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Pesticide Use Reduction through Compost Tea Alternative in Woburn

Project Details

Year: 2013-2015
Location: Woburn
Project Manager: James Carnazza, Full Circle Earth
Partners: Town of Reading, Town of Wakefield, Woburn Residents Environmental Network, Wakefield Access Community Television, Wakefield Farmers Market, Beverly Farmers Market,Whole Foods Market Lynnfield, Beverly Farmers Market, Change is Simple Inc., Food Project.

Overview

The Full Circle Earth project team will educate community members on organic land care methods. Through workshops and community events in Beverly, Wakefield and Woburn, the team will help the public achieve healthy lawns and landscapes without the use of pesticides or harmful fertilizers. These workshops will explain how to rejuvenate the soil through microbes that will strengthen plants to resist pests. They will also demonstrate compost tea brewing, give away easy-to-use kits and show documentaries on the harmful effects of pesticides.

Results 

Full Circle Earth provided hands on training relating to organic land care to 100 community members through workshops held at the local farmers market, public libraries, local grocery store, and community gardens. They demonstrated to 100+ interested community members compost tea brewing and organic land care steps at Farmers Markets, public spaces, and participating home owner properties. They distributed 250 'how to' knowledge brochures in the areas of organic land care and compost tea at the Beverly and Woburn Farmers Markets throughout the market season. We connected with Lynnfield High School and facilitated a compost tea workshop to some students within a classroom, in turn creating a program model that can be easily accessed and replicated throughout Massachusetts.

Additionally, they created an educational video about compost tea and organic land care that will be distributed to the local Access Televisions in Woburn, Wakefield, Reading, and Beverly. This video will also be distributed state wide and will be available on YouTube. 

Full Circle Earth expanded upon its TURI 2014 Grant Project while reaching a wider audience and creating a regional and state wide model to effectively reduce pesticide use.  They provided hands on training relating to organic land care through workshops held at the local farmers market,  local grocery store, and community gardens. They demonstrated to 100+ interested community members compost tea brewing and organic land care steps at Farmers Markets, public spaces, and participating home owner properties. They distributed how to knowledge brochures in the areas of organic land care and compost tea at three armers Markets throughout the market season: Beverly, Gloucester, Newburyport. We had compost tea brew kits readily available to interested community members receive for free. Beverly High School was interested in collaboration and they plan to facilitate a compost tea workshop to some students within a classroom. Overall, they created a program model that can be easily accessed and replicated throughout Massachusetts.



This page updated Wednesday October 13 2021