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February 1, 2012
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Community Stewardship Fair Highlights Invasive Species Projects

Natural lawn care summit brings in nationwide experts

The calm before the growing season provides a perfect opportunity to learn new lawn care practices that are in harmony with the environment. At the Lawn and Lake Summit on March 30-31 at the Botanic Gardens in Glencoe, Ill, homeowners and lawn care professionals can learn how to create and care for lawns and landscapes using organic methods.

“We are thrilled to bring together a brain trust of the industry’s green leaders and hope it sparks great dialog, learning and positive action,” said Brian Milam, Calcium Products brand manager and conference chair.

On Friday, March 30, the all-day summit will be directed to the needs of lawn care professionals—golf course superintendents, groundskeepers, city employees and athletic field curators. On Saturday, March 31, homeowners can take part in presentations and discussions that run all morning. Topics will include organic lawn and garden care, including specifics on dealing with the emerald ash borer. Both days include a variety of speakers.

Professionals will learn how golf courses such as Torrey Pines in San Diego and The Vineyards in Martha’s Vineyard incorporate natural lawn care into their maintenance. The Vineyards is America’s only truly organic golf course.

On both days, participants will hear from Paul Tukey, founding editor and publisher of People, Places & Plants magazine and author of The Organic Lawn Care Manual. Through public speaking, radio, television, print and the internet he shares his passion for organic gardening and lawn care. He is also the founder and spokesperson for SafeLawns.org.

The summit is co-presented by the Lawn to Lake program, which is funded by the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. This program is focused on raising awareness of the connection between fertilizer and pesticide use and the health of local waterways. “Not only can natural lawn care benefit our water quality, but it can open new markets for the industry and demonstrate green initiatives to customers,” said Margaret Schneemann, Lawn to Lakes program manager.

To register or to learn more about the summit, visit www.LawnAndLandscapeSummit.com. Registration is also available at the event. The cost for Friday’s sessions is $75 and for homeowners on Saturday, $40. The first 100 attendees each day will receive a goody bag filled with samples, coupons and information.

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The Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant College Program (IISG) is one of 32 National Sea Grant College Programs. Created by Congress in 1966, Sea Grant combines university, government, business and industry expertise to address coastal and Great Lakes needs. Funding is provided by NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Purdue University at West Lafayette, Indiana. Visit the IISG blog at Lakeside Views to read the latest program news. You can also find IISG on Facebook and Twitter.