Friday, April 9, 2004

Learn environmentally friendly pest control at workshop

Fulton County will co-host a free public workshop with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service and the Clean Water Campaign (CWC) to encourage homeowners to use environmentally friendly approaches to managing garden pests.

The workshop is at 7 p.m. April 20 at the South Fulton Service Center in College Park.

Presenters will address how to control weeds and insects. Participants will learn how to identify yard pests and how to control them without polluting the environment. Also on the program will be tips on composting, the management of yard clippings in general, and the use of fertilizers.

Nutrients from excessive fertilizers — usually phosphates — enter rivers, lakes and streams and stimulate the growth of algae, which consumes oxygen and thus endangers fish and other aquatic life.

The Clean Water Campaign is a cooperative multi-agency public education initiative of 20 metro Atlanta governments supported by the Metropolitan North Georgia Water Planning District and managed by the Atlanta Regional Commission.

Registration is required.  To register, contact Corlette Dennard, Fulton County Office of Environmental Affairs, at 404-730-8097, or go on-line at www.cleanwatercampaign.com.