Immerse yourself in a two-day exploration of ecological concepts that support living landscapes! Early registration discounts available through 2/28.
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Click Here to View ELA Conference Brochure Click Here to View Session Schedule and Descriptions
Conference Sessions and Hotel In One Building!
Murray D. Lincoln Campus Center
And Hotel UMass
University of Massachusetts
1 Campus Way
Amherst, MA
Click here for Transportation and Lodging Tips!
Conference Hotel – Special Room Rates for conference attendees $109.
Discount rate available through February 28th only!
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.
Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) are requested for many ELA conference sessions. CEUs are requested from the following organizations: APLD, ISA, LA CES, MA Forester, N.E. Pesticide, N.Y. Pesticide, N.J. Pesticide, and NOFA AOLCP. Click here for the current list of approved CEUs. All other CEU applications are currently being reviewed. Please check back soon for an updated list of approved credit awards.
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.
Demonstration
Sessions
Idea Exchange Panels