Profesional Resources
American Standards for Nursery Stock
Overview
The purpose of the American Standard for Nursery Stock is to provide buyers and sellers of nursery stock with a common terminology in order to facilitate transactions nvolving nursery stock. For instance, the standards establish common techniques for (a) measuring plants, (b) specifying and stating the size of plants, (c) determining the proper relationship between height and caliper, or height and width, and (d) determining whether a root ball or container is large enough for a particular size plant. In other words, this book is a communication tool, and does not provide buyers with any assurance of the health or quality of the nursery stock being specified or sold. MORE>>
Landscape Irrigation Best Management Practices
Together with recognized irrigation experts, the Irrigation Association has developed best management practices for turf and landscape. Click here to download a copy in PDF format.
These BMPs are designed to:
- Raise the bar for efficient water management.
- Preserve water supplies and protect water quality.
- Help stakeholders formulate and implement sound water policies, including appropriate codes and standards for effective water stewardship.
- Help water purveyors, industry professionals and irrigation consumers make responsible and informed decisions about water use.
Chesapeake Bay Information Resources
Online Library and self-help site that is being used by local government across the watershed to promote citizen stewardship and home stormwater care. www.stormwater.allianceforthebay.org
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay www.allianceforthebay.org MORE>>
FREE Planting Promotion for VNLA Members
The Plant More Plants campaign is now in full swing. Television ads are running in the Hampton Roads, Richmond and Washington, D.C. markets. Online banners ads encouraging people to “grow some good” are also running. The campaign has also seen articles or editorials in the Daily Press, Examiner, Washington Post and Fredericksburg Free Lance Star. An Associated Press article was picked up by media in Virginia, Maryland and D.C. MORE>>
Sustainability Standard for Nursery and Greenhouse Production
Food Alliance provides a sustainability standard which nursery and greenhouse producers may use to evaluate management practices, measure social and environmental performance, or seek voluntary third-party certification.
What Does the Standard Cover?
The standard addresses the following areas of concern:
• soil and water conservation,
• wildlife habitat and biodiversity conservation,
• adaptive management of pests, diseases, and weeds,
• safe and fair working conditions, and
• operational efficiencies (energy use, recycling, etc.). MORE>>
Tree Value Calculator
The Tree Benefit Calculator allows anyone to make a simple estimation of the benefits individual street-side trees provide. This tool is based on i-Tree’s street tree assessment tool called STREETS. With inputs of location, species and tree size, users will get an understanding of the environmental and economic value trees provide on an annual basis.
The Tree Benefit Calculator is intended to be simple and accessible. As such, this tool should be considered a starting point for understanding trees value in the community, rather than a scientific accounting of precise values.
SITES (Sustainable Sites Initiative)
Advance your knowledge of sustainable landscapes.
A free webinar series by SITES provides more information about sustainable landscape design and development and why they matter, and tips to SITES certification:
- Introduction to Sites
- Introduction to the SITES program
- Understanding the Sites Rating System
- Understanding the SITES Rating System
- Tips and Tools
- Getting Started with the SITES Program
Watershed Implementation Plans, Phase II
WIPs for Pennsylvania, Virginia found wanting in EPA review
By Karl Blankenship (excerpts from the BayJournal, for complete article go to http://www.bayjournal.com/article.cfm?article=4305 )
The EPA gave generally high marks to the latest state plans to clean up the Chesapeake, but remained critical of portions of the submissions from Pennsylvania and Virginia. And, it provided a hint that it will act against states that fail to live up to expectations. The agency withheld hundreds of thousands of dollars of grant money from New York, which didn’t submit its draft Phase II Watershed Implementation Plan until Jan. 31. It was due Dec. 15. “From an overall standpoint, we’re pleased, but some jurisdictions clearly did a better job than others,” said Jim Edward, deputy director of the EPA’s Chesapeake Bay Program Office. Virginia’s plan, while improved, MORE>>
Farm Service Agency – Serving Family Farmers, Cultivating Opportunities.
FSA’s farm loan programs are a valuable resource to establish, improve, expand, transition, and strengthen your farm or ranch.
For more information about FSA’s farm loan programs
http://www.fsa.usda.gov/FSA/webapp?area=home&subject=fmlp&topic=landing
Anti-Virus Computer programs – What’s the difference between free and paid version and what to watch for. No More Free Antivirus? (Ask Bob Rankin)
Thank you for reading!