Organic Turf and Athletic Fields Workshop Features Industry Experts

Organic Turf and Athletic Fields: An Advanced Workshop

Presented by NOFA OLC

 Thursday, September 22, 2016

 8:30am until 4:00pm

At the Harmon Leonard Jr. Youth Center in Cheshire, CT

The NOFA Organic Land Care Program is pleased to invite land care professionals to an all-day Organic Turf and Athletic Fields Workshop featuring presentations and demonstrations by organic lawn and landscaping experts from the northeast. This workshop is designed for lawn and land care professionals including private, commercial and municipal sports, leisure and hospitality groundskeepers and athletic field construction and maintenance professionals seeking to transition to state-of-the art, non-toxic turf and athletic fields. 

Chuck Sherwood, contractor for the Cheshire Parks and Recreation Department, will discuss challenges and successes over their 10 year transition to organic management of town athletic fields and parks. Frank Crandall of Frank Crandall Horticultural Solutions and Chip Osborne of Osborne Organics will cover creating organic management plans and budgeting for the expense of equipment and organic inputs on athletic fields. Field demonstrations will include turf aeration with Tom Corradino from Schmidt's and Serafines and compost tea spraying with Peter Schmidt from Compostwerks. 

Organic fertility will be discussed with industry experts including Fred Newcomb from PJC Organics, Peter Schmidt from Compostwerks, and Joe Magazzi from Green Earth Ag &Turf.  Paul Bednarczyk from Hart’s Seed Company will discuss seed selection criteria and blends offered by this Connecticut Company. Admission is $80 per person / $70 for municipal and nonprofit employees. Learn more and register at www.organiclandcare.net.

Organic Land Care Course Addresses Growing Need for Chemical-Free Experts

Four Day Course Trains and Accredits Organic Land Care Professionals (AOLCPs)

NOFA Organic Land Care Accreditation Course 

 University of Southern Maine, Portland

August 15, 16, 22, & 23, 2016

8:00am - 5:00pm

Early bird registration of $695 ends June 30

Register at organiclandcare.net or call 203-308-2584

NOFA Organic Land Care Program is pleased to announce its first Accreditation Course in Organic Land Care in Maine and offer early bird registration through June 30.

Demand for organic land care professionals is increasing rapidly in Maine due to a growing concern over the hazards of synthetic pesticides and the adoption of ordinances banning or restricting the use of chemical pesticides on town, and sometimes private, land in twenty-seven towns including Ogunquit, Rockland and most recently, South Portland. 

Local professionals joining the roster of notable instructors include David Melevsky of Go Green Landscaping Inc. of Scarborough who will teach “Organic Tick Control” and Paula Kovecses of The Way It Grows in Eastport who will teach "Introduction to Permaculture." Group discounts and payment plans are available. 

For more details including a course curriculum, and to register, contact the Northeast Organic Farming Association (CT NOFA) office at 203-308-2584 or visit www.organiclandcare.net.