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6th Annual NOFA Course in Organic Land Care
A five-day professional course offered on:
January 9, 10, 11, 16 & 17, 2007 in Leominster, MA
Directions -
Printable Registration Form for MA - Register Online
January 31, February 1, 2, 5 and 6, 2007 in New Haven, CT
Directions -
Printable Registration Form for CT - Register Online
THE COURSE
ACCREDITATION
PROGRAM
WHO SHOULD ATTEND THE COURSE?
ACCOMMODATIONS & DIRECTIONS
FACULTY
download the pdf brochure: side 1 side 2
THE COURSE
Growing public awareness of pesticide use hazards and new legislation mandating least toxic and non-toxic alternatives are fueling a new market opportunity for professionals with knowledge of organic land care. This 30-hour course for professionals will provide the education needed for an understanding of organic land care design and maintenance. The curriculum is based on NOFA’s Standards for Organic 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 annually, extend the vision of organic agriculture to the care of the entire landscape, both private and public. At the end of the course attendees will be able to incorporate methods and materials that respect natural ecology and the long-term health of the environment.
ACCREDITATION
An optional exam will be given at the conclusion of the course. Those who pass the exam can become NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals. A list of these professionals and their services is widely distributed throughout the region in NOFA’s Guide to Organic Land Care and on its website. Annual reaccreditation is granted based on continued demonstration of competence in organic land care.
PROGRAM
Each day runs from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and includes six hours of presentations, a one-hour case study, one hour for catered lunch in the lobby, and two 15-minute breaks. (2006 Schedule subject to change for 2007 course)
DAY 1
* Principles and Procedures * Site Analysis, Design and Maintenance * Rain Gardens/Stormwater Infiltration * Soil Health, Soil Foodweb
DAY 2
* Fertilizer and Soil Amendments * Composting * Lawns * Lawn Alternatives
DAY 3
* Planting and Plant Care * Wetlands * Pest Management * Turf Insects, Perennials, Trees and Shrubs
DAY 4
* Pest Management * Ticks and Lyme Disease * Wildlife Management * Disease Control * Weeds * Mulches
DAY 5
* Invasive Plants/Control * Client Relations * Review * Accreditation Examination
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
GRADUATES WILL:
Have the knowledge to design and maintain ecological landscapes * Be among the first in the country to become accredited in Organic Land Care * Build a business based on the health of the earth.
ACCOMMODATIONS & DIRECTIONS:
An extensive list of hotels, including pricing and directions to the course site will be provided in your confirmation packet once your registration materials are received.
FACULTY
Instructors include the following experienced Organic Land Care professionals and respected scientists:
DONALD BISHOP – Gardens Are . . .
RICHARD COWLES, Ph. D. – CT Agricultural Experiment Station
HEATHER CRAWFORD – CT Sea Grant
SHARON DOUGLAS, Ph. D. – CT Agricultural Experiment Station
BILL DUESING – Solar Farm Education
TODD HARRINGTON - Harrington’s Organicare
JOHN HOWELL – UMass Extension
MICHAEL NADEAU – Plantscapes Inc.
CHUCK SHERZI - Boston Tree Preservation
KIRBY STAFFORD, Ph. D. – CT Agricultural Experiment Station
KIMBERLY STONER, Ph. D. – CT Agricultural Experiment Station
STEPHANIE WHITE – Stephanie White Landscape Gardening
TESTIMONIAL:
“We have found that the NOFA Standards for Organic Land Care, along with the NOFA course which teaches them, to be an absolutely essential base for our statewide efforts to move the public towards healthier and more ecologically sound suburban practices.” - Sarah Little, Ph.D., Coordinator, MA Pesticide Awareness Collaborative