2023 New Webinar Sessions
Session 13: June 13 Tuesday @ 7 PM.
- Guest Speaker: Joe Magazzi with Green Earth Ag&Turf
- WATCH RECORDING HERE
- Bio:Since 2004, Joe Magazzi has been involved in the research and development of microbial-based probiotics for use as inoculants and organic pesticides. Joe is the co-founder and president of Green Earth Ag & Turf & GrowItNaturally.com, companies that distribute organic products throughout the US for use in turf care, agriculture and indoor growing. Joe promotes and teaches about the use of greener products as alternatives for pesticides through speaking engagements, radio interviews and as a write for publications such as Turf Magazine. Joe serves on scientific advisory and professional organization boards, is a former Adjunct Professor at Suffolk County Community College in New York State and has a Master’s degree in genetics (with a microbiology focus) from the University of Connecticut-Storrs. Joe has had his research published in scientific journals such as The New England Journal of Medicine.
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Webinar Description: With bans against neonicotinoids being implemented and growing customer demand for organic options, the timing is perfect for new and effective alternatives to synthetic pesticides to avoid losing sales in these rapidly expanding markets. Organics are no longer a compromise – the field is advancing meteorically with novel new products. grubGONE! is the best organic example of this, a true “silver bullet” treatment options that targets the pest and not the rest. This talk will cover this novel product that kills grubs and adult beetles, works as well as synthetic grub products and can be used where neonicotinoids or other pesticides are banned.
Session 12: May 15(Wednesday) @ 7 PM.
- Guest Speaker: Steven Rettke with Rutgers Cooperative Extension
- Webinar Topic: Steven will be discusses biological controls of recent NJ exotic invasive insects & also various insecticide options. IPM management strategies involving cultural, biological & chemical approaches will be discussed.
- WATCH WEBINAR HERE
- Bio: Steven Rettke has been employed by Rutgers Cooperative Extension since 1996. His primary responsibilities include promoting the IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Philosophy to professionals working within the landscape, turf, nursery, & greenhouse industries. His areas of expertise include the key insect & disease pests of ornamental plants/crops.
Each season, for 28 years, he has traveled extensively throughout New Jersey providing pest monitoring & consulting information to selected nursery/greenhouse growers & commercial landscape/turf managers participating in the Rutgers Greenhouse, Nursery, & Landscape IPM Programs.
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READ STEVEN’S MOST RECENT ARTICLE FOR PLANT & PEST ADVISORY – CLICK HERE
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Field Coordinator of the Rutgers Landscape IPM Mentoring Program (May 1996 to April 2002)
Primary responsibilities included the mentoring of commercial landscapers & turf managers who desired assistance with their initial attempts using IPM/PHC methods
-Field Coordinator of the Rutgers Greenhouse/Nursery IPM Monitoring & Consulting Programs (April 2002 to Present)
Primary responsibilities include the monitoring of commercial greenhouses/nurseries with written records providing insect/disease pest observations & recommendation
Session 11: May 10 (Wednesday) @ 7 PM.
- Guest Speaker: Bill Skerrett with ICT Organics
- Webinar Topic: Do you have nematode, bacterial and fungal issues? Bill will discuss the ICT Organics product line and especially a new product coming out named KitoCure an organic Nematicide which is EPA 25b exempt and NOP compliant.Beech leaf disease (BLD) affects and kills both native and ornamental beech tree species will also be discussed.
- WATCH WEBINAR HERE
- Bio: William (Bill) Skerrett founded ICT Organics in 2007 and is currently the CEO.
ICT Organics is dedicated to making products from environmentally sustainable resources
Our products allow lawn and landscape professionals to accelerate their transition to organic lawn and landscape care.
These products have a profound effect on an organization’s ability to build sales and profitability.
Our products enable your company to capitalize on long-term trends towards organic systems to promote turf health and soil fertility.
Session 10: May 3rd (Wednesday) @ 7 PM.
- Guest Speaker: Eric Maurer with Neudorff
- Webinar Topic:What really is a biopesticide, an OMRI listed product, a 25(b) product and what does that mean? Plus an update on your favorite herbicide, Fiesta.
- WATCH WEBINAR HERE
- Bio: Eric began his career as an agricultural economist at the U.S. EPA spending 10 years learning the ins and outs of the regulatory process, supporting the registration of new pesticides, and managing acceptance of IPM techniques throughout the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
Interested in moving on to industry, he facilitated US and Canadian regulatory activities for Valent USA and Cheminova in their Washington DC offices.
Eric then moved on to help establish Engage Agro in the USA. For over six years, he built interest from the ground up in developing alternatives to traditional chemistry in turf, nursery/greenhouse, and agricultural markets. These softer chemistry options, such as Fiesta, were new to the US in 2010. There was, and still is, significant opportunity for growth in this sector.
Now with Neudorff USA, a global leader in the development and manufacture of ecologically responsible products for agriculture, turf and ornamental growers, Eric manages national accounts in these sectors. He is excited to educate distribution and retail that there are efficacious, less toxic alternative products available that can help end users grow their business and meet the changing demands of their
customers.
Session 9: April 26 (Wednesday) @ 7 PM.
- Guest Speaker: William Ericckson
- Webinar Topic: Biologically Healthy Soils.
- WATCH WEBINAR HERE
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Description: Soil health is defined as the continued capacity of soil to function as a vital living ecosystem that sustains plants, animals, and humans. Maintaining soil health is an essential component of a productive and thriving landscape that is more resistant to disease and abiotic stress. This presentation will highlight the important ecological roles of soil organisms as they relate to the physical and chemical properties of soil in ornamental landscapes. Topics will include proper methods of soil testing, optimizing soil fertility, and practices to support soil organism biodiversity through increasing soil organic matter.
Bio: Bill Errickson is the Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Monmouth County. Bill holds a Master’s degree in Soil Science from the University of New Hampshire and is completing a Doctoral degree in Plant Biology from Rutgers University.
Session 8: April 19 (Wednesday) @ 7 PM.
- Guest Speaker: Michael Stangl
- Webinar Topic: Building soil health for healthy landscapes: using regenerative land care practices.
- WATCH WEBINAR HERE
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About Michael: Owner of Stangl’s Enviro Lawn Care.
With over four decades of experience in lawn care, I began my journey at the young age of 16 in 1981, specializing in chemical treatments. As time went by, I shifted my focus towards more sustainable practices, adopting biological and regenerative approaches that not only reduced inputs but also increased profits.
My success lies in the art of observation, conducting biological assays and utilizing cutting-edge techniques such as Haney and PLFA to fine-tune outcomes for even greater returns. Building Johnson Su bioreactors has enabled me to create a powerful extract, combining worm castings, LAB serum and minerals while also comprehending the complex rhizophagy cycle.
I understand the value of maximizing photosynthesis and recognize that carbon is currency, while biology is the workforce and the plant is the farmer. Continuously pushing forward, I strive to maintain momentum for the health of the plant, soil, and ecosystem, and pivot when necessary to ensure progress towards our goals
Session 7: April 12 (Wednesday)@ 7 PM
- Guest Speaker: Jim Conroy and Basia Alexander
- Webinar Topic: How to Get Your Trees Out of Food-Debt in Climate Extremes
- Insight into what happens for trees; why they go into food-debt.
- How trees get into a negative feedback loop with their food supply and growth.
- What the trees tell us they need now to build food supplies and to survive.
- New paradigm-busting model for tree health.
- Why climate extremes will change everything.
- What you can do!
- WATCH WEBINAR HERE
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About Jim Conroy. TheTreeWhisperer.com. His mission is to SAVE TREES BY HEALING TREES. He has a Phd in Plant Pathology, and worked for over 30 years in the corporate agricultural chemical industry. He is currently a Certified Organic Landcare Pro’l with CT NOFA. Since a life-changing flash of insight in 2002, he became The Tree Whisperer®. Dr. Jim gets inside the tree’s world—“talks” with them— and knows trees as sentient Beings who live as part of an intelligent ecosystem. He uses his intuitive perception and sensory sensitivity to receive clarity about how trees’ inner functionality is compromised, then collaborates with them to heal them from the inside out. As an innovator, he has developed multiple systems for healing trees, plants, crops and forests based on conscious collaboration. He is a master teacher at BioBaliaInstituteSchool.org
About Basia Alexander. PartnerWithNature.org Her mission is to CHAMPION PARTNERING WITH NATURE AND SHOWS PEOPLE HOW TO PARTNER in a unique, easy, and consciously collaborative way with trees and plants of all kinds. She figures out what Dr. Jim is saying and translates it into understandable words so you can learn about it. Dr. Jim says: “She’s the brains behind the operation and keeps the wheels turning.” She is a leader in the new field of conscious co-creativity. An expert nature communicator, she leads workshops and produces innovative curriculum. With Dr. Conroy, she has co-authored 7 books and also writes on topics of health, personal transformation, creativity, and spirituality. She directs the educational and philanthropic activities of The BioBalia Institute and is a master teacher at BioBaliaInstituteSchool.org.
Session 6: April 5 (Wednesday) @ 7 PM.
- Guest Speaker: Timothy J. Waller Ph.D.
- Rutgers Cooperative Extension – Cumberland County- Agricultural and Natural Resources Agent (Nursery Crops)
- Webinar Topic: Understanding How Tree and Shrub Plant Stress Impacts Disease Incidence. Tim’s presentation will focus on identifying and understanding how plant stress impacts incidence and severity of diseases. This seminar will focus on root rotting pathogens; however, it will be equally useful for other types of plant diseases. Understanding how to avoid pathogens in the first place and cultural practices and techniques that hinge on sanitation practices will be discussed throughout.
- WATCH WEBINAR HERE
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About Tim Waller: He is the Nursery agent of Rutgers Cooperative Extension for southern NJ, based primarily in Cumberland County. Tim has a Ph.D. in Plant Biology with a focus on fungal plant pathology and has been a licensed pesticide applicator for over a decade. His research interests focus on pest management; whether that be insect, disease, weeds, or animal, by utilizing system approaches to navigate multiple issues via single expenditures. He is keen to develop contemporary knowledge-based interfaces that will allow producers to quickly and accurately diagnosis, treat, and prevent on-going or newly arrived horticultural problems. His efforts are split across approximately 70% containerized and field produced nursery stock, 20% Christmas trees, and 10% cut-flower and related niche-crop production.
Session 5: March 29 (Wednesday) @ 7 PM.
- Guest Speaker: Chip Osborne
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Owner/President: Osborne Organics
- Webinar Topic: Question and Answer Session. The proven method to successfully transition to organic turf management, permanently.
- WATCH WEBINAR HERE
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About Chip Osborne:
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Chip Osborne is a professional horticulturist with fifty years of experience in the green industry. In the mid-1990’s his extensive horticultural background was broadened to include turfgrass management. Chip has been transitioning residential, sports, and recreational turf for over twenty years.
He is a NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professional. Chip is a member of the Board of Directors of Beyond Pesticides in Washington DC. He is a twenty-year elected member of the Town of Marblehead MA Recreation and Park Commission. In 2007 he founded Osborne Organics, a company that provides organic turf and landscape consulting services and education on a national level to universities, business, municipal, and institutional clients.
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Session 4: March 22 (Wednesday) @ 7 PM.
- Guest Speaker: Rik McCoy
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Owner/President: Richard A. McCoy Horticultural Services Inc.
American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA): Northeast Representative
- Webinar Topic: A Conventional Transition to organic /ecological and low-impact land care: The Business Model
- WATCH WEBINAR HERE
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About Richard A. McCoy
- Established Richard A. McCoy Horticultural Services Inc. in 1998 and transitioned McCoy Horticultural to one of New Jersey’s first organic, ecological, and low-impact land care companies in 2005
- 2013 Member of Rutgers Organic Land Care Working Group
- Co-authored The Rutgers Organic Land Care Best Management Practices Manual
- Rutgers Cooperative Extension Organic Land Care Course Instructor
- 2016 Recognized by the Smithsonian Institute’s Archives of American Gardens
- 2021 New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association Horticulturalist of the Year
- 2021 New Jersey’s first American Green Zone Alliance Service Pro Certified Company
- Acts as an advisor for nationally active groups:
- The Organic Landscape Association
- Non-Toxic Communities
- Re:Wild Green Grounds Certification Advisory Board Member
Session 3: March 15 (Wednesday) @ 7 PM.
- Guest Speaker: John Raffiani, Raffiani’s Automatic Sprinkler Service
- Webinar Topic: Soil Amendments- From compost to mycorrhizal fungi and a few things in between.
- CLOSED
- John Raffiani-has been installing and servicing irrigation
systems since 1966-more than 17,000 to date. He has
completed projects from small residential systems up to 100-
acre sites (in phases)-Homes, Shopping Centers, Corporate
Office Parks, Athletic Fields and Condominiums in New
Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Arizona and
California. He has installed large scale landscape and drainage
projects for the HOA market in Northern NJ.
He is a Licensed Irrigation Contractor in NJ, an IA Certified
Irrigation Contractor, an IA Certified Irrigation Technician, a
Certified Back Flow tester, an NDS Certified Drainage
Contractor, a Rutgers Certified Fertilizer Applicator and an IA
Regional Authorized Instructor. He has written and taught
many Continuing Education Credit courses and Webinars for
the National IA, the NJ Irrigation Association, the CICA, the
MNLA and the NJLCA. He is an active member of the IANJ, IA,
NJLCA, NJTA.
Session 2: March 7 (Tuesday) @ 7 PM.
- Guest Speaker: Ryan Anderson, IPM Institute of North America
- Webinar Topic: Organic based turf management program and approach.
- WATCH WEBINAR
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Ryan Anderson is the Sustainable Communities Manager for the 501(c)3 non-profit IPM Institute of North America. A 2016 National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Christine Mirzayan Science & Technology Fellow, Ryan has extensive experience advancing science-based solutions in urban and residential communities highlighted by his leadership of Midwest Grows Green (MGG) sustainable landscaping initiative. Ryan has a Masters of Sustainable Solutions from Arizona State University and holds a dual bachelor’s degree in Biology and Electronic Journalism from Butler University.Midwest Grows Green’s description:Midwest Grows Green is an initiative of the IPM Institute of North America, Inc. that educates and empowers citizens to take sustainable landscaping action that reduces harmful runoff into our waterways, protects the health of our most vulnerable citizens and reduces negative impacts of pesticides on non-target species such as pollinators.

Session 1: February 28 (Tuesday) @ 7 P.M.
- Guest Speaker: Barry Draycott, Tech Terra Environmental
- Webinar Topic: 4 Laws of Ecology
- WATCH WEBINAR
- Barry Draycott founded Tech Terra Environmental in 2005. His career however in the green industry began in 1977 as a pesticide applicator for a tree care company in New Jersey. For decades Barry looked for ways to improve plant vigor and reduce pesticide usage. This led him to scientific research, which demonstrated the positive impact improving soil health has on plant vigor.

2022 Webinars
Watch our online webinars from 2022 and learn from other landscape professionals!
Eco-Friendly Landscaping Webinar Series
Sessions: January – June 2022
Session 1: January 12 (Closed)
- Richard McCoy: Rebuilding landscapes with native plants, from ecological dead zone to ecological powerhouse. BIO LINK
- VIEW RECORDED WEBINAR – VIDEO LINK
Session 2 : January 19 (Closed)
- Joe Heckman, Ph.D. will discuss Soil Nutrients.
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Joe is a Professor of Soil Science, Rutgers University, where he teaches courses in Soil Fertility, Organic Crop Production, and Agroecology. He conducts research and extension programs on optimizing nutrition and soil quality in support of plant, animal, and human health
- BIO LINK
- No Recording of this session.
Session 3 : January 26 (Closed)
- Mike Reed: Regenerative turf systems.
- No Recording of this session.
Session 4: February 9 (Closed)
- WEBINAR RECORDING CLICK HERE:
- Joe Magazzi: Organic control for grubs and beetles. BIO LINK
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We will also discuss the fact that many States are restricting the use of Neonicotinoid Insecticides in the landscape due to the harm they cause pollinators.
GrubGONE and BeetleGONE have proven as effective as Neonicotinoids without any negative impact on pollinators.
Session 5: February 16 (Closed)
- Mike Kolenut: Financial success with organic land care.
- A 16 history of an organic company, transitioning from conventional to 100%
Organic, beginning with education and training, we take you through our
trials and tribulations, so that you may illuminate any pitfalls in your own
companies transition. - A major part of being a successful Organic operator is the ability to read
soil tests, Basic chemistry and biological, And show you how to interpret
those results, and how it corresponds with each other. - BIO LINK
- ZOOM RECORDING – CLICK HERE
Session 6: February 24 (Closed)
- Eric Maurer: Topic: Low risk herbicides…”What does OMRI, Minimum Risk and 25(b) mean plus new data on Fiesta Herbicide.”
- SPECIAL OFFER: $25 OFF case of Fiesta Weed Killer for all attendees.
- PRODUCTS LINK
- WEBINAR RECORDING CLICK HERE:
Session 7: March 2 – (Closed)
- WEBINAR RECORDING CLICK HERE:
- Professor James F. White: Topic: How plants cultivate and extract nutrients from soil microbes, the importance of maintenance of microbial diversity on seeds and soils, foliar nutrients and more!
- Bio: James F. White is a Professor in the Department of Plant Biology at Rutgers University where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the biology of fungi. Dr. White’s research interests include paleomycology and the evolutionary development of microbial plant symbioses—including the study of both fossil and extant systems. In particular, recently Dr. White and collaborators have been examining the roles of intracellular bacteria and fungi in modulation of development and nutrient acquisition in plants.
Session 8: March 9 (Closed)
- WEBINAR RECORDING CLICK HERE
- John Raffiani: Proper irrigation methods. BIO LINK
Session 9: March 16.(Closed)
- WEBINAR RECORDING CLICK HERE
- Bill Skerrett: Minimum Risk Pesticides. BIO LINK
Session 10: March 23. (Closed)
- WEBINAR RECORDING CLICK HERE
- Chip Osborne from Osborne Organics. Chip will discuss his proven method to successfully transition to organic turf management.
Session 11: March 30. (Closed)
- WEBINAR RECORDING CLICK HERE
- John Raffiani discusses 3 ways to reduce soggy turf!
Session 12: April 6. (Closed)
- WEBINAR RECORDING CLICK HERE
- Michael Stangl from Stangl’s Enviro Lawn Care
- Transitioned from fertilizer and spray programs to regenerative processes using Johnson Su/vermicast extracts, fish hydrolysate, sea salt, kelp, humic, amino acids and more…
Session 13: April 13. (Closed)
- WEBINAR RECORDING CLICK HERE
- Dan Mabe from American Green Zone Alliance
- Topic of discussion:Battery operated equipment
Session 14: April 20 (Closed)
- WEBINAR RECORDING CLICK HERE
- Basia & Jim from The Tree Whisperers
- Topic of Discussion: Practical, Holistic Insights into How Trees REALLY Operate from the Inside-Out
Session 15: April 27 (Closed)
- WEBINAR RECORDING CLICK HERE
- Steven Rettke – Field Coordinator of the Rutgers Landscape IPM Mentoring Program
- Topic of Discussion: Integrated Pest Management (or IPM) is a commonsense approach that reduces absolute reliance on synthetic, chemical pesticides as a sole method of controlling pests. A combination of strategies is used to predict, prevent, & manage landscape insect & disease pests. These IPM strategies are proactive, not reactions to the presence of a pest. IPM programs result in effective landscape pest control with diminished economic, health, & environmental risks.
Session 16: May 4 (Closed)
Session 17: May 19- (Closed)
- WEBINAR RECORDING CLICK HERE
- Guest speakers: Sheina and Mackenzie from Herbicide Free Campus
- This is an organization that supports groups of students who want to eliminate synthetic herbicides through building strategic student movements, spreading awareness and working with groundskeepers and landscape maintenance departments.
Session 18: June 8- (Closed)
- WEBINAR RECORDING CLICK HERE
- Guest speaker Jerry Barberio from Village of Mamaroneck
- Discussion: Will focus on how the Township manages their playing fields and parks with fewer pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.
