ANTC™ All Natural Turf Care Clippings

PJC had the pleasure of being a consulting partner to the Arboretum Elementary Healthy Lawn Project in Waunakee, WI along with Chip Osborne of Osborne Organics.

To learn more about the project, a collaboration between a volunteer group of parents and the Waunakee School District please check out their recently launched web site

They are now setting their sights on larger media outreach, with press releases and will also be brainstorming on potential spring collaborations with other local environmental groups, UW-Madison and Dr. Porter, that may include a public showing of A Chemical Reaction and panel discussion with Paul Tukey and others.

Over the years compost top-dressing has become a part of many organic land care professionals approach to growing quality turf. While often very labor intensive due to the bulk of product required to spread ¼“ compost on the lawn, the benefits generally outweighed the negatives. Most landscapers would steer clear of sewage sludge for concerns over the potential of heavy metal contamination or fear of antimicrobial content like triclosan, an antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral synthetic chemical found in many household products such as soaps, toothpaste and dish detergent which find their way into the sewage system.

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This week a new legislation was signed into law limiting lawn fertilizer use in an effort to protect the Chesapeake Bay from nutrient pollution. Lawn fertilizer may not be applied before March 1st or after November 15th. While one would think it common sense, restrictions were also placed on how close to water (10 – 15 feet) fertilizer could be applied.

Restrictions were not placed on “natural organic” fertilizer that contained phosphorous; though come 2013 such material containing phosphorous could not be applied uness warranted by soil test results.

Source: Baltimore Sun

Sustainable Community Forum – April 8th & 9th
Practical solutions for health and the environment – The 29th National Pesticide Forum

The conference will be held at the Colorado School of Public Health in Denver and will cover topics such as pesticides and health, impacts of pesticides on pollinators, organic food and farming, healthy communities, organic land care, non-toxic bed bug control, policy change, and more.

Chip Osborne will be speaking on Organic Land Care – strategies for managing parks and open space without pesticides.

For more info