LiveSmart BC Community Hero
LiveSmart BC Community Hero: Norley Calder
Sagebrush Golf Course is the new premium course currently being developed in Quilchena. But a good game isn't all that course superintendent Norley Calder has on his mind while creating the prime property – he also ensures the green is grown using the most eco-friendly methods possible.
He says that all the fertilizer used to grow the course is organic, which is important on a microbial level.
"It kind of returns life to your soils," alder says.
He also chooses low-maintenance grasses that require less water and fertilizer. Some of the plants have such long roots that watering is only required every 10 days. They believe in focusing on root causes at Sagebrush –
both figuratively and literally.
Calder says the trick to following environmentally-sound practices is ensuring the plants are healthy so very little has to be done in the way of treatment. Healthy plants also have a better chance of remaining that way, as they're capable of resisting diseases. So a minimum amount of chemical is required and used only when there are no other options.
"We wait until the threshold is hit."
At that point they spot-spray, only treating the unhealthy plant.
