By Larry Claflin Jr.
Staff writer
May 02, 2008 03:09 am North Shore residents should check their mailboxes this weekend for a booklet from Greenscapes, an environmentally friendly yard care, gardening and landscaping program. The 20-page Greenscapes Guide is filled with information on free workshops being offered by Greenscapes, a program coordinated by four organizations from across the North Shore — Salem Sound Coastwatch, the Ipswich River Watershed Association, the Eight Towns and the Bay Committee, and the Massachusetts Bay Estuary Association. According to Susan Yochelson of Salem Sound Coastwatch, the guide is filled with information and tips on lawn and yard care practices that will conserve water, cut back on the use of chemicals, reduce stormwater runoff and still allow for beautiful yards and gardens. It also includes discounts on goods and services from a number of vendors from professional landscapers to garden centers. The coalition partners with local municipalities to bring the program to their citizens. Fifteen communities on the North Shore are participating. They are: Andover, Beverly, Boxford, Danvers, Essex, Georgetown, Middleton, Newbury, Peabody, Rowley, Salem, Salisbury, Topsfield, Wenham and West Newbury. Topics in the guide include proper mowing techniques, when and how to water, how to compost, how to select drought tolerant plants, alternatives to pesticides and fertilizers, and more. Each participating community pays to have the guide mailed to all single-family households in the community. Also, a free workshop series starts on Saturday. Led by experts in the field, the workshops are designed to inform people about starting Greenscapes practices.
2008 Greenscapes North Shore Program Free Workshop Series "How and Why to Use Native Plants in Your Garden" Saturday, May 3, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., in the store at Brooksby Farm, 38 Felton Road, Peabody Join landscape architect Peter Phippen, and designer Mary Ann Malarkey, for a presentation on the "who, what, where and why" of gardening with native plants. Native plants provide beauty, enhance wildlife habitat and are drought tolerant. Mary Ann will discuss native plants in her designs and show how they can be incorporated. There will be plenty of time for questions and answers.
"Soaking Up the Rain" Saturday, May 10, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., in the store at Brooksby Farm, 38 Felton Road, Peabody When it rains, pavements and rooftops shed water containing sediments and chemicals that eventually pollute our rivers, streams, ponds and coastal waters. These impervious surfaces also increase the likelihood of flooding. This workshop will present different strategies for homeowners to put rainwater to good use. Curtis Dragon, certified organic landscaper, will discuss how to create a rain garden; Karen Weber of Earth Our Only Home will talk about green roofs (planted roofs) that soak up the rain, and Lou Iuliano of Ideal Pavers will talk about permeable pavers that allow infiltration of rainwater and recharge of groundwater.
"Lawn Care Basics and How to Phase Out Chemicals" Tuesday, May 13, 7 to 9 p.m., Topsfield Fairgrounds, Bee Building, Route 1, Topsfield Did you know you can have a healthy lawn without using potentially toxic chemicals? In this workshop, Curtis Dragon, certified organic landscaper with over 30 years experience, will teach proper mowing techniques, how to select proper seed, how to control pests, when to water, and the basic steps to achieving a beautiful chemical free lawn that also conserves water and saves you money.
"Easy Composting for Healthy Landscapes" Tuesday, May 20, 7 to 9 p.m., Topsfield Fairgrounds, Bee Building, Route 1, Topsfield Home composting with yard waste and kitchen scraps is the least expensive and most environmentally sound method of managing organic waste and fertilizing your yard. Ann McGovern from the MA Department of Environmental Protection will give a lively presentation on the ins and outs of composting, including composting with worms. Curt Dragon, certified organic landscaper will talk about how to make compost tea for an inexpensive fertilizer that is "nature's perfect food." Both novice and experienced composters are encouraged to attend. More information, including lists of participating garden centers, can be found on the Salem Sound Coastwatch Web site, www.salemsound.org, or the Greenscapes Web site, www.greenscapes.
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