Start Date
12/22/2023
End Date
03/21/2024
Description
Lecture: Pesticides and the Precautionary Principle
Paul Tukey
“Our common future, that of every Canadian community, depends on a healthy environment.” With those words at the start of what is considered one of the most environmental court decisions in world history, Supreme Court Justice Claire L’Heureux Dube effectively crushed the synthetic pesticide application industry in her country in 2001. The judge involved the “precautionary principle,” a better-safe-than-sorry approach to regulating toxic lawn and garden products. Journalist Paul Tukey has studied that case and its implications — both in public opinion and landscape practice — for nearly 30 years. Now serving as the Director of Environmental Stewardship at the renowned Glenstone Museum in Maryland, Paul developed pesticide-free protocols 13 years ago that are now deployed across 350 acres. He’ll let us know what he has found.
Lecture: The Benefits of Herbicide Use as Part of an Integrated Weed Management Program
Brian O’Neill
Since 1973 Brian O’Neill has been controlling invasive species throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Mid-Western states. In this presentation he will discuss his views on the effects of herbicide use on people, wildlife, and the environment overall. He will also illustrate some of the specific ways that herbicides can be used selectively, and in conjunction with other weed control actions to limit their use and maximize their effectiveness. Brian will also cover herbicide use as part of site preparation and ongoing maintenance of native meadows.
Panel
Brian O’Neill & Paul Tukey, moderated by Larry Weaner
Brian and Paul will discuss the implications of herbicide versus organic approaches to invasive plant control. This conversational panel will be moderated by Landscape Designer Larry Weaner. They will also take questions from the audience.
Distance Learning
Yes
Course Equivalency
No
Subjects
Horticulture / Plants
Residential Design
Health, Safety and Welfare
Yes
Hours
3.0
Learning Outcomes
Gain a better understanding of the ecological ramifications of various invasive plant control methods including chemical and non-chemical approaches.
Learn how to communicate with clients when advocating for an organic approach to landscape implementation.
Learn how to communicate with clients when advocating for a landscape approach that includes the use of chemical herbicides.
Instructors
Brian O’Neill & Paul Tukey, moderator Larry Weaner, FAPLD
Course Codes
Provider
New Directions in the American Landscape