11th Annual

Organic Turf Show
WAS HELD ON
Tuesday, February 16, 2010

At Farmingdale State College, Farmingdale, NY

2010 Turf Show floor during lunch

The 11th annual Organic Turf and Tree Show took place on February 16, 2010, and was by all accounts a tremendous success. Held at SUNY Farmingdale State College for the second year in a row, professional landscapers, school and municipal groundskeepers, parks officials, and home gardeners from all over Long Island, the northeast, and even as far as Florida were in attendance. Many attendees were long-term veterans of the show, while others were first-timers. The Suffolk County Water Authority, which shares an organizational commitment with the Neighborhood Network to protect Long Island's environment, sponsored this one of a kind show. In addition to their mission of providing the highest quality water at the lowest possible cost, the Authority works to educate the public about less toxic lawn care in order to protect drinking water.

Twenty five exhibitors attended the show and collectively presented hundreds of products to help maintain green, healthy turf without the use of synthetic products. Exhibitors also included the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and the Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition.

Greener Country in Jericho, Stew Leonard's Wines of Farmingdale, Whole Foods Market in Jericho and Red Dragon Organics in Mount Sinai made generous donations for this year's raffle.

This year featured a stellar lineup of speakers who were either presenting at the show for the very first time, or in the case of one speaker, had not presented in seven years. Speakers included Tamson Yeh from Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, who spiritedly started the day off with a detailed and well-organized presentation on identifying insect pests. Rich Staudt of Total Landscape Care and Patty Kleinberg from the Queens Botanical Garden teamed up for a How-To on transitioning to an organic approach to turf care. This year's show featured two workshops by nationally renowned horticulturalist Eric T. Fleisher from the Battery Park City Parks Conservancy, who shared his expertise on soil structure and biodiversity and sustainable landscape management. Rounding out this year's show was ASA certified arborist Peter Schmidt of Compostwerks, LLC who discussed preventative programs that enable trees to stay healthy and fight off insects and disease naturally.

As we've heard in years past, attendees of this year's show said they found it exciting and inspiring to be in attendance, see the high level of interest and to associate with other professionals interested in going the organic route.

Many thanks to our sponsor the Suffolk County Water Authority, exhibitors, speakers, and attendees.

Raffle Prizes donated by:

and Red Dragon Organics

2010 Speakers:

• T. Fleisher, Battery Parks City Parks Conservancy
• Patty Kleinberg, Queens Botanical Garden
• Peter Schmidt, Compostwerks
  
• Rich Staudt, Total Landscape Care
• Tamson Yeh, Cornell Cooperative Extention
  

Workshops:

Managing the Environment: An Adaptive Challenge - Utilizing IPM Methods and Non-chemical Controls - T. Fleisher

Structure and Biological Diversity in Soils: A Foundation for Non-chemical Pest and Disease Control - T. Fleisher

Tree and Shrub Care Using Biological and Non-chemical Controls - Peter Schmidt

How to Convert to an Organic Approach - Patty Kleinberg & Rich Staudt

Identifying Insect Pests - Tamson Yeh

DEC CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSE CREDITS: NY-10-25478

Category - Credits

• 3a - 3.5
• 10 - 3.5
• 3b - 2.5
• 25 - 2.5

ISA Credits were also available this year.

2010 VENDORS INCLUDED:

All Pro Horticulture
Compostwerks
Connecticut NOFA/ OrganicLand Care Program
Greener Country
Huntington Breast Cancer Action Coalition (HBCAC)
ISLAND BIO-GREENS
Jonathan Green & Sons Inc.
Keyplex
L.I. Arboricultural Association
LI Compost
Maxwell Turf and Supply
Nature Lyceum
North Country Organics
NYSDEC
Organic Mechanic Soil Compay
Organica
PJC Ecological
Plant Health Alternatives
Professional Tree Surgeons Supply
Purely Organic Lawn Care
Red Dragon Organics
Soil Food Web NY Inc
Suffolk County Water Authority
Sweet Peet
Vigliotti Great Gardens

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE POST SHOW JOURNAL

Please contact the Neighborhood Network at 631-963-5454 for more information about the Organic Turf Show.