First SafeLawns Stop: Robinson, Illinois

The annual spring SafeLawns educational tour launches into full swing this week with my appearance at the Crawford County Master Gardeners “Winter Day in the Garden” in Robinson, Illinois. Slated for Saturday, January 29, at Lincoln Trail’s Zwermann Theatre, the event runs from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (doors open at 7:00 a.m.).

Here’s a link to registration details: http://web.extension.illinois.edu/crawford/winterday/index.html

Doors open at 7 a.m. (Illinois time – central standard), followed by an “Early Bird” presentation at 7:30 a.m. with Josh Greene (IL Jr. Master Gardener) talking about “Square Foot Gardening”. He and his mother are passionate about this concept and will have slides showing the different steps involved.

My keynote speech kick off at 8:45 a.m. Paul Tukey with the topic “How & Why To Create A Beautiful, Natural Landscape.” Topics will include organic soil management, natural products, pesticide toxicity and community awareness and activism and we’ll hold a book signing afterward for The Organic Lawn Care Manual.

At 11:15, we’ll follow up the inspirational talk with a straight how-to session titled “Organic Landscaping 101,” a detail-oriented session about products and techniques involved in the transition.

I’m personally excited about the afternoon session featuring Felder Rushing, one of America’s great garden communicators. His talk, “Slow Gardening,” is sure to be as entertaining as it is enlightening.

Robinson is just south of Terre Haute, Indiana, across the Illinois border. If you happen to be in that region, stop by and say hello. It’s going to be a great day.