Los Olivos Community Center Bake Parkway and Irvine Center Drive 101 Alfonso, Irvine, California
Date:
February 3, 2020
Time:
9 AM to 12 PM
About the event:
Do you have questions about organic landscaping? Are you a professional facing pressure to stop the use of synthetic fertilizers, and pesticides like glyphosate, 2,4-D and neonicotinoids? Do you want to be able to offer organic services but don't know where to start? Our panelists present their successes and solutions that take us beyond the synthetic paradigm to a new way of viewing landscapes as a biological system to nurture and support.
Agenda:
9:00 to 9:10 Registration 9:10 to 9:20 Introduction by Irvine resident Kathleen Hallal of Non Toxic Communities 9:20 to 9:45 Mayor Christina Shea and Dennis Chiotti, City of Irvine Landscape Superintendent 9:45 to 10:05 Message from Jay Feldman Executive Director of Beyond Pesticides 10:05 to 10:25 M. Tom Carrasco of Non Toxic Communities 10:25 to 11:35 Chip Osborne of Beyond Pesticides 11:35 to 12:00 Q & A
Panelists:
Mayor Christina Shea
In 2016 she brought forward a proposal to make Irvine one of the first cities in the U.S. to use only organic pesticide abatement practices in its local parks, green belts, and open spaces. Since then, the city of Irvine has organically maintained over 570 acres of community and neighborhood parks and athletic fields, 800 acres of public right of way, including Street medians and parkways, 70,000 trees, and nearly 1.5 million square feet of facilities.
M. Tom Carrasco, organic landscape professional
M. Tom Carrasco grew up in the Salinas Valley, one of the worlds richest agricultural areas. As a third generation of the green industry, he learned from his father about sustainability. Tom has a degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech). He has nearly 20 years of experience and has developed agronomic programs focused on IPM and organic land management, taught turfgrass management at National University in San Diego, and is an experienced arborist.
Chip Osborne, nationally renowned organic expert
Organic Landscape Association founder, and Beyond Pesticides board member Chip Osborne has over 45 years experience as a professional horticulturist. For over two decades, he has been creating safe, sustainable and healthy athletic fields and landscapes through Natural Turf Management protocols. Learn more about Chip Osborne.