[SEMCO] Ecological Landscape Alliance Conference

[Kristin Andres]

Ecological Landscape Alliance Annual Conference 2016

ELA Conference logo SMALLSustaining the Living Landscape
The 22nd Annual ELA Conference & Eco-Marketplace
March 9 & 10, 2016 at the UMass Campus Center, Amherst, MA

Immerse yourself in a two-day exploration of ecological concepts that
support living landscapes! Early registration discounts available through
2/28.

 <http://www.ecolandscaping.org/membership/join/> Join ELA now to take
advantage of Member discounts to the conference! If you are already an ELA
Member, log into your account to get the member discount registration
options.

 
<http://www.ecolandscaping.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/2016-ELA-Conferenc
e-Brochure.pdf> Click Here to View ELA Conference Brochure

 <http://www.ecolandscaping.org/2016-ela-conference-session-descriptions/>
Click Here to View Session Schedule and Descriptions

 
<http://www.ecolandscaping.org/event/ela-conference-eco-marketplace-2016/#ev
entpurchase> Click Here to Buy Tickets Now!

Our 2016 Annual Conference brings together well-known experts for a lively
exchange of information and experiences. On Wednesday, choose from two
daylong Focus Sessions: An in-depth look at protecting and building soils
and how to incorporate permaculture principles into the conventional
landscape. Thursday's topics include restoring the urban forest, the best
use of native cultivars, designing with plant communities, and the latest in
energy efficient technology to light up your landscape. Join us as we look
at strategies to create and maintain healthy ecosystems.

 

March 9th - Two Focus Sessions, Keynote Lunch, and Keynote Dinner

Building and Managing Soils from the Top Down

Soil supports plants, and in turn, plants and organic matter are essential
to protecting and building soil. As designers and managers of the land, we
need to understand these individual components as well as how they function
as part of a larger system. Our speakers will share strategies for
remediating compromised soils and stabilizing slopes, discuss plant design
and selection for poor soil conditions, and illustrate ways to support the
natural cycling of nutrients and water. Join us for a comprehensive look at
how our designs and landscape practices can provide maximum protection and
restoration of soil.

Permaculture Applied to Conventional Landscapes

As stewards of the land, we need to ask ourselves how we can improve on
traditional practices to ensure that the landscapes we create and manage are
more resilient against pests, diseases, and climate changes. As resources
become scarcer, we need to ask how we can reduce our dependence on inputs
and maintenance. Permaculture, based on mimicking natural processes, offers
some solutions. Presenters for this session will introduce principles and
practices of permaculture, demonstrate how these techniques can be
incorporated into conventional landscapes, and show examples of successful
application in the traditional landscape settings.

 

Keynote Luncheon, Philip Korman 12:30-2:00pm

Growing Local, Buying Local: Community Support Makes a Difference!
Community support can make a difference! Mr. Korman will discuss how
Community Involved In Sustaining Agriculture (CISA) has changed the local
farming and food economy. He will show what is unique to Western
Massachusetts' Pioneer Valley and what others have done to inspire local
farming. Philip Korman is the Executive Director of Community Involved In
Sustaining Agriculture (CISA). Started in 1993, CISA is the longest running
"buy local" organization in the nation. Their mission is to strengthen local
agriculture by building connections between farmers and the community.

 

Keynote Dinner, Tradd Cotter 6:30-8:30pm

Mycoremediation: Healing Compromised Ecosystems with Fungi
Many species of fungi sweat powerful enzymes capable of molecular
disassembly of complex molecules such as hydrocarbons and pesticides. A few
species of fungi are also well adapted to filter, stun and destroy
pathogenic bacteria. Learn how fungi perform these tasks and how to develop
a filtration system that is customized to fit your needs. Mr. Cotter will
focus on biomass expansion, site engineering, and species of fungi that can
be used for mycoremediation projects. He will also discuss using fungi for
pest management, habitat restoration, and how to incorporate fungi into
bioswales to capture pollutants from site runoff. Tradd Cotter is a
microbiologist, professional mycologist, and author of Organic Mushroom
Farming and Mycoremediation, a best-selling mushroom cultivation guide. In
1996 he founded Mushroom Mountain, focusing his interests on the use of
native plants and fungi to create urban ecosystems that are more functional
and compatible with the local plant and wildlife communities. He currently
maintains more than 200 species of fungi for food production, for
mycoremediation of environmental pollutants, and as natural alternatives to
chemical pesticides. Mr. Cotter's current research focuses on the
development of target-specific mycopesticides that could replace
conventional chemical products for agriculture.

 

March 10th - One Demonstration, Eight Sessions, Plus Four Idea Exchange
Panel Discussions

Demonstration

.        Landscape Lighting Demonstration
Lukas Sturm - Lumen Studio, Inc.

Sessions

.        Light Up Your Landscape
Lukas Sturm - Lumen Studio, Inc.

.        Tree Filter Systems for Stormwater Management
Paul Iorio - StormTree

.        Designing with Plant Communities in Mind
Claudia West - North Creek Nurseries

.        Restoring the Urban Forest
Matthew Stephens - New York City Parks

.        Creating an Urban Refuge: Mt. Auburn's Wildlife Action Plan
Paul Kwiatkowski - Mount Auburn Cemetery

.        What Role Do Native Cultivars Have in an Ecological Landscape?
Keith Nevison - Fellow in the Longwood Gardens Graduate Program in Public
Horticulture

.        Creating Ecological Landscapes in Maine: Challenges & Opportunities
Arek Galle - BETA Group, Inc.
Emily Goodwin - Back Meadow Farm

.        Native Shrubs up to the Challenge
Dr. Jessica Lubell - UConn

Idea Exchange Panels

.        Managing Challenging Landscapes: Tips from the Experts
Russ Hopping - Trustees of Reservations
Anthony Ruggiero - Greenway Conservancy
Theresa Sprague - BlueFlax Design
ELA Moderator: Sue Storer - Horticultural Services

.        Cost-effective Landscape Management Strategies
Benjamin Crouch - Land of Plenty Gardens
Nate McCullin - LaFrance Hospitality Company
Mark Richardson - New England Wild Flower Society
ELA Moderator:  Dan Jaffe - New England Wild Flower Society

.        Battling the Bugs: Strategies for Insect Management
Carl Brodeur - Arborcare with Ropes 'n Saddles
Jennifer Forman Orth, PhD - Mass. Dept. of Agricultural Resources
Joe Magazzi - Green Earth Ag & Turf
ELA Moderator: Rebecca McMackin- Brooklyn Bridge Park

.        Buying Quality Nursery Stock: Asking the Right Questions
David Anderson -Hartney Gremont 
John Kinchila - Amherst Nurseries
Nave Strauss- New York City Parks
ELA Moderator: Chris Roddick - Brooklyn Botanic Garden

- See more at:
http://www.ecolandscaping.org/ela-conference-2016/#sthash.Y59Jnh3Q.dpuf

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