UPCOMING EVENTS

MARCH 16, 2012 – ORGANIC LAND CARE FOR LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS
Wistariahurst Museum 238 Cabot Street, Holyoke, MA
Learn about organic lawn and turf care and how to transition your business into this fast growing sector of the land care industry. Friday, March 16, 2012 8 AM – noon, Wistariahurst Museum 238 Cabot Street, Holyoke, MA.Topics will include: What is organics?  How to transition to an organic land care program. How to cultivate an organic program client base. Types of organic products. Contact Anne Capra at acapra@pvpc.org or (413) 781-6045. The workshop is free! Sponsored by: TURI, PVPC, Safeground Organic Landcare, Wistariahurst Museum, and Valley Green.

MARCH 12-13, 20102 – NATURAL LAWN & TURF MANAGEMENT TRAINING
Sturbridge Host Hotel, Sturbridge, MA
Natural Lawn and Turf Management Training for Lawn Care Professionals and Municipal Officials. Sturbridge Host Hotel, Sturbridge, MA. Taught by nationally renowned organic turf grass educator Chip Osborne. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Two-day program covers all aspects of how to transition properties from conventional programs using synthetic and chemical products to a natural organic system. Cost: $350. Pre-registration with $175 non-refundable deposit required. Fee payable to Osborne Organics and mailed to: 11 Laurel Street, Marblehead, MA 01945. More info: Chip Osborne at (781) 631-2468 or info@osborneorganics.com.

MARCH 13, 2012 – HORTICULTURAL BUSINESS SEMINAR IN WORCESTER
MassAudubon Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center & Wildlife Sanctuary
Frank Crandall will host the "GEM II" (Growth, Effectiveness, Management) Horticultural Business Seminar, 8am-5pm, MassAudubon Broad Meadow Brook Conservation Center & Wildlife Sanctuary. Taught by Frank Crandall. GEM I is NOT a pre-requisite. Topics include developing and refining your company’s vision and mission; discovering your most effective leadership style, establishing a plan for seasonal cash flow and a profit goal for 2012, adapting an estimate, pricing and job costing system to your business, creating a marketing plan for 2012 using social media and making your “plan for success” for 2012. The text, “The Essential Horticultural Business Handbook” and a CD of business templates are included. Lunch is included. Cost: $275/person; $250 for NOFA/RINLA/MNLA/ELA members, or for two or more employees from the same company. To register: email FrankCrandall3@gmail.com or (401) 742-7619.

MAY 12, 2012 – LAWNATHON FESTIVAL-OUTDOOR GAMES AND DIY CREATING A LUSH AND ORGANIC LAWN
Look Memorial Park, 300 North Main Street, Florence, MA 01062
Family and friends, please join us for a picnic in the park Saturday May 12th, 2012* from 11:30a-3:30p at Look Memorial Park. Bring a blanket, brown bag lunch and enjoy playing lawn games from around the world. We also welcome Paul Tukey, "the godfather of the natural lawn care movement", who will speak on the truth about pesticide use on public and private lawns. This event is run on behalf of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission in their efforts of increasing awareness and education about how to reduce pesticide use and prevent local contamination of local waters. For further information about this event, please contact Maria Scholl at maria_s@turi.org or 978-934-4964.