The Alternatives - Tools Outside Pesticides and Herbicides
for Green Space Maintenance
Talk given by Paule Hjertaas,B Sc, president and spokesperson of the Saskatchewan Network for
Alternatives to Pesticides (SNAP Inc) to the 2010 Saskatchewan Green Trades Conference, November
12, 11 a.m., Saskatoon Inn, Saskatoon
www.snapinfo.ca
Organic is not a product by product replacement.
Resource List
Training
Organic Land Care Basic Training for Municipal Officials or
Transitioning Landscapers (U.S based but available at reasonable cost through the
internet.)
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/pesticidefreelawns/training/index.htm
The National Coalition for Pesticide-Free Lawns is pleased to announce our Organic Land Care Basic
Training for Municipal Officials and Transitioning Landscapers. This three-part training explains the
Simple Steps to beginning an organic turf program and will cover the basic concepts, methods, and
materials you need to get started. The training is geared toward school or park and recreation officials,
however landscapers interested in transitioning are encouraged to attend.
The Program is taught by Chip Osborne, a professional horticulturist with over 30
years experience and an expert on building and transitioning turf to organic care. He is
accredited by the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) in organic land
care, and has attended the University of
Massachusetts Green School for turf
management. He converted his retail greenhouse
operation to an organic management plan,
designed and constructed Marblehead’s Living Lawn Demonstration
site, and, as the elected Chairman of the Town of Marblehead,
Recreation, Parks & Forestry Commission, is currently implementing
an Organic Turf Management Plan for the town’s public lands,
including all athletic fields.
Chip lectures nationwide on natural turf management, both to
homeowners and municipalities, and has addressed the National Sports Turf Managers Association
The registration for the live training is closed, but if you would like to listen and watch the three recorded
hour-long sessions we are offering them at a cost of only $40 for municipal officials, and $90 for
professional landscapers.
If you need more information or have questions call Beyond Pesticides at (202) 543-5450 or email
info@beyondpesticides.org
New spring lawn care factsheet emphasizing a new approach to understanding non-chemical lawn care
– Read Your “Weeds” – A Simple Guide to Creating a Healthy Lawn.
http://www.beyondpesticides.org/pesticidefreelawns/resources/Read%20Your%20WeedsOrganic%20Lawns.pdf
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Safe Lawns Campaign. Paul Tukey’s site.
Educational material, award-winning video:
"Making the Organic Transition in Lawn Care." Also 2007 published Organic Lawn Care Manual.
Available through many libraries in Saskatchewan. Paul is successful regularly dealing with 2-3 acre
size home lawns. ( U.S. based)
http://Safelawns.org
Grassroots Environmental Education
www.grassrootsinfo.org offers the
following 2 videos
.
"Growing
Your Business the Natural
Way" is our introductory film about
natural lawn care. The 12-minute film
features Charles ("Chip") Osborne and
covers the basics of soil biology, soil
testing, natural amendments, weed
control and horticultural practices. The
DVD includes both English and Spanish
versions. (Note: This is actually "Chapter
One" of our professional landscaper
training program, "NATURAL TURF
PRO.") $10.00 includes domestic
shipping. Quantity discounts available,
please call. Order.
Natural, organic lawn care is the fastest
growing segment of the green industry.
Across the country, independent
landscapers, landscape contractors and turf
managers are getting ready to grow their
businesses with Natural Turf Pro - a
powerful video learning tool with OVER
FOUR HOURS OF INSTRUCTION ON
TWO DVDs. Learn more.
$139 plus shipping and applicable taxes.
Order your copy of Natural Turf Pro today!
Order.
Organic Land care - certificates and diplomas in organic land care
http://www.organic-land-care.com/
Organic Landscape Alliance - service providers and suppliers lists
http://www.organiclandscape.org
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The environmental factor inc.
www.environmentalfactor.com/
Great Book for weed Identification and control
Rodale’s Successful Organic Gardening Controlling Weeds, Rodale Press, 1995First
part deals in general approaches for controlling weeds in different siturations. It is
followed by a very well illustrated index of weeds, their preferences and preferred
control. I found every weed I encountered in SK illustrated. Several SK libraries carry
the book.
Rama,. Laureen. Eco-Yards Simple Steps to earth-friendly landscapes.2009. Beauty
Way Creations. Laureen is a landscapers who successfully uses mostly low
maintenance native plants.
IPM and organic pest control producers and suppliers (Canada)
(From the 2010 directory of Least Toxic Pest Control Products, IPM Practitioner, BIRC) and referrasl from
several sources.
Disclaimer: I have not personally dealt with most of these companies. Many insecticides contain various
pyrethrins and I do not personally condone the use of synthetic pyrethrins for health and environmental
reasons. See http://www.snapinfo.ca/html/Pyrethrinsandpyrethroids.htm
Most relevant in bold
Soil Lab tests
Soil Food Web Canada Ltd
Biology and chemistry laboratory and research centre, Vulcan, AB
http://soilfoodweb.ca/
SoilFoodWeb Compost tea information (DVD) has been sent to the Saskatchewan Organic Directory
library.
Weed Control
Steam
• * Aquacide commercial steam weeder. Canadian.
http://www.eco-environmental.com/aquacide.shtml
• * Waipuna Intenational Ltd. commercial Steam Weeder. New Zealand.
(not currently on-line but still operating) www.waipuna.com
Ecoval, Pakville, ON
EcoClear- vinegar based weed control – what the City of Regina uses on
playgrounds www.naturesglory.com
Forever Green Landscaping, Langley, B.C.
Hedley Technologies Inc, Missisauga, ON
www.hedleytech.com
eco-weeders
www.ecoweeder.com
grain bin insects, diatomaceous earth with attractant
Resources for Parks Managers and Landscapers from the Northwest Coalition for
Alternatives to Pesticides ( NCAP) http://www.pesticide.org/solutions/professional-toolbox
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Turf
Landscapes & Hardscapes &
Tree Wells
Shrubeds
Fencelines
Grass
Sheep Fescue alone and low maintenance mix available from Bow Point Nursery,Springbank, AB
www.bowpointnursery.com ph 403- 686-4434
Sheep fescue makes a great lawn and grown well in shade, even dry shade.
Seeds in larger quantities: search on-line or in phone book under Seeds or Grass Seed suppliers,
Brett-Young and Northstar are good Canadian suppliers.
Noxious Weed Control - Saskatchewan Resources
Harvey Anderson (ph 933-7695) is in charge of biocontrol distribution for leafy spurge and scentless
chamomile in the province. His work is mostly directed at rural Saskatchewan (the rural municipailities).
Beetle collection in SK: There are also spots in Saskatchewan where you can collect your own purple
loosestrife beetles. One can get beetles for the cost of travel to get to the collecting sites. Ask Harvey or
Angela Salzl with Parks Canada at Prince Albert National Park, angela.salzl@ec.gc.ca
.
Goats
• Ecological Services is a US company owned by Lani Malmberg that specializes in using goats
for weed control. The site is very informative and includes lists of weeds controlled by goats as
well as training opportunities.
The Saskatchewan Watershed Authority maintains a series of fact sheets
http://www.swa.ca/Publications/Default.asp?type=Stewardship
Sask Agriculture Invasive Alien Plant Program – Leafy Spurge
http://www.agriculture.gov.sk.ca/Default.aspx?DN=79773c91-fd51-427e-a3ce-993e313c1289
The Bio-Integral Resource Center (BIRC) ( U.S) A California-based group with 2 publications: the
IPM Practitioner for people working in the field of integrated pesticide management (IPM) or
Ingegrated Vegetation Management (IVM) with a defined goal of pesticide reduction and using the
least toxic approach first; and Common Sense Pest Control Quarterly for the public. Back issues of
the publications with topics of interest can be ordered through publications and reprints and finding
the topic of interest. They also offer a consultation service.
BIRC has exhaustively researched information on leafy spurge control, roadside vegetation
management, tansy ragwort, blooming algae, corn gluten, herbicide-free lawns and many others. They
also used to have Canada thistle IPM fact sheet
http://www.birc.org/
Center for Invasive Plant Management resource directory (U.S.)
http://www.weedcenter.org/management/control.html
Insect control
Applied Bio-nomics Ltd, Sydney, B.C.. is a world leader in Integrated Pest Management and Biological
Pest Control. Beneficial insects - natural solutions for insect control www.appliedbio-nomics.com/ Biobest Canada, Leamington, ON
http://www.biobest.ca/
Garlic Research Lab
eating fruit
Biological agents for insect control
Langley, B.C. garlic barrier, area mosquito repellent and can keep birds from
www.garlicbarrier.com
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Phero Tech Inc ( Contech Ent.) Delta, B.C.
insect trapping systems for forestry, agriculture,
apiculture, commercial (structural). Species specific beetle and moth traps monitor insect
populations and aid a variety of control strategies. Pheromone and kairomone traps are also
sensitive detectors of non-indigenous forest insect pests. Includes lures for forest tent
caterpillar, elm bark beetles among others
www.pherotech.com
The Bug Factory, Nanoose Bay, B.C. insect predators
www.thebugfactory.ca
Various products
Natural Insect Control, ON
home and wholesale suppliers of traps, pheromones, insect predators
and parasites, garlic barrier, corn gluten fertilizer and herbicide and many more products. Also good at
giving advice on products they carry.
http://www.natural-insect-control.com/
Evergrow Canada, Delta, B.C. 0 have Calgary office) Not strictly organic or IPM.
Have an extensive list of earth friendly products (friendly products list) including natural fertilizers and
iron-based moss and broadleaf weed control for lawns, bio-fungicides. They carry products for turf and
landscape, greenhouses, nurseries, agriculture, consumers and will formulate to order.
http://www.growercentral.com/
Rittenhouse and Sons, St Catharines, ON
commercial compost tea brewers, aluminium landscape
edging, natural pond algae control, propane weed torches, elcetroweeder, eco- weeders and many other
products, as well as overview videos.
800/461-1041, 905/684-8122
http://www.rittenhouse.ca/
Wildlife
Margo Horticultural Supplies, Ltd High River, AB Field Proven Solutions for Wildlife Management:
fencing, scare products, capture and bear deterrents
www.margosupplies.com
Other
International Chitin Production, Vancouver, B.C. sells a fertilizer made of crustacean shells that has been
shown effective of ground insect and some eggs control and Chitogreen, a natural soil nematicide sold in
bulk overseas as the PMRA will not register the product because it does not contain carbon. Web site
under re-development
Koppert Canada, Scarborough, ON
market leader in biological crop protection and natural
pollination; home and commercial. www.koppertonline,com
U.S.
IPM Institute of North America 608/232-1410
http://www.ipminstitute.org/index.htm
Use the appropriate definition of IPM, lots of resources.
Great Lakes IPM, Michigan http://www.greatlakesipm.com/ (Michigan)
(supplier for the City of Regina traps, etc)
OMRI (Organic Materials Review Institute) Eugene, OR, U.S.
www.omri.org
Integrated Weed control, MT
http://www.integratedweedcontrol.com/
Purple loosestrife and leafy spurge beetles
Developed: October 2010
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