March 2013 March Chapter Meeting Featured Article (Pg.6) Guava Rust by Rufino Orosino A potential threat to the myrtle family in south Florida THE BENEFITS OF VERMICULTURE IN SUSTAINABLE LANDSCAPING Dennis de Zeeuw, FCHP C ONTENTS Join us on the 19th for a presentation by "sustainable cultivator" Dennis Chapter Notes ...................... 2 de Zeeuw on the benefits of vermiculture —the use of specially bred MacArthur Beach Field Trip....3 earthworms to aerate soil and convert organic matter into compost. Dennis will provide instructions for building your own worm farm and Gardening with Natives......... 3 discuss the benefits of using worm castings to create a sustainable FNPS BOD Meeting Notes.....4 landscape. Know your Foe.......................5 Born and raised in Orlando, FL, Dennis de Zeeuw is a true Florida native. After receiving an M.B.A. from FAU, he Guava Rust............................6 followed his passion for biodiversity, nature, and the benefits of sustainability and founded Chapter Events......................8 Sustainscape, Inc., He is a certified Florida Other Events..........................9 Horticulture Professional as well as a Florida Master Naturalist. An active member of the Announcements....................10 Palm Beach Chapter FNPS and the Florida Nursery Growers and Lanscape Association, he believes native plants are key to a sustainable solution in any landscape. Dennis applied his experience with composting and vermiculture to an existing organic fertilizer that uses minerals extracted from sea water, resulting in the production of a SATURDAY MARCH 16TH unique organic formula utilizing an onsite worm farm. MACARTHUR BEACH STATE PARK The Palm Beach County Chapter of the FNPS Details on Page 8 meets on the third Tuesday of every month at the University of Florida/IFAS Mounts Building Auditorium 531 North Military Trail, West Palm Beach For more information, please call or email 5612473677
[email protected] The Florida Native Plant Society promotes the preservation of our native flora through education and conservation.