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F-Massachusetts Horticulture Society's Master Gardener Program <br /> Source: http://www.masshort.ora/Master-Gardener-Program <br /> The Massachusetts Horticulture Society's (MassHort)Master Gardener Program trains <br /> community volunteers to provide horticultural information and resources to the gardening public <br /> through their outreach work, answering gardening questions for callers to the HelpLine,running <br /> informational booths at community events, giving garden lectures through the Master Gardener <br /> Speakers'Bureau, and acting as docents at MassHort events and sites. Master Gardeners also <br /> help facilitate the execution of educational programs sponsored by MassHort. <br /> Applicability for Pleasant Bay: The Master Gardener Program is a good example of a successful <br /> education and outreach program supported by community volunteers. Resources could <br /> potentially be leveraged for an education and outreach campaign for the specific needs of <br /> Pleasant Bay communities. <br /> 4.3 BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES <br /> A-Northeast Organic Farming;Association(NOFA) Standards for Organic Lawn Care <br /> Source: <br /> http://www.organiclandcare.net/sites/default/files/upload/NOFA Standards 4th ed 2009.pdf <br /> The program works to educate land care professionals and the public about the meaning of <br /> "organic"and the benefits of this option for care of the land around their own homes, <br /> neighborhoods, and communities. <br /> In specific regard to the use of nitrogen fertilizer,the Standards require the following: <br /> • No more than three lbs of soluble nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. per year; <br /> • No more than one lb of soluble nitrogen per 1,000 sq. ft. per application; <br /> • Rates of nitrogen application must be further reduced after two years of organic <br /> management; <br /> • Blood meal, vegetable meal, fish hydrolyzate, emulsion, or meal may be used; <br /> • Prohibiting the application of nitrogen fertilizer to lawns when grass is not growing <br /> actively(generally between October 15 and April 1 in Massachusetts) enough to use it <br /> rapidly; <br /> • Prohibiting fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorus to remain on sidewalks or <br /> pavement; and <br /> • The use of chilean nitrate, leather meal or its byproducts; sewage sludge; or synthetically- <br /> derived nitrates, urea, or ammonia is prohibited. <br /> Applicability for Pleasant Bay: The fertilizer loading rate recommended by NOFA is the same <br /> as that used in the MEP nitrogen loading modeling process and should be reduced if their <br /> recommendations are to be shared with Pleasant Bay watershed residents. <br /> Pleasant Bay Fertilizer Management Plan 26 Horsley Witten Group,Inc. <br /> Final Report December 2010 <br />