Free Landscape Workshops

MPWD regularly hosts free hands-on or online landscaping workshops for all members of the public. These workshops are typically hosted in partnership with the Bay Area Water Supply Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) and are intended to help the community develop water-wise landscaping, gardening, and rain harvesting, and to learn best management practices for using water efficiently in their outdoor spaces.

Visit BAWSCA’s website to see other landscaping workshops open to the public throughout the bay area!

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ShowHide Past Workshops +-

• Rain Gardens Landscape Workshop +-

  Thursday, October 16, 2025
  6:00 - 8:00 pm @ Zoom Online

  

  Instructor: Chris Corvetti
  Host: Mid-Peninsula Water District (MPWD)
  Co-sponsored by: BAWSCA
  Location: Zoom online class / Open to the public
  

  Learn about the critical role rain gardens can play in urban stream restoration, and how they add beautiful landscaping to your yard at the same time. The class will cover how to site, plan, and build your own rain garden, how to assess your site to determine the best location and size, calculate impervious surfaces, determine soil suitability, choose appropriate plants, and how to maintain your new rain garden.

  THIS WORKSHOP HAS ENDED. 

  To learn more about the remaining BAWSCA classes for the season and video recordings of past classes – including this one – please visit BAWSCA's Landscape Classes page.
  

• Rain Gardens +-

  Thursday, May 15, 2025
  6:00 - 8:00pm @ 1075 Old County Rd Suite A, Belmont, CA 94002

  

  Instructor: Shelkie Tao
  Host: Mid-Peninsula Water District (MPWD)
  Co-sponsored by: BAWSCA
  Location: 1075 Old County Rd Suite A, Belmont, CA 94002 (Open to the public)
  

  Learn about the critical role rain gardens can play in urban stream restoration, and how they add beautiful landscaping to your yard at the same time. The class will cover how to site, plan, and build your own rain garden, how to assess your site to determine the best location and size, calculate impervious surfaces, determine soil suitability, choose appropriate plants, and how to maintain your new rain garden.

  THIS WORKSHOP HAS ENDED. To learn more about BAWSCA's Free Lansdcape Classes, CLICK HERE.

• Hands-On Workshop for Sustainable Landscaping +-

  Tuesday, October 1, 2024
  6:00 - 8:00 pm @ 3 Dairy Lane, Belmont, CA 94002

  

  Instructor: Frank Niccoli
  Host: Mid-Peninsula Water District (MPWD)
  Co-sponsored by: BAWSCA
  Location: 3 Dairy Lane, Belmont, CA 94002 / Open to the public
  Registration Closes: Tuesday, October 1, 2024 @ 4:00 pm

  In-Person, Hands-On Workshops are back! 

  This course will teach you the fundamentals of water-efficient landscape practices in a hands-on classroom environment. Learn about sustainable landscaping and gardening while reducing water usage, including native, water-efficient plant selection, rainwater detection harvesting, landscape maintenance, leak, plus other helpful tips. Attendees will receive a free gift from the MPWD. 

  THIS WORKSHOP HAS ENDED. To learn more about the remaining BAWSCA classes for the season and video recordings of past classes – including this one – please visit BAWSCA's Landscape Classes page.
  

• Tree Maintenance +-

  Thursday, October 26, 2023
  6:30 - 8:00 pm @ Online - FREE

  

  Instructor: Frank Niccoli
  Host: Mid-Peninsula Water District (MPWD)
  Location: FREE Zoom Webinar
  Registration Closes: Thursday, October 26, 2023 @ 6:30 pm (90 minutes long)

  Frank will be demonstrating tree maintenance techniques to help keep your landscaping healthy and thriving. Topics will include tree selection, watering, and care.

  THIS WEBINAR HAS ENDED. To learn more about the remaining BAWSCA classes for the season and video recordings of past classes – including this one – please visit
   BAWSCA's Landscape Classes page.

• Native & Drought Tolerant Plants +-

  Thursday, June 8, 2023
  6:30 - 8:00 pm @ Online – FREE

  

  Instructor: Juanita Salisbury, Landscape Architect with more than 20 years of experience in the Bay Area.
  Host: Mid-Peninsula Water District (MPWD)
  Location: FREE Zoom Webinar
  Registration Closes: Thursday, June 8, 2023 @ 4:00 pm

  Educating the public on how choosing native and drought tolerant plants can go a long way towards optimizing water efficiency.

  THIS WEBINAR HAS ENDED. To learn more about the remaining BAWSCA classes for the season and video recordings of past classes – including this one – please visit BAWSCA's Landscape Classes page.

• Rain Barrels Workshop +-

  Wednesday, October 12, 2022
  7:00 pm @ Online

  

  Instructor: Chris Corvetti
  Host: Mid-Peninsula Water District (MPWD)
  Location: Zoom Webinar
  

  Learn how to install and maintain a rain barrel. Learn of the benefits of watering your garden with rain water. It is easy and it saves money.

  THIS WEBINAR HAS ENDED. To learn more about the remaining BAWSCA fall classes and videos of past classes, please visit BAWSCA's Landscape Classes page.

• Online Landscape Courses Available from BAWSCA for 2022 +-

  
  Fall 2022 @ Online

  The Spring 2022 schedule for BAWSCA's online landscape courses has ended and the Fall 2022 schedule will be announced soon. Recordings of many of these these landscape courses are still available to be viewed on the BAWSCA website HERE. Browse various topics such as water-efficient edible gardening, rainwater harvesting, native & drought tolerant plants, succulents, irrigation, bugs & wildlife, landscape design, lawn conversion, and more!!!

  Check back soon for updates on upcoming Fall 2022 schedule or visit BAWSCA's Landscape Classes page.

• Fall 2021 Landscape Education Classes Now Available +-

  
  Fall 2021 @ Online

  

  Learn how to garden beautifully while reducing your water use. BAWSCA’s Landscape Education Classes are designed to introduce homeowners, commercial property managers, landscape service providers, and others to the concepts of water-efficient and sustainable landscaping.

  The Fall 2021 Virtual Workshop Series is open to the public and runs online between September and November featuring topics such as: water-efficient edible gardening; native garden design; gray water systems; lawn and landscape conversion; and drip irrigation.
  

  For event details, please visit the BAWSCA website HERE. Registration is required to participate.
  

  You may also view free videos of past landscape classes HERE.

• Hands-On Workshops Going Virtual for 2020 +-

  
  Fall 2020 @ Online

  Every year, MPWD offers free Hands-On Workshops to MPWD customers and the local public to promote sustainable landscaping and gardening while reducing water usage. Due to the stay-at-home orders issued by the San Mateo County Health Organization over COVID-19, this year’s Hands-On Workshops have gone online as Zoom webinars. Co-sponsored by the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency (BAWSCA) and member agencies, these Zoom webinars are made available free and open to the public through the BAWSCA website HERE. Registration is required to participate.

  The Spring 2020 Workshop Series ran online between April and June featuring topics such as: water-efficient edible gardening; native garden design; rainwater harvesting; landscape maintenance; and leak detection. Videos of these past landscape classes are available on the BAWSCA website to view 24/7. The Fall 2020 Series of virtual workshops for September through Novmber will be available soon. Be on the lookout for these upcoming dates and registration details as they become available.

• Intro to Plant Selection (Mini-Hands-On Workshop) +-

  Tuesday, October 29, 2019
  6:00 – 8:30 pm @ MPWD District Office @ 3 Dairy Lane, Belmont

  Co-sponsored by BAWSCA: Learn how to select the right water-efficient plants for your garden. Considerations include drought-tolerance, water requirements, plus other helpful tips. Presented by Frank Niccoli.

  THIS WORKSHOP HAS ENDED. Thank you to all our attendees. We look forward to your feedback.
  

  Please read the wrap-up article on the Fall Workshop here.

  

• Mini-Succulent Garden Workshop +-

  Wednesday, May 22, 2019
  6:00 – 8:30 pm @ MPWD District Office @ 3 Dairy Lane, Belmont

  Co-sponsored by BAWSCA: Dive into the world of succulents! Learn how to cultivate your own and then create a tiny garden. Bring your own mini decorations and we will provide a mini succulent to add to your garden. Presented by Pacita Ikonomou.

  THIS WORKSHOP HAS ENDED. Thank you to all our attendees. We look forward to your feedback.
  

  Please read the wrap-up article on the Spring Workshop here.

  

• Design-It-Yourself Native Garden Workshop +-

  Tuesday, October 16, 2018
  6:00 – 8:00 pm @ MPWD District Office @ 3 Dairy Lane, Belmont

  

  Co-sponsored by BAWSCA: You are finally ready to remove your lawn in order to save water, lower your maintenance time, and create habitat. But you want to create the design yourself. Come to this talk and learn the principles of garden design. See an example of a design from start to finish. And get ready to put pencil to paper! Attendees should bring scissors and tape.

  THIS WORKSHOP HAS ENDED. Thank you to all our attendees. We look forward to your feedback.
  

  Please read the wrap-up article on the Fall Workshop here.

  

• Family Workshop: Attracting Good Bugs to Your Garden with Suzanne Bontempo +-

  Saturday, June 2, 2018
  2:00 – 4:00 pm @ City of Belmont Library, 1110 Alameda de las Pulgas, Belmont, CA 94002

  Co-sponsored by BAWSCA: Did you know that 90% of the bugs in our gardens are actually good bugs eating bad bugs? Let's learn about these most wanted allies and how to invite them to stay. Suzanne Bontempo, a 20+ year horticulture specialist, will discuss how to identify the bugs in your garden, how to keep the good ones around, and which plants are good bug magnets. Courtesy of Mid-Peninsula Water District, a complimentary group activity will be provided at the end of the lecture to take home and enjoy. This is a fun program for the whole family.

  THIS WORKSHOP HAS ENDED. Thank you to all our attendees. We look forward to your feedback.

  Please read the wrap-up article on the Spring Workshop here.

  

• Parent/Child Workshop: Edible Gardening with Suzanne Bontempo +-

  Tuesday, November 14, 2017
  6:00 – 8:00 pm @ MPWD at 3 Dairy Lane, Belmont

  Co-sponsored by BAWSCA: Gardening is a fun and healthy activity for all. There are many benefits to sowing, then reaping the rewards of one’s own bounty. Growing together teaches practical knowledge, responsibility, discipline skills, and more. Children will learn the benefits of edible plants as well as maintaining them with proper gardening and watering techniques. This workshop aims to strengthen family bonds and is a perfect way to cultivate children’s interests in gardening.
  

  THIS WORKSHOP HAS ENDED. Thank you to all our attendees. We look forward to your feedback.

  Please read the wrap-up article on the Fall Workshop here.
  

  

• Parent/Child Workshop: Basic Horticulture 101 with Frank Niccoli +-

  Thursday, May 11, 2017
  6:00 - 8:00 pm @ MPWD at 3 Dairy Lane, Belmont

  Co-sponsored by BAWSCA: Discuss methods for managing insects in your garden and learn about the benefits and impacts insects have on humanity, what gifts they have given us, and what our lives would be without them. Attending children will be given magnifying glasses in order to inspect up-close some of the the bugs found in the Bay Area. This workshop  is perfect for anyone with an interest in insects and gardening.

  This Workshop has ended. Thank you to all our attendees. We look forward to your feedback.
  

  

• Drip Irrigation & Mini Hands-On Demo with Julie Montanari +-

  Saturday, October 22, 2016
  9:00 a.m. – Noon @ MPWD at 3 Dairy Lane, Belmont

  Interested in learning more about the benefits of a water-efficient drip system? This engaging class – co-sponsored by MPWD and BAWSCA – is designed for home owners who are interested in knowing more about the installation and maintenance of a water-efficient home irrigation system. Registration is necessary to reserve your spot and ensure enough supplies are available. Attendees receive a related, give-away item at this workshop.

  This Workshop has ended. Thank you to all our attendees. We look forward to your feedback.
  

  

• Soils and Invasive Species with Suzanne Bontempo +-

  Saturday, May 7, 2016
  9:00 a.m. – Noon @ MPWD at 3 Dairy Lane, Belmont

  MPWD and BAWSCA will be hosting a FREE class on Soils and Invasive Species at the Mid-Peninsula Water District at 3 Dairy Lane, Belmont. Attendees will learn:

  • How to build healthy soil to grow healthy plants.
  • How to combat pesky bugs and hard-to-manage weeds.
  • What invasive plants to avoid introducing to your gardens.

  This Workshop has ended. Thank you to all our attendees. We look forward to your feedback.