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Ecological Landscape Alliance Free Webinar: Proper Planting Practices: Are We Landscaping in a Deficit Model? April 7, 12-1 pm

In the Nursery and Landscape Industry, there is an overabundance of clouded misinformation that is passed down to the general public on how to design and maintain their landscape. From every direction, inaccurate or antiquated information flows. From big box stores and local Mom and Pop nurseries to examples, images, and text on the internet.

There are visual examples that exist everywhere of ill-managed landscapes in both commercial properties and private residences.

There are significant differences in training and quality between companies that offer services based on best practices. So how do we improve our company standards or how do you, as a consumer, know if you’re getting the best quality for your money?

In this presentation, Richard McCoy will provide information on current techniques of proper planting, how to correct unseen issues that are borne in the landscape nursery, the importance of the plant root collar, plant placement by matching site conditions to a plant’s cultural needs, and how these efforts add value vs. “cheap’ alternatives.

Discussion points:
• Are We Landscaping in a Deficit Model?
• The Root (collar) of the problem
• Right Plant – Right Place
• Proper Planting B&B and Container plants
• Value vs. Cheap – You get what you pay for

Richard McCoy has over 30-years’ experience in the green industry. He is the visionary behind Richard A. McCoy Horticultural Services Inc., which he established in 1993. Since transitioning from conventional to organic and ecological methods in 2005, McCoy Horticultural has been offering environmentally and sustainably responsible, fine-gardening ecological design, green infrastructure installations, maintenance, and organic lawn care.

Richard’s work includes Stony Wood Garden, a 3.5-acre private woodland garden in Princeton, NJ, that has been recognized by The Smithsonian Institute’s Archives of American Gardens.

Richard is an advisor and practitioner council member for The Organic Landscape Association, a nationally recognized organization. Additionally, Richard is a member of Rutgers University’s Organic Land Care Working Group. He holds a Certificate of Organic Land Care through the Rutgers Organic Land Care Program, is a certified Natural Turf and Landscape Manager, is an organic Lawn Care Accredited Professional, and a NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) Accredited Organic Land Care Professional.

Register here.

Foliage & Focal Points: Ideas for Budgets and Gardens of All Sizes, Ecological Landscape Alliance Free Webinar March 30, 12- 3:30 pm

We all have sections of our garden that we are less than satisfied with, yet understanding what has gone wrong can be frustrating. Instinct sends us shopping for more plants and we typically gravitate towards whatever is blooming that day in the hope that the injection of fresh color will solve the problem. Yet as we add in these new treasures, the sense of dissatisfaction quickly grows, especially when the flowers finish blooming and we are left with a muddled sea of nondescript leaves.

In this presentation, Karen Chapman will explain the importance of establishing focal points, a key component of good garden design, and analyze three areas where they play an important role. This presentation will explore the use of containers, structures, water features, and artistic sculptural elements as focal points and discuss how to frame and enhance these with interesting foliage to create a memorable vignette.

With ideas for budgets and gardens of all sizes, you will quickly gain the confidence and knowledge to transform your own landscape into a cohesive series of eye-catching scenes.

Karen Chapman was born in England and grew up with a trowel in her hand.
After moving to the Pacific Northwest in 1996 she joined one of the leading nurseries as a garden plant specialist. Ten years later she established Le jardinet, a custom landscape design company specializing in creating artistic plant combinations with a four-season foliage framework, functional outdoor living spaces, and deer-resistant designs.
Karen teaches both container and landscape design in workshops and seminars across the country as well offering a range of online learning opportunities.
When she’s not teaching garden design Karen is usually writing about it, her articles and designs being featured in many national gardening publications including Fine Gardening, Country Gardens, Sunset, and Garden Design magazines. She has co-authored two books: the award-winning Fine Foliage (St. Lynn’s Press, 2013) and the highly acclaimed Gardening with Foliage First (Timber Press, 2017) while her latest book, Deer Resistant Design: Gardens that Thrive Despite the Deer was released in 2019 (Timber Press) much to the relief of deer-challenged gardeners nationwide.

Register here.

NOFA Mass Perennial Gardens and Edible Hedges, Free Webinar March 30 from 7- 8:30 PM.

Do you want to be surrounded by a landscape that provides wildlife habitat, fosters healthy soils and provides a variety of edible fruit? Join NOFA MASS for another event from their Resilient Garden Series.  Bringing perennial plants into the garden can help your garden become more resilient and beautiful. Ruth Green of Green Arts Gardens in the Berkshires will inspire us to consider the ecological benefits and design ideas when planning our perennial plantings. During this event we will learn how to: 

• Provide shelter, food and habitat for wildlife including beneficial insects 
• Introduce windbreaks and create continuity between garden and forest 
• Improve soil conditions 
• Choose native species and sources for plants and seeds 

Instructor: 

Ruth Green owns Green Arts Gardens in Monterey, Massachusetts. She specializes in design, installation and ongoing care of residential and historically appropriate native, vegetable, and ornamental gardens in South Berkshire County.  Ruth is a NOFA-Accredited Organic Land Care Professional and holds degrees in art, history, and landscape architecture. Her main concerns include soil restoration and stewardship, pollinator protection and native plantings, and heirloom vegetable varieties.

Register here.

FMNP FARMER CERTIFICATION MEETINGS, March 9 and March 24

All fruit, vegetable, and honey producers selling at Certified Connecticut Grown Farmers’ Markets must be certified with the Connecticut Department of Agriculture’s Farmers Market Nutrition Program (FMNP). To be certified, producers must attend a certification meeting.

The certification allows farms to accept the FMNP checks for fresh fruits, vegetables, and honey from WIC clients and income-eligible seniors over the age of 60. Join us to get your certification, learn more about available grant funding for your farm, and accepting SNAP to expand your sales.
Additional meeting dates have been added. Below is the current list of meeting dates which will all be held virtually via Microsoft Teams.  

• Wednesday, March 9, 2021 from 8 a.m. – 10 a.m.
• Wednesday, March 24, 2021 from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Registration is now open at http://bit.ly/3qK3cjV.

Questions can be directed to Erin Windham at Erin.Windham@ct.gov or 860-519-6083 or Haley Rowland at Haley.Rowland@ct.gov or 860-895-3095.

FREE FARM SUCCESSION PLANNING WEBINAR Land For Good is offering three free webinars on Farm Succession Planning

Land For Good is offering a FREE webinar series for farmers and farm families to learn the basics of farm succession planning, how to get started, where to find resources, ask questions of succession planning experts, and get support on this challenging process. Farmers from across New England of all farm sizes and enterprises are welcome. 

March 16: Getting Started With Your Farm Succession Planning
March 23: Financial Considerations for Farm Succession Planning
March 30: Legal Considerations for Farm Succession Planning

Register now! Registration gives participants access to all of the webinars in this series, plus class worksheets and resources, as well as access to recordings of webinars. Click here for more information.

FARM BUSINESS PLANNING & BUDGETING WEBINAR, March 11, 2021, 4 to 5 p.m. for Session 2: Budgeting & Financial Planning – FREE

URI Cooperative Extension, the RI Small Business Development Center (RISBDC), and UMass and UConn Cooperative Extension invite you to these 1 hour webinars – to get you thinking more about your farm-based business, whether you are well-established or new.

Join us Thursday, March 11 from 4 to 5 p.m. for Session 2: Budgeting & Financial Planning. In this free session, we’ll work through a budgeting/one-page financial planning tool to help farm business owners get a handle on their historical revenue and costs (by revenue stream) and plan for the year(s) to come.

Presenters: Josh Daly, RISBDC & Andy Radin, URI Ag Extension

Register at this link: https://www.risbdc.org/workshop.aspx?ekey=70410024

February 17, 22 and 25: Virtual FMNP Farmer Certification Meetings

The Connecticut Department of Agriculture is hosting virtual certification meetings for producers to participate in the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP) at Certified Connecticut Grown Farmers’ Markets during the 2021-2023 seasons.

All fruit, vegetable, cut herb, and honey producers selling at Certified Connecticut Grown Farmers’ Markets must attend a certification meeting to meet eligibility requirements to participate in the FMNP program. 

The certification allows farms to accept the FMNP checks as payment for fresh fruits, vegetables, cut herbs, and honey from Women, Infants and Children (WIC) clients and income-eligible seniors over the age of 60. Join us to get your certification, learn more about available grant funding for your farm, and accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to expand your sales.

Below is the  list of remaining meeting dates which will all be held virtually via Microsoft Teams.  

• Wednesday, February 17, 2021, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Monday, February 22, 2021, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
• Thursday, February 25, 2021, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Registration is now open at http://bit.ly/3qK3cjV. Questions can be directed to Erin Windham at Erin.Windham@ct.gov or 860-519-6083 or Haley Rowland at 860-895-3095.

March 18-19, CT DEEP 1st Annual Connecticut Youth Climate Summit.

Connecticut DEEP is hosting a summit for climate change action and engagement for high school students.  This event allows students to learn the science and impacts of climate change, as well as ways to engage youth in action planning for civic and community involvement.  Details and information on how to take part in this event can be accessed using the links provided or contacting susan.quincy@ct.gov. 

Click here for more information.

April 7, 14, and 21st at noon. CT NOFA Healthy Soil Under the Microscope with Monique Bosch, a lunch time series

Join CT NOFA at noon on Wednesdays in April, as we zoom in on ‘Microbes Having Lunch’, under the microscope.

Week 1 (April 7): Learn about the diversity of organisms that make up the ‘soil food web’. From the tiniest one-celled bacteria, algae, fungi, and protozoa, to the more complex nematodes and micro-arthropods.

Week 2 (April 14): Learn how to keep microbes in your soil ‘alive and well’. In return, these soil organisms will provide nutrients for the plants, build organic matter, aggregate soil particles together, and help plants resist ‘stress’.

Week 3 (April 21): Learn how to make healthy, living compost, compost tea, and extractions, then how to use a microscope to identify the microbes, and quality.

Healthy Living Soil Grows Healthy Nutritious Food.

Learn more and to register, click here.

February 27th, March 3rd, March 10th 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm CT NOFA Workshop: Road to Organic Certification