Townsend Organic Lawn Care Demonstration Site

Project Details

Year: 2008 & 2009
Location:
Project Manager: Karen Chapman, Chairperson, Town of Townsend Conservation Commission
Partners: Turgeon Environmental Services, Townsend, MA, Yard Spice Organics, LLC, Townsend Public Library, Westford Water Department, The Messenger, Inc., Townsend Recycling Committee, Nashua River Watershed Association

The Town of Townsend increased public awareness that organic lawn care practices provide a viable, effective and safer alternative to toxic substances currently in use. The Townsend Town Hall and Public Library have been established as demonstration sites of healthy lawns without toxic pesticides, herbicides, and synthetically produced fertilizers. Townsend developed materials leveraged from the Westford's Healthy Lawns for Healthy Families Project to educate residents about the benefits of organic lawn care methods. The Conservation Commission hosted a public seminar at Town Hall in the spring to encourage the use of organic practices in Townsend and neighboring communities. Additional outreach included presentations at lawn care seminars and the Townsend Earth Day Celebration and monthly columns in the "Messenger" newspaper describing the project, organic practices, and the dangers of pesticides and herbicides.

Additional activities that were conducted during the second year of funding included:

•  March 28, 2009: conducted a workshop at the Nashua River Watershed Association on Vermicomposting.
•  Earth Day, April 25, 2009: hosted a booth at Townsend’s Earth Day Celebration with organic materials and handouts for the public.
•  May 16, 2009: hosted our 3rd workshop on general Organic Lawn Care including how to have your soil tested and what to do with the results, how to mow and water your lawn for best health, and how to treat for insects and bad patches in your lawn.
•  Developed a town Organic Policy that they hope to have the Selectmen and other town entities approve.

Check out photos of the Townsend project from the TURI 2008 Champions of Toxics Use Reduction ceremony  here .