 |        |
Frequently Asked Questions About Organic Land Care:
What is organic?
What is land care?
What is organic land care?
Why organic land care?
Can I trust organic and all natural claims?
If I want to go organic, how do I start?
Can anyone do organic land care?
Is organic land care more expensive than conventional land care?
What will happen to my yard when I switch to organic land care?
How does one do organic land care?
How can I find someone who provides organic land care services?
What can I expect from an Organic Land Care Professional accredited by NOFA?
Can a business provide both NOFA-accredited organic land care and conventional land care?
Who should I call if I have questions about the Organic Land Care Program?
How can I get more information about the organic land care standards?
What is organic?
Organic agriculture is a system of farming that does not use synthetic (i.e., artificially produced) pesticides or fertilizers and that emphasizes soil health and natural cycles. NOFA, the Northeast Organic Farming Association, has been advocating organic farming in seven Northeastern states for over 30 years. The NOFA chapters in
What is land care?
Land care, or landscaping, consists of planting and maintaining lawns, gardens, trees, shrubs and natural areas.
What is organic land care?
While there are federal regulations that define standards for organic farming, there are no such standards for organic land care. The CT-Mass NOFA Organic Land Care Committee has filled this void by taking the same stringent standards that govern organic food production and applying them to the larger landscape. The result is the Standards for Organic Land Care: Practices for Design and Maintenance of Ecological Landscapes, which were first developed in 2001 and are now in their third edition. The standards cover all aspects of land carefrom site analysis and soil amendments to weeds, mulches, and pest management. For each area of land care, the standards provide an overview and then a list of practices that are designated as follows:
Preferred: Practices and materials that are considered to be ecologically appropriate and in accordance with the goals of organic land care.
Allowed: Practices and materials that are acceptable when needed but should be reduced in favor of preferred practices and materials.
Prohibited: Practices and materials that are not acceptable in organic land care.
Why organic land care?
An organic land care program will help you protect your familys health, improve the health of the landscape and protect the environment. The guiding principle of organic land care is ecological stewardship, and its watchword, as in the ancient medical tradition, is First, do no harm.
One of the most harmful practices in land care is the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers. Pesticides are chemicals that are designed to kill living things (insecticides kill insects, herbicides kill weeds, fungicides kill fungus diseases). There is growing evidence of the hazards associated with long-term use of synthetic pesticides, both to humans and the environment. Pesticide exposure in humans has been associated with birth defects, numerous cancers, neurological disorders, immune system problems and male infertility.
Synthetic fertilizers are manufactured through processes that require huge amounts of energy supplied by the combustion of fossil fuels and, like synthetic pesticides, can be harmful to humans, animals, and the environment.
Chemicals used in lawn and garden care do not stay where they are applied. They can be carried into houses and cars on shoes and paws. Without exposure to sunlight and water, they break down very slowly and can remain in carpets, on toys and in dust bunnies for many months. Chemicals also move around in the environment. Rainwater washes them down streets and storm drains to streams, wetlands, lakes and oceans. Rainwater soaking into the ground carries fertilizers and pesticides into ground water, contaminating wells and aquifers. Pesticides absorbed by plants or insects can accumulate in the food chain as birds, fish, other wildlife, and people feed on the contaminated organisms.
Can I trust organic and all natural claims?
Read labels carefully when choosing products such as fertilizers or pesticides. Natural products can sometimes have negative effects on the environment. Sewage sludge (often called biosolides), for example, may contain heavy metals or other toxins. Pesticides with plant-based active ingredients may contain petroleum products among their inert ingredients. All products listed as preferred or allowed in the Standards for Organic Land Care meet the organic standards.
If you use a professional lawn, garden or tree service, always ask what materials are being applied and why they need to be used. Some land care companies claim to be organic but nevertheless use materials that may be harmful to your health or the environment. If you do not want synthetic chemicals used on your property, have it written into your land care contract.
If I want to go organic, how do I start?
If you care for your own property, here is some basic information to help you get started.
If you live in the Northeast and wish to hire a professional, search our list of NOFA-accredited Organic Land Care Professionals. If you can't find an accredited professional near where you live, we urge you to learn what you can do to educate your landscaping service. NOFA offers the 5-day Course in Organic Land Care as well as the one-day Organic Lawn and Turf Course
Can anyone do organic land care?
In a healthy, natural landscape, organic land care can be very simple. Rehabilitating a landscape that has been routinely treated with synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, on the other hand, can be a challenge. In such landscapes, the soils are altered, the natural balance between beneficial organisms and pests has been destroyed and the plants are often dependent on heavy doses of chemicals and water to survive. Anyone can reduce or eliminate the application of chemicals to their landscape, but successfully changing a chemically managed landscape to an organically managed one can be complicated and may require professional help.
Is organic land care more expensive than conventional land care?
If your landscape is chemically dependent, organic land care will initially be more expensive. The transition to organic practices will require careful analysis of your property and the creation of an appropriate plan to wean it from chemicals. In the long run, organic land care actually costs less than conventional land care because routine applications of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides are elminated and the need for mowing and other maintenance is generally reduced. When you factor in the reduction in cost to your health and the environment and the increase in your free time, organic land care is a bargain.
What will happen to my yard when I switch to organic land care?
If your landscape is not already chemically dependent, the transition should be quick and easy. If your landscape is accustomed to routine applications of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, detoxification can be difficult, especially for lawns. Whether you go cold turkey or gradually wean your plants away from synthetic chemicals, there will be a period where everything will appear to be less healthy. During this time, good things are going on underground as soil health is re-established and plants focus their energies on growing vigorous roots. Eventually, your yard will be lush and beautiful and you will have the peace of mind of knowing that you are not sacrificing your health and the environment for the elusive perfect lawn.
How does one do organic land care?
Whether you do the job yourself or hire a professional, the following basic practices should be part of your organic land care program.
Regular soil tests. The basis of an organic landscape is healthy soil, and soil tests are the first step in evaluating your soils condition. With them, you can determine how much organic matter is available to your plants and identify deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in the nutrients they need to thrive. Armed with that information, you can address problems with approved organic practices, amendments or compost.
Fertilizers, soil amendments and compost. Many soils, especially those that have been extensively treated with synthetic chemicals, require amendment to regain their health. Organic fertilizers and soil amendmentsparticularly compostfeed the soil, benefiting the plant by encouraging it to create a healthy root system. Its important to note that fertilizers and amendments should only be added to correct deficienies or imbalances identified in soil test results. Unnecessary applications of any fertilizer or soil amendmentincluding those approved in the Standards for Organic Land Carecan do more harm than good.
Right plant, right place. Choosing a plant that is suited to your site creates far less disturbance and requires less maintenance than trying to modify your site to suit the needs of the plant. And using plants native to your area to re-create an ecosystema group of several compatible plant speciesproduces a naturally low-maintenance landcape.
Judicious use of water. Healthy plants situated in appropriate environments should require little or no irrigation. New plantings do require supplemental watering for the first year but should then be weaned away from extra water. When watering is required, make sure to water long enough but slowly enough for the water to soak deep into the ground, which encourages deep root growth. If water is running off the surface, you are wasting water.
Limiting lawns. Lawns, even organically managed ones, are high-maintenance areas in a landscape. A smaller lawn is less costly to maintain, easier to care for, and better for the environment. Also consider an appropriate and attractive low-maintenance lawn alternative such as low-growing native grasses and wildflowers mixed in a meadow; no-mow grass mixes; or ground covers, shrubs, trees and perennials, according to the conditions in your yard.
Pest management. Insects, diseases and weeds can be managed organically. The best weapon is prevention. A plant that is suited to its site and growing in soil that contains sufficient organic matter and nutrients will be a healthy plant, and a healthy plant is less prone to disease and pest problems. A landscape in which the soil is covered with desired plants or mulch is less hospitable to weed germination and growth. Meanwhile, regular monitoring of the landscape can identify problems early, allowing targeted use of organically approved matierials.
How can I find someone who provides organic land care services?
The Organic Land Care Committee offers courses annually in Connecticut and Massachusetts to train land care professionals to provide services according to the Standards for Organic Land Care. Land care professionals who complete the training and pass an examination are accredited by NOFA as Organic Land Care Professionals. To maintain their accreditation, land care professionals must attend workshops and classes to stay current with new organic materials and practices.
What can I expect from an Organic Land Care Professional accredited by NOFA?
Creating an organic landscape requires a mutual commitment and understanding between property owners and the Organic Land Care Professional. Your Organic Land Care Professional will evaluate your property to determine what services are required and will ask you to sign an agreement indicating that you understand the amins of organic land care. He or she can advise you on the best way to create a beautiful landscape that suits the needs of your site and your family and is also ecologically sound.
Can a business provide both NOFA-accredited organic land care and conventional land care?
Some businesses provide both organic and conventional land care services. If you are dealing with such a company, make it clear that you are contracting for organic land care and that conventional chemical treatments must not be used on your property. Be prepared to ask questions and stay informed about what is appropriate or inappropriate in organic land care.
Who should I call if I have questions about the Organic Land Care Program?
If you have any questions or concerns about materials or services to be used on your property, you should call the NOFA Organic Land Care Program main office at 203-888-5146 and ask to speak to the Organic Land Care Program coordinator.
How can I get more information about organic land care?
NOFA offers several publications, including the Standards for Organic Land Care. You can also learn more by visiting the sites on our Links page.