The 2013 Accreditation Course in Organic Land Care

Our 2013 Winter Courses have concluded.  If you missed the Mid-Atlantic and New England Courses but are interested in updates on when the course will next be offered and location, please sign up for more information at the bottom of the page.  

The Annual Accreditation Course has been updated to offer specific information which relates to your career and has been reduced to four days to accommodate your busy schedule.

This 30-hour course for land care professionals and environmental educators provides a well-rounded curriculum for an understanding of organic land care principles, practices, design and maintenance. The curriculum is based on NOFA’s Standards for Land Care: Practices for Design and Maintenance of Ecological Landscapes, written by NOFA’s Organic Land Care Committee. These Standards, published in 2001 and revised semi-annually, extend the vision and practices of organic agriculture to the care of landscapes where we live our daily lives and lands which we choose to steward. By the end of the course, attendees will be able to incorporate land care methods and materials that respect natural ecology and the long-term health of the environment into their businesses or education programs.

Who should attend the course?

Landscapers - Designers - Landscape Architects - Garden Center employees - Municipal employees - Parks and Recreation employees - Land trust staff - Conservation property managers - Master gardeners Horticulturists - Horticulture and Landscape teachers - Entrepreneurs and new business owners

Accreditation

At the end of the course, students have the option of taking the exam.  Upon passing with a 70% or higher, they may choose to become an Accredited Organic Land Care Professional (AOLCP) which is a marketable credential offering many benefits. There are currently over 550 AOLCPs in 20 states, join our network of professionals with a commitment to sustainability! See the accreditation page for more info.

Curriculum

Day 1
OLC Principles and Procedures
Site Analysis, Design and Maintenance 
Stormwater Management
Soil Fundamentals
Soil Health/ Soil Testing

Day 4 - Choose between Track 1 and 2 for the first part of the day.

Track 1: Organic Turf Management 
Transitioning to Organic Turf
Tools in your toolbox for organic management
Fundamentals of creating an organic turf management program

Track 2: Connecticut
Native Plants-Perennials, Shrubs and Trees
Permaculture Introduction
Creating Native Meadows
Integrating Edibles into the Garden 

Afternoon Session
The Business of Organic Land Care
Roundtable with AOLCPs – ask your peers about their business and experience in organic land care
Accreditation Exam

 

Day 2 

Soil Biology (Including Soil Food Web)
Compost
Compost Tea
Mulches
Lawn Alternatives
Invasive Plants
Disease Control

Day 3 

Planting and Plant Care
Introduction to Turf
Pest Management for Turf
Pest Management Overview
Pest Management Shrubs
NOFA Accreditation

For AOLCPs interested in attending a single day: each day is approved for 4 AOLCP CEUs.

2013 Accreditation Course Pricing 

Accreditation Course Fee $495
Daily Rate: $130

Additional Fees for those planning to become Accredited:
Exam Fee: $50
Accreditation Fee:
Supporter Level: $75 or 
Business Level: $110 

To Pay Your Accreditation Fee and Exam Fee in advance, visit the Accreditation Section of our Store and add the fee to your cart. For an explanation of the difference between to the two different levels of accreditation please refer to the Accreditation Page.

*Discounted Accomodations NOFA arranges for block room discounts located near the course. Information about specific hotels will be shared in information e-mails (which you can sign up for below) or will be shared on this page or the course pages.

*Payment Plan Option: Attendees can pay for the course and test in two installments, $250 upon registration and pay the remainder on Day 1 of the course, pay for the exam on the day of exam, and their accreditation fee within a month of taking the exam.  Please call our office to register using the Payment Plan.

To Pay By Check: Please print out and send in our registration form, and mail the check for the full amount to CT NOFA, PO Box 164, Stevenson, CT 06491.

A Reminder: If an accredited organic land care professional (AOLCP) referred you to the course, please write "Referred by [name]" in the comments box when you write a check or register online

For more information about the Accreditation Course, please sign up for our updates: