With many seeking ways to mitigate further contamination of the North Fork’s waterways, a demonstration and round table event has been planned to discuss toxin-free solutions.
Perfect Earth Project, in conjunction with the Peconic Land Trust and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, is hosting a day of “learning and discussion” with local toxin-free landscape experts.
The event takes place Thursday at the Agricultural Center at Charnews Farm, located at 3005 Youngs Avenue in Southold, from 1 p.m. until 4:30 p.m.
The time is now to focus on pesticide-free lawn care, said Cyndi Murray, spokesperson for Perfect Earth Project. “Fall is the perfect season to prepare your lawn for next year’s season,” she said.
Thursday’s event will show participants how to do just that; the afternoon features hands-on demonstrations with local organic experts, including Tamson Yeh of Cornell Cooperative Extension and Paul Wagner of NY Soil Web and Treewise Organics. Slated for discussion are topics including how to make compost and compost tea, and tips for transitioning lawns into fall, including over-seeding, fertilization, and aeration.
A roundtable discussion will feature representatives from local landscaping businesses that offer toxin-free services, explaining how to transition to toxin-free techniques.
Schedule
1:00 p.m.: Sign in and tour of info booths, demonstrations
1:40 – 1:45 p.m.: Introduction by Sean O’Neill, Director of Education and Outreach, Perfect Earth Project
1:45 – 2:30 p.m.: Paul Wagner, NY Soil Food Web: Fall lawn tips for a pest resistant, toxin-free landscape, including compost tea demonstration
2:30 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.: Tamson Yeh, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County: IPM Tour of Charnews Farm lawns – Pest ID and toxin-free control options
3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.: Refreshments and informational booths
3:30 p.m. – 4:15 p.m.: Toxin-free Landscaper Roundtable
4:15 p.m.: Closing remarks by Edwina von Gal, Founder, Perfect Earth Project
Tickets cost $10; registration can be done in advance or participants can pay at the door.
Founded in 2008, The Perfect Earth Project, or PEP, is an East Hampton-based 501c3 organization aimed at promoting toxin-free land management worldwide; locations also exist in Panama in both Panama City and Pedasí on the Azuero Peninsula.
Perfect Earth Project’s mission is to “preserve Earth’s ecosystems, protect biodiversity, and promote healthy communities by helping people make informed decisions, take sustainable actions and share knowledge.”
USA PEP operations focus on raising awareness of the dangers of lawn and landscape chemicals and educating land managers and homeowners on toxin-free landscape maintenance. Panama operations focus on tropical lawns and landscapes as well as eco agriculture.
For additional information about the Perfect Earth Project visit www.perfectearthproject.org or call 631.907.9040.
