Why “Bad Grass”
The turf grass lawn is uniquely American. It covers the majority of most of our properties, consuming water, chemicals, time, and money but providing little in terms of support for insects and animals. With the right inspiration, each of us can replace a little of that “bad grass” with something better.
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Event Details
All attendees are invited to continue the conversation at a cocktail reception following the formal presentation. Additionally, Supporters will receive an S et P notebook and acknowledgment in the program.
Friend - $20, Supporter - $50
Special thanks to The White Hart for welcoming this series.
March 31 - 5:30 pm @ The White Hart, reception to follow
Proceeds & Awareness to benefit Perfect Earth Project
Toshi Yano had what many would consider a dream job as Director of Horticulture at Wethersfield Estate & Garden, a 1,000-acre landscape with a rich history of conservation and design. In conversation with Jane Garmey, he will share how his experiences in the garden and out led him to leave that post and search for perfection in his current role at Perfect Earth Project working with public gardens and cultural institutions to improve their landcare practices.
Toshi Yano is Managing Director, Earth Equity at Perfect Earth Project. Prior to embarking on his gardening career, Toshi studied philosophy at The New School for Social Research and spent two decades as a dabbler in many things. He worked at Stonecrop Gardens, was Director of Horticulture at Wethersfield Estate & Gardens, and is Director at Large at the American Public Garden Association.
April 29th - 2:00 pm @ Norfolk Curling Club, walk in the woods and reception to follow
Proceeds & Awareness to benefit Great Mountain Forest
In 1909, Frederic C. Walcott and Starling W. Childs began a partnership acquiring land that a century of industrial use had left with little of either economic or ecological value.
Today, Great Mountain Forest comprises over 6,000 acres and is a leader in forest stewardship, practicing sustainable forest management, and promoting biodiversity and resilience to climate change.
Starling W. Childs II will reminisce about a lifetime spent in the woods balancing the sustainable management of natural resources and preserving the natural environment.
Star is a consulting forester and co-founder of Ecological and Environmental Consulting Services.
Past Events
February 9th - 5:30 pm @ The White Hart, reception to follow
Proceeds & Awareness to benefit Salisbury Association Land Trust
Lawn grass covers over 40 million acres of land in the US, requiring significant water and chemical inputs, but providing little in terms of support for biodiversity. Michael Nadeau, in conversation with Jeb Breece, will provide a brief history of lawns and share his insights from 40+ years of transforming turf grass into native meadows.
Michael Nadeau’ is one of the leading authorities in the field of sustainable organic and ethical land care strategies in the US. He is sought after for creating attractive sustainable & restorative environments using organic practices that respect the ecology of the property and reflect the philosophy of the client. Michael’s organic and sustainable holistic land care programs carefully maximize wildlife habitat with specific plantings and techniques, improving the overall health of land, water, and wildlife.
He is a published writer on subjects including ecological, sustainable, and organic land-care topics.
March 2nd - 5:30 pm @ The White Hart, reception to follow
Proceeds & Awareness to benefit Sharon Audubon Center
People often think that gardening with native plants means accepting a “wild” or unkept aesthetic. Not so! Acclaimed garden designers, Page Dickey and Deb Munson, share their secrets for using native plants to create gardens that are a feast for the eyes…and the birds, bees and butterflies. And, discuss why that matters.
Page Dickey has been writing about gardening and designing gardens for others for the last three decades. She uses native plants extensively in her design work and writes about the importance of designing gardens that reflect their settings. Her most recent book, Uprooted: A Gardener Reflects on Beginning Again, describes her process of finding a home in NWC and falling in love with its land.
Deborah Munson is a horticulturist and landscape designer working in the NW corner of CT. She has combined her background in Natural Resource Conservation and passion for garden history, and ecological and sustainable design into the projects and properties she designs and oversees. Enjoying watching landscapes mature and evolve, she at times prefers editing the natural landscape over planting. She has frequently taught on-site field studies on ecological landscaping. Deb has co-chaired and consulted on Trade Secrets – A Rare Plant and Garden Antiques Sale to benefit Women’s Support Services - for many years and enjoys volunteer work for the Garden Conservancy, Berkshire Botanic Garden, and the Native Plant Trust. She resides with her husband, Brian, on a mountaintop in Falls Village in an energy-efficient home of their design where rainwater collection and solar panels are put to use.