Environmental Issues in Northern Ontario
FIRST ANNUAL MINNOW LAKE ORGANIC LAWN AND GARDEN CONTEST
(Minnow Lake area in the City of Greater Sudbury Ontario)
Eligible Participants: All residents of Minnow Lake - that area south of the Kingsway from the start of Howey Drive (corner of Van Horne) in the West to past Moonlight Ave. and Ridgemount Ave in the East.
Judging date: July 15,16,17, 2005.
Winners announced Saturday, July 23, 2005 at Minnow Lake Days.
Prizes:
First Prize: $200.00 Gift Certificate from Dumas� Your Independent Grocers
Second Prize: $100.00 Gift Certificate from Dumas� Your Independent Grocers
Third Prize: $50.00 Gift Certificate from Bancroft Centre Pharmacy
Rules:
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Only those yards that have not had any pesticides applied over the past year are eligible for the competition.
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Yards may include any combination of flower beds and/or lawns and/or vegetable gardens
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No use of chemical fertilizers or pesticides are allowed on any portion of the yard for this growing season
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Participants must use natural methods of plant and insect control including but not limited to: companion planting, hand removal of insects, beneficial nematode application.
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Participants must provide a list of all products used and a brief description of methods
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Consultation with organic lawn and garden care specialists allowed
Definitions:
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Organic product: For the purpose of this competition, an organic product will be defined as a natural product that contains no chemicals. Examples of these include kelp, bone meal, compost, manure, grass clippings.
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Pesticide: A chemical substance that kills organisms that are considered undesirable. Common types of pesticides include insecticides (kills insects), herbicides (kills weeds), fungicides, and rodenticides.
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Chemical fertilizer: Usually contains three macronutrients - phosphorus, potassium, and nitrogen. Lack other macro and micronutrients, organic matter or microbes.
Judging Criteria:
Lawn and/or Vegetable Gardens - health (10 points) - organic maintenance
Flower Beds - colour, texture, balance, variety
(10 points) - different blooming periods
- hardiness and health of plants
Aesthetic Appeal - creativity, originality (10 points)
Use of Space - balance (5 points) - maximizing potential
Cleanliness - yard must be clean and free of debris (3 points)
Lawn and Garden Accessories - eg. bird baths, flower pots, arbours, etc. (2 points)
Total = 40 points
Visit the Minnow Lake website for full details
For free information about how to maintain your lawn and garden in an organic manner call:
Suzanne Harvey
Ersin Abdullah
