS

2012-01-19T13:23:00.000-08:00

Congratulations go to more than25 newly certified IrrigationAuditors, who completed the Qualified Water-EfficientLandscaper (QWEL) training program at Diablo Valley College on June 25,2011.

The QWEL training spanned 24 hours over 8class dates (included some field time and final exam time). In thiscourse, landscape professionals learn how to reduce landscape water use bybecoming efficient and effective water managers.

Considerdistinguishing yourself as a QWEL-Certified irrigation auditor. Trainingcovers: irrigation systems and efficient irrigation, soils and plants, watermanagement and budgeting, irrigation controllers and new, 'smart' technology,and much more.

Lori Palmquistteaches the training in English only, at this time. Contra Costa WaterDistrict is the host agency for the East Bay QWEL courses, which originated inMarin and Sonoma Counties. The goal is to offer this training in Contra CostaCounty in Spanish soon, too. http://www.qwel.net/

Passing the course earns you the titleof Irrigation Auditor,which makes you eligible to become an EPA WaterSense Partner. Work for auditorsis increasing, as the State Water-Efficient Landscape Ordinance(WELO) requires irrigation system auditing in certain circumstances. Boostyour professionalism, and get in on the cutting edge of helping createwater-conserving landscapes.

To add yourself toa future QWEL class notification list, please call or email Lora Medina,operations manager for instructor Lori Palmquist, at (510) 531-3943; loripalmquist@gmail.com.

Statewide Newsletter Features Lori Palmquist, "A Different Kind of Landscape Designer"

2010-10-03T17:39:00.000-07:00

The California Chapter of the Association of Professional Landscape Designers (APLD) is giving Lori Palmquist a lot of column inches this month. In their October newsletter, she explains how, as an irrigation specialist and APLD member, she is a bit unique among landscape designers.
    "I don't design gardens; I water them," Lori states.
    She describes the path she has taken in the landscape business, saying, "I have owned and run a landscape maintenance business with six employees, been a certified arborist, aesthetic pruner and a landscape contractor. After dabbling in all of these, I have found a home as an irrigation specialist."
    Learning everything she can about irrigation (and digging it), Lori  has virtually flown to the top of her game, to be regarded as a talented irrigation consultant and educator now.
    Lori also has more certifications than anyone can list in one breath, including Irrigation Association-Certified Irrigation Designer, Irrigation Contractor, Irrigation Auditor, Landscape Water Manager and CLCA-Certified Landscape Water Manager. And she's an EPA WaterSense Partner.
    To read the entire article, you may visit the APLD's website: https://app.e2ma.net/app/view:CampaignPublic/id:7941.8672395954/rid:12abf4dca12ce932bd410058b099c1bb

Water-Efficient Garden

2010-08-22T21:26:00.000-07:00

Drip irrigation waters individual plants, conserving water.

Tools for Using Water Wisely

2010-08-22T21:22:00.000-07:00

Use historical or real-time ET values to create irrigation designs and watering programs
Use Lori's drip design spreadsheet
Use Lori's sprinkler watering program spreadsheet
Request a water-wise assessment and tune-up on existing irrigation system
Use WUCOLS for irrigation design - Water Use Classifications of Landscape Species. Online free resource: www.water.ca.gov/wateruseefficiency/docs/wucols00.pdf
Use CIMIS weather data for irrigation design - 120 automated weather stations throughout California: http://wwwcimis.water.ca.gov/cimis/welcome.jsp