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Title: The "Grass Roots" Initiative: Bringing turfgrass science to the public

Author
item RINEHART, GEOFFREY - National Turfgrass Federation
item MORRIS, KEVIN - National Turfgrass Federation
item Warnke, Scott

Submitted to: International Turfgrass Society Research Journal
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2017
Publication Date: 11/19/2017
Citation: Rinehart, G., Morris, K., Warnke, S.E. 2017. The "Grass Roots" Initiative: Bringing turfgrass science to the public. International Turfgrass Society Research Journal. 13:486-488. Available: https://dl.sciencesocieties.org/publications/its/pdfs/13/1/486.

Interpretive Summary: The National Turfgrass Federation (NTF), a non-profit trade organization that promotes the turfgrass industry, collaborated with the US National Arboretum to develop the ‘Grass Roots’ Initiative. The goals of the Initiative are to establish a science-based outdoor exhibit at the US National Arboretum; develop an accompanying website to serve as a clearinghouse of general turfgrass information and provide more in-depth information for the concepts explained in the physical exhibit; and to provide a platform for homeowner workshops, professional meetings, and academic symposia related to turfgrass management.

Technical Abstract: For years, professionals throughout the turfgrass industry have been striving to communicate to the public about the importance of turfgrass for a variety of uses in modern day life. In the United States the turfgrass industry has faced increased public and media scrutiny, caused in part by misperceptions about the value of turf. In 2012, the National Turfgrass Federation (NTF), a non-profit trade organization that promotes the turfgrass industry, began collaborating with the US National Arboretum to develop the ‘Grass Roots’ Initiative. The goals of the Initiative are to create a science-based outdoor exhibit at the US National Arboretum; develop an accompanying website as a clearinghouse of general turfgrass information and in-depth information for the concepts explained in the physical exhibit; provide a platform for homeowner workshops, professional meetings, and academic symposia related to turfgrass management; and collaborate with other Washington, D.C.-area properties in an attempt to develop a “National Greenscape Corridor.”