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Upcoming Events
Advanced Workshop: Orchard Health in the Summer
June 25, 2013
New London/Ledyard, CT
Details Soon
Lawn Certificate Course
July 26, 2013
Naugatuck Valley Community College
Waterbury, CT
Homeowner Resources
Why Organic?Managing your yard as an ecosystem produces a healthy, balanced and attractive outdoor space with less effort, cost and maintenance. An organic yard uses biodiversity, ecological cycles and soil life to support healthy plants, animals and people.Organic Landscaping:Search for an Accredited ProfessionalNOFA Organic Land Care Professionals have taken an accreditation course to learn the
science behind organic land care, and how to apply these principles at homes, municipal grounds, parks, and fields. You might be looking for a garden or landscape consultant to get you started, or to work all the way through the process of establishing a beautiful, environmentally friendly landscape.
Homeowner Resources:Growing Food in the Winter (Bettylou Sandy)
- Eliminates your children, your pets and your own exposure to harmful pesticides, many of which are carcinogens and/or are thought to affect childhood development
- Cuts the costs on repeated chemical applications, gasoline and sprinkler systems by using the free services offered by soil organims, pollinators, compost, plants and beneficial insects
- Makes your yard a force of nature. Promoting biodiversity and choosing native plants supports a self-sustaining yard that is resistent to pests.
- Uses natural fertilizers such as leaves and compost to add soil nutrients to the soil instead of synthetic fertilizers which disrupt soil biology and often run off into rivers polluting freshwater and marine habitats.
- Conserves water by using plants adapted to local rainfall patterns and by incorporating compost and mulch to retain moisture in the soil.
- Encourages beneficial insects to naturally control pests as a form of organic integrated pest management.
Do It Yourself
- By reviewing the Introduction to Organic Lawns and Yards, individuals can learn how to start making a difference in their own yards, lawns and gardens. A pdf version is available online and the booklet is also avilable in our store.
- There are also resources for homeowners to learn about organic land care or search for a professional in our 2012/13 OLC Guide to Organic Land Care.
- Keep an eye out for any upcoming Homeowner Workshops in your area.
- Before you do any work on your yard, you'll need to take a Soil Test
- To determine if a horticultural product can be used under the NOFA Standards for Organic Land Care you should check if the product and/or its ingredients are approved on one the product lists maintained by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
science behind organic land care, and how to apply these principles at homes, municipal grounds, parks, and fields. You might be looking for a garden or landscape consultant to get you started, or to work all the way through the process of establishing a beautiful, environmentally friendly landscape.
Homeowner Resources:Growing Food in the Winter (Bettylou Sandy)
