Organics & You: Making the Switch

A Workshop for Land Care Professionals & Municipal Employees

Monday, March 12, 2007

11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Aspray Boathouse, 2 East View Street –

Adjoining Pawtuxet Park, Warwick

Sponsored by the “Less Toxic Landscaping” Campaign

of the Toxics Information Project (TIP), Providence, RI,

a Non-Profit Educational Organization.

It can be a daunting process to switch your landscaping/lawn care business or public space land care to organic. Find out what are the best methods to implement first, who your local resources and Green Industry contacts are, and locate educational training courses to assist you before/during the transition.  Whether or not you currently provide organic lawn, playing fields, golf course, or municipal grounds maintenance, this workshop can help you do a better job, organically. Learn basic skills or enhance those you have so you can satisfy the many customers who prefer less toxic services, especially for areas where children play. This is an opportunity for those who are just beginning to learn about organic land care - and those who have taken another course but want to figure out how to sort out and personalize the information they’ve gotten. The workshop can be a helpful complement to the Chip Osborne Online Course, a substitute for people who are not comfortable with computer/internet training, or just a chance to have an expert answer important questions in person.

The workshop will be led by Don Bishop the President of Gardens Are…, who is widely recognized for his work in organic landscaping. He was, in fact, one of the authors of the 2004 NOFA Standards for Organic Land Care: Practices for Design and Maintenance of Ecological Landscapes.  (SEE FULL BIOGRAPHY AND DIRECTIONS OTHER SIDE)

This workshope counts for three continuing education credits for R.I. DEM certified pest control applicators. You'll need to bring your certification number. Forms will be available at the workshop

Come learn how to address the growing concerns about pesticide use in lawns and turf and how to benefit from the growing demand for these services. Bring a friend! The fee for the workshop is only $30.00 per person, including lunch. Pre-registration is requested, as space is limited.

TO REGISTER:

BY MAIL: Send your name, address, phone and E-Mail with your check for $30 to:

Organics & You Workshop

c/o Toxics Information Project,

P.O. Box 40441

Providence, RI 02940

MAKE CHECKS OUT TO: Toxics Information Project

OR: TO REGISTER ONLINE & PAY WITH A CREDIT CARD,

GO TO: www.toxicsinfo.org/register.htm

CONTACT: For more information, call Liberty Goodwin, TIP Director, 401-351-9193, or E-Mail: liberty@toxicsinfo.org See the TIP website, www.toxicsinfo.org for articles on the health effects of pesticides and on healthier gardening, lawn care and landscaping alternatives.

ASK ALSO ABOUT INCLUSION IN TIP’S “LESS TOXIC LANDSCAPING” RESOURCE GUIDE!

*************************************************************************************************************

BIOGRAPHY OF SPEAKER

Donald Bishop, the President of Gardens Are…in Marlborough, MA, holds accreditations and certifications in organic land care and landscape management from the Northeast Organic Farming Association and the University of Massachusetts. Donald has written numerous articles and has co-authored Strategic Recommendations for Managing Invasive Plants in Massachusetts, City of Marlborough Open Space and Recreation Plan 2003–2008, and Standards for Organic Land Care: Practices for Design and Maintenance of Ecological Landscapes. He has provided peer reviews and been a contributing editor to several publications, including:  Alternatives for Invasive Ornamental Plant Species, Guide to Healthy Landscapes, Vol. 1: From the Ground Up: Site and Soil Preparation, and Earth Friendly Alternatives: A Concise Guide.

He is an appointee of the Massachusetts Invasive Plant Advisory Group, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Vegetation Management Plan Advisory Panel, the board of directors of the Ecological Landscaping Association, the City of Marlborough Open Space Committee, and the Marlborough Storm Water Management Advisory Committee. He is also a founding faculty member of the Northeast Organic Farming Association, Organic Land Care Program.

****************************************************************************************************************

DIRECTIONS TO THE ASPRAY BOATHOUSE

From Points North:

Take 95 south to exit 18 (Thurbers Ave)
Turn left off of exit, travel to end.
Take a right onto Allens Ave. Continue on Allens Ave. (past oil storage tanks

on left, large rooster - a famous RI landmark on right) for about 2 miles.
Take a right onto Norwood (at light) - at end, take a hard left onto Broad Street

(a Church will be on your right).
Continue on Broad Street through Pawtuxet Village, the Bay will be on your left.
After you cross a small bridge and proceed through a traffic light,

take your first left into a park area to the Aspray Boathouse.

From Points South:

Take 95 north route 37 east to Route 1 North
Proceed on Route 1 past Walmart - cross Warwick Ave.
Continue on Route 1 until end.
Turn right at light and then first left into a park area to the Aspray Boathouse.

****************************************************************************************************************