 |        |
Organic Land Care for the Professional
As people have become more aware of the hazards of pesticides and the effects of human activities on the environment, they are looking for ecological and healthy alternatives to conventional landscape practices that can be used in their own yards and communities. The Connecticut and Massachusetts chapters of the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) brought many years of expertise in organic agriculture to organic land care for professionals. In 1999, they formed the Organic Land Care Committee, a mix of technical experts, practicing organic land care professionals, and activists, to create the Organic Land Care Program.
Here are the elements of the program:
Standards for Organic Land Care: The NOFA Organic Land Care Program wrote the first comprehensive organic standards for land care in 2001. The US Department of Agriculture has since developed national organic standards for agriculture, but these do not apply to land care services. Our publication Standards for Organic Land Care is used by universities and Cooperative Extension Services across the region in educational programs about organic practices and has been recognized by national groups such as Beyond Pesticides as a model for development of organic standards across the country.
Courses for professionals:
The 5-day comprehensive Organic Land Care Course is offered each winter in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York and Rhode Island.
- About half of the course is taught by experienced Organic Land Care Professionals and half by technical experts.
- This course covers a wide range of material: Organic Principles, Site Analysis and Design, Soil Health and Biology, Composting, Rain Gardens and Stormwater Infiltration, Care of Wetlands, Insect Pest Management, Tick Management, Disease Control, Weeds, Mulches, Invasive Plants, and Running an Organic Land Care Business.
- This course is also the gateway to becoming a NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professional.
The Organic Lawn and Turf Course is offered annually in August in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey. Material covered in this one day course:
- Why Organic?
- Basics of Organic Lawn and Turf
- Site Analysis
- Compost
- Insect Pest Management
- A Preventive Approach to Disease Management
- The Business of Organic Lawns
- Low Input, Low Cost Organic Lawns
- Special Issues for Turf (e.g. constant foot traffic, mowing heights)
-
Keeping Down the Cost of Organic Turf
Accreditation Program:
The NOFA Accreditation Program for Organic Land Care Professionals allows clients to identify trained professionals who can help them to manage their land organically. The NOFA Guide to Organic Land Care and the listing of Organic Land Care Professionals on our website spread the word to concerned citizens about why they should go organic and how to find an organic land care professional.
For more information on Accreditation, see How do I become an Accredited Professional? |
 | |||||||||||
Also of Interest:
Updates and Credit Opportunities for the NOFA Accredited Professional
References on Organic Land Care
Sources of Organic Materials
Links to other Sources of Information