8:30 AM – 4:30 PM

7:30 –8:30 AM  Registration and Breakfast / Trade Exhibition

8:30 –9:30 AM  Keynote Address
Paul Tukey, Founder SafeLawns Foundation
Organics: The Unavoidable Tidal Wave
America’s Horticultural Communicator of the Year for 2006 will lead a lively discussion of the forces behind a changing marketplace in the green industry.

9:30-10:45 AM  Designing and Maintaining the Natural Landscape
Howard Garrett, “The Dirt Doctor,” Landscape Architect
One of the nation’s pioneers of the organic movement, this Texas native has been writing the specs for vast organic landscapes for nearly 30 years. Howard’s client lists includes Radio Shack, IBM, several municipalities and golf courses. His nationwide radio show, The Dirt Doctor, is credited with spurring a revolution in consumer habits. He’ll show us how to sell, and how to implement, a natural plan.

10:45-11:00AM  Break

11:00 AM-12:15 PM The Natural Golf Course
Jeff Carlson, The Vineyard Golf Club
The 2008 winner of the President's Award for Environmental Stewardship from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, Jeff is the preeminent natural golf superintendent in the world today. Barred by local statute from using any synthetic fungicides, weed or insect killers, he still manages to produce championship conditions and he’ll tell us how.

12:15-1:15 PM Lunch and Trade Exhibition

1:15-2:30 PM  Organic Tree & Shrub Care
Peter Wild, Boston Tree Preservation and Arbor Jet
Through trial-and-error and careful observation, Peter built one of the nation’s first all-natural landscape companies focusing on tree care. He’ll review organic techniques for best health and maintenance, along with groundbreaking techniques for management of exotic invasive pests when no organic controls exist.

2:30-3:30 PM  Organic Lawncare Transitions
Paul Tukey, Founder of SafeLawns Foundation
Having traveled the nation, Paul has gathered together the best practices of many of the nation’s leading organic lawn professionals. Topics will include bioassays, compost extracts, soil profiles, weed management and emerging tools.

3:30-4:30 PM Panel Discussion
Paul Tukey, Jeff Carlson, Howard Garrett and Peter Wild
Bring all your questions, comments and challenges to this festive hour-long wrap-up of all the day’s topics.

4:30-6 PM  Trade Exhibition/Networking

7:30 PM Screening: Chemical Reaction
Local Theatre or Hotel? TBA
Canada has spoken and lawn and garden pesticides that are commonly used in the U.S. are now banned in most of that nation. The critically acclaimed documentary, A Chemical Reaction, examines how Hudson, Quebec, became the first town in North America to eliminate these products and how its battle all the way to the Canadian Supreme Court inspired activists everywhere. But can the U.S. ever overcome its own pesticide lobbyists for the sake of childrens’ health? If Paul Tukey has his way, it will.

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8:30 AM-1:30 PM

7:30-8:30 AM  Registration and Breakfast / Trade Exhibition

8:30-9:15 AM  Trends in Pesticide Legislation
Paul Tukey, Founder SafeLawns Foundation
From phosphorus bans in many states, to rainy season regulation in Florida, to the pesticide revolution in Canada that is creeping to the U.S., the legislative tide is turning for municipalities across the U.S. Paul will talk about what the green industry and elected officials must know . . . Now.

9:15-10:00 AM  Exotic Invasive Pest Management: Navigating the Politics
Peter Wild, Founder Arbor Jet and Boston Tree Preservation
With invasive insects such as the emerald ash borers, pine weevils and Asian longhorn beetles threatening to re-draw our urban landscape and forests, there are no easy answers. The public’s demand for safer products can be at odds with the elected officials’ role of saving the trees. Peter has been at ground zero for some of the country’s worst infestations and will show us what to look out for.

10:00-10:15  Break

10:15-11:00 AM Building and Managing Golf Courses Amid Tighter Restrictions
Jeff Carlson, The Vineyard Golf Club
When golfers wanted a new course on Martha’s Vineyard, many locals declared “absolutely not.” Jeff’s careful shepherding of the permits and codes allowed the project to go forward. His talk will focus on how to build a bridge from the golf course to the community, so that the two can peacefully co-exist.

11:00 AM-11:45 AM Organics and the Bottom Line for your Business or Town
Howard Garrett, “The Dirt Doctor” Landscape Architect
One of the primary objections to “going organic” is the perceived increase in costs, both in project design and later in maintenance. Howard will lead us through practical field examples to give us a real answer when all factors are considered.

11:45-12:30 Open Forum Wrap-Up with Presenters
Paul Tukey, Jeff Carlson, Howard Garrett, Peter Wild

12:30-1:30 PM  Lunch and Trade Exhibition