Natural Lawn Alternatives

The first Thursday at the U lecture of spring 2022 will be February 3rd, 12:30-1:30 pm, in the Blue Hills Lecture Hall (R234) of the UW Eau Claire – Barron County campus. It will feature Anthony Nied on the topic of "Natural Lawn Alternatives." This is an opportunity to learn about environmentally friendly alternatives to residential lawns, including wildflower gardens, pollinator "Bee Lawns", xeriscaping and more. He will discuss many of the benefits of replacing lawn areas with an eco-friendly alternative, give examples of successful replacements, and provide details which will help in planning similar renovations.   Nied graduated from CVTC with an associate degree in Horticulture, Landscape, Plant & Turf Management. In 2011, he managed the lawn care division for a garden center which had hundreds of conventional lawn care customers. With a newborn child at home and knowledge of the hazards of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, he knew he had to do something different. In 2018, Anthony founded Safe & Simple Organic Lawns with a mission to improve the quality of both human life and that of the planet. By focusing on soil health, he developed an annual lawn care program that eliminates all need for pesticides. He enjoys opportunities to share what he has learned with a broader public.