Monday, February 28, 2011

Connecticut Department of Environmental Pollution Protection Program


The latest edition of the Pollution Protection (P2) Program’s quarterly newsletter , P2 View, is now out.  Inside, you’ll read recent projects around the State Capitol, how some of Connecticut’s cities are becoming sustainable, the future of plug-in electric vehicles, re-using wastewater, a company recycling old car windshields,  and a calendar of some environmental events in CT in the next months leading up to spring.  The new edition can be found here.
The P2 Program covers everything from climate change, managing and reducing waste, landscape stewardship, green building, and renewable energy.  There's also a link to a page for "Houshold Alternatives for Reducing Toxic Products in Your Home".  You can find back issues of the newsletter on the site as well.  For more information on P2 View and the DEP’s Pollution Prevention Program, please visit

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Sponsors for CT NOFA's Winter Conference

CT NOFA would like to take some time to thank all of the sponsors at this year's Winter Conference. Most will be there on Saturday, March 5th at Manchester Community College - be sure to give them some love!

Premiere:

Silver:

Patron:

Friend:
Nationwide Insurance - Steven A. Rose Agency

Don't forget to sign up! You can register online or by phone:
Phone - call the office at 203-888-5146. We'd love to chat!

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

Upcoming Conferences at UCONN in March


 The 2011 Perennial Plant Conference will be held on Thursday, March 10th, 2011 from 8:00am – 4:00pm.  The conference will be held on the University of Connecticut Storrs campus in the Lewis B. Rome Commons. 
This conference is for professional horticulturists, offering educational talks from nationally recognized authorities on aspects of design, plant selection, marketing and retail.
There will be 10 sessions throughout the day, with topics including:
  • New and Underused Perennials,
  • How to Promote, Sell and Install Sustainable Landscapes,
  • Research-based Perspectives on Consumers, Their Perceptions of the Environment, Recycling Behaviors and Attitudes, and Preference for Local, Organic and Sustainably-produced Ornamental Plants.
  • Using Organic Media and Fertilizers
For a full line-up of speakers, directions and how to register, please visit http://www.2011perennial.uconn.edu/

But wait…there’s more!
The 2011 Garden Conference will be held on Friday, March 11th, 2011 from 8:00am – 4:30pm.  Also held in the Lewis B. Rome Commons at the University of CT at Storrs, the Garden Conference is for home gardeners of all levels, from the casual to the Master Gardener.  There will be five talks at this conference, featuring:
  • Restoring Gardens with Jeff Hutton
  • America the Beautiful: Why We Should Celebrate Native Plants in Our Landscapes with Andy Brand
  • The Non Stop Garden with Stephanie Cohen
  • Extracting Late Season Color from the Border with Herbaceous Perennials with Robert E. Lyons (Featured Presentation)
  • Garden Earth with Baroness Maureen Haseley-Jones aka The English Lady
For more information on the speakers, the agenda, and how to register, please visit http://www.cag.uconn.edu/plsc/conferences/2011garden/index.html

Until March 3rd, both conferences cost $80, and the price goes up to $90 after that day.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Vendors and Exhibits at CT NOFA's 29th Annual Winter Conference


 You’ve all seen the list of workshops that you can go to at our 29th Annual Winter Conference on Saturday, March 5th at Manchester Community College.  If you haven't, just browse through our blog to find them! Now its time to check out all of the vendors and exhibits that will be on hand!  Be sure to click on each name for a link to their site.
Don’t forget to sign up – only a few more days for the early registration discount!  Instructions and a full list of information can be found here - http://ctnofa.org/events/CAOC/2011/2011%20winter%20conference.html

Bayberry Meadow Herbs - East Windsor, CT – specializes in herb blends, herbs and spices for cooking/banking and teas
Bethany Homecrafts - Bristol, CT – warm clothing made from felted, recycled wool sweaters, braider rugs made from recycled clothes, and small sculptures and wall hangings made from needle felted wool
Common Good Market - Guilford, CT – offer an outstanding selection of high quality sustainable and eco-friendly products for the home made by New England artisans and crafts-people
Farm Credit East - Enfield, CT – specialized leader and financial services leader committed to Northeast agriculture, commercial fishing and forest products industries
Go Organic, LLC - Thompson, CT – organic lawn and land care including individual lawn services, total lawn replacement and tree/shrub and landscape care.
Gold Star Honeybees - Bath, ME – beekeeping service including healthy honey bees, top bar hive beekeeping, top bar hive kit manufacturing, and live bee relocation
Green Earth Agriculture, LLC - North Branford, CT – wholesale supply company specializing in green, organic and eco-friendly products
Harrington’s Organic Land Care - Bloomfield, CT – services include plant management and organic lawn, tree and shrub care
Healthy Cleaning Solutions - Ellington, CT – makes and sells All Natural Cleaning solutions enhanced with 100% aromatherapy essential oils
High Mowing Seeds - Wolcott, VT – independently-owned, farm-based seed company dedicated to supporting sustainable agriculture and providing farmers and gardeners with the highest quality certified organic seed
Natureworks Horticultural Services - Northford, CT – a full service garden center with service including landscaping, container gardening, delivery, seasonal decorating and talks and lectures by Nancy DuBrule-Clemente
Neighboring Food Co-op Association - Shelburne Falls, MA – a network of food co-ops committed to a shared vision of a thriving regional economy, rooted in a healthy, just and sustainable food system and collaboration among co-ops
Northfordy Farm - Northford, CT – organic and heirloom produce, even including maple syrup, cuts of lamb, and wool fiber and yarn
Progressive Asset Management - Wellesley, MA – information on socially and environmentally responsible investing
Radiant Hen Publishing - Orleans, VT – book publisher focused on promoting good citizenship, kindness to all living things, environmental awareness and sustainable agriculture
Riverbank Farm - Roxbury, CT - grows over 30 different types of vegetables sold at various farmers’ markets in Fairfield and New Haven counties
Sweet Sage Bakery - Rockfall, CT – purveyors of organic handcrafted artisan bread and other fine baked goods
Three Sisters Farms - Essex, CT – dedicated to making the finest natural products from their honey business including honey, soaps, lip balms and skin creams, and beeswax candles
USDA NASS - Concord, NH – New England Field Office of the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service
VisionWorks - Greenfield, MA – works to make this world a more diverse and humorous place through postcards, notecards, bumper stickers, calendars, buttons, magnets and books

Monday, February 14, 2011

ELA's 17th Annual Conference and Eco-Marketplace


The NOFA Organic Land Care Program is proud to be a co-host at this year's Ecological Landscaping Association's 19th Annual Conference and Eco-Marketplace on Thursday, March 3rd, 2011 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, MA. 
Titled "Staying Ahead of the Curve", this year's conference will include a host of sessions all designed to create a flexible strategy in the needs and management plans of our landscapes.   Keynote Panelists William Cullina, Dr. Peter del Tredici, and Jono Neiger will present "Native, Introduced, Invasive, and Endangered Plants in the Landscape: Untangling the Roots of the Problem". There will be over 15 sessions to choose from, including topics on: "Turf Management that Puts Ecology First", "Insects: What's Coming Next", and "Ecological Choices: Product Substitutions".
Early registration ends tomorrow so be sure to sign up now!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

2011 Connecticut Flower and Garden Show

The 2011 Connecticut Flower and Garden Show is soon approaching. Now in its 30th year, it is one of the premier Flower and Garden Shows on the East Coast! Here's what you need to know:
30th Annual Connecticut Flower and Garden Show
Connecticut Convention Center
100 Columbus Boulevard
Hartford, CT 06103

Show Hours:
Thursday, February 24th 10 AM - 8 PM
Friday, February 25th, 10 AM - 8 PM
Saturday, February 26th, 10 AM - 8 PM
Sunday, February 27th, 10 AM - 6 PM

3 acres of convention space
80 hours of seminars over the four days, including talks by Karen Bussolini, Nancy DuBrule-Clemente, Michael Corcoran and more!
Over 250 booths filled with plants, soils, fertilizers, garden tools, other floral and garden related products and services.


CT NOFA will be there. Will you?

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

YourGardenShow.com



YourGardenShow.com is a wonderful site of garden enthusiasts – young and old!  This free site is an online platform bringing all kinds of gardeners together to share resources, how-to tips, and other helpful information.  The site is broken down into 5 sections: Gardens, Plants, Greenhouse, Blog and Citizen Science.  They even have an extensive list of plant species includes instructions on caring for, general information, and photos!
Another neat feature is the ability to set up a “Glog” or garden blog.  Here you can keep track of your garden, get expert advice, share tips with others, and show off your garden!
Now’s the time to set this up so you’ll be ready to go come spring!  If you start a Glog be sure to let us know!
Happy Gardening!

Monday, February 7, 2011

Workshop List for CT NOFA's Winter Conference, Part 6


Yes, that says part 6! Here is the ever-growing list of workshops for CT NOFA's Winter Conference on Saturday, March 5th at Manchester Community College. Featuring Keynote Speaker, Shannon Hayes, the all day conference will feature some of the best speakers, vendors and exhibits on local, organic gardening, farming, landscaping and sustainable lifestyles in and around Connecticut!  For a full list, please visit - http://ctnofa.org/events/CAOC/2011/2011%20winter%20conference.html where you can also register online!


Daniel MacPhee – Cultivating the Campus – Raising Crops and Consciousness
Starting with the example of the Yale Farm, we will discuss approaches to engaging students and community members in the practice and appreciation of sustainable urban agricultural systems.  We will touch on issues of garden design, volunteers, educational programming, and season extension.  Please come with questions and experiences to share.
Daniel is the Farm Manager and Educator with the Yale Sustainable Food Project in New Haven, CT.  He coordinates a 1 acre urban market garden with the help of student interns and community volunteers of all ages, and gives various workshops on organic farming and self-sufficient living.

Jane & Ken Maher – Quick Pickles: Make ‘em today, eat ‘em tomorrow!
So easy and so delicious! A hands on workshop where we’ll make garlic infused dills, sweet crunchy mixed pickles, exotic Asian pickled daikon, and the ever popular soy eggs. Participants will leave the class with their very own containers of homemade pickles!
Jane Maher is a NOFA board member and ran “SnootyFood”, her specialty food business.  She manufactured and sold thousands of containers of award winning pickles at farmers markets, retail stores, and restaurants.  Jane loves teaching people about good local food, and how to prepare it. She is also the founder and Chairperson of Oxford’s  fall “Made in CT Fair”. 

Bryan O’Hara & Anita Johnson – 1. Maintaing Soil Health on Organic Farms and Gardens. 2. Winter Vegetable Gardening
1.       We’ll discuss soil management practices that promote healthy soils and crops.  Topics will include cover crops, tillage, and mulching with emphasis on maintaining optimum soil water, air, and organic matter.
2.      This workshop will present techniques for growing winter hardy vegetables using unheated hoop tunnels and row covers. Structures, crop selection, timing, cultivation, soil preparation, wind protection, harvesting, and storage will be discussed.
Bryan O’Hara farms at Tobacco Road Farm in Lebanon, CT.  He has 20 years experience growing vegetable crops for farmers markets and wholesale accounts.  Paul Bucciaglia farms at Fort Hill Farm in New Milford, CT.  He produces over 40 organically grown crops for CSA shareholders and farmers markets.

Dr. Kim Stoner and Marie Pulito – Cohousing – A More Sustainable Way of Life
Kim and Marie are founding members of Green Haven, Inc., which will be building the first cohousing community in Connecticut. Kim is an entomologist, singer, and clerk of her Quaker Meeting.  Marie is a nurse specializing in lactation, co-founder of SHARE Haven Time Bank, a Unitarian, and wife to farmer Brenda.
Kim and Marie are founding members of Green Haven, Inc., which will be building the first cohousing community in Connecticut. Kim is an entomologist, singer, and clerk of her Quaker Meeting.  Marie is a nurse specializing in lactation, co-founder of SHARE Haven Time Bank, a Unitarian, and wife to farmer Brenda.

Dr. Carl A. Salsedo – The Biodiverse Gardener: A Conversation Exploring Diversity, Veganism and Growing Your Own Food
Much of the current environmental and gardening literature explores the natural world or specific aspects of this world. This workshop will review steps each of us can do (the gardener) to empower oneself. Creating a diverse landscape, becoming a vegan and growing your own vegetables are steps toward achieving a sustainable self and world.
Dr. Carl Salsedo has been with the University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension System since 1975. His Gardening with Nature series on Connecticut Public television is a series of vignettes that promote sustainable landscaping practices in the landscape. Broadcast since 2001 on CPTV this series is also accessible through the web. Carl has lectured regionally, nationally and internationally and is the author of numerous publications. His yard and gardens are part of the Garden Conservancy’s Open Days Program. In 2010 Carl's first book entitled “Gardening: Cultivating An Enduring Relationship with Nature” was published.


This project was supported by the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, Grant # 2010-49400-21847.