Community Corner
Introductory Organic Lawn Care July 26
The Northeast Organic Farming Association’s Organic Land Care Program (NOFA OLC) invites lawn and turf care professionals to the Organic Lawn Care Certificate Course on July 26th 2013 at Naugatuck Valley Community College. This one-day course is a thorough introduction to managing grass and lawns organically and will enable professionals to market and communicate this information to individual clients, as well as municipalities.
Judy Preston, the Long Island Sound Coordinator at the Connecticut Sea Grant Program, will detail the environmental impact of conventional lawn care practices on the Long Island Sound and fresh water systems in Connecticut.
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Attendees will then receive four hours of instruction on the best practices of organic lawn care. Chip Osborne, President and Founder of Osborne Organics LLC and Tom Barry, the Grounds Manager and Field Specialist at Greens Farms Academy will instruct about soil testing to reduce excess nutrients; ways to address insects, weeds and diseases; cultural lawn practices; and how to communicate organic lawn care to clients.
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Horticultural and business consultant Frank Crandall, will teach a section on effectively pricing and marketing organic lawn care. Bernadette Giblin, owner of Safeground Organic Landcare will conclude the course with a discussion about working with municipalities and institutions to implement organic land care on a larger scale.
Course registration is $80 and includes a new 60-page manual on organic lawn care developed by the NOFA Organic Land Care Program, five 6”x6” yard signs from our Organic Lawns and Yards Campaign, and marketing materials. The course will begin at 8:30 am and conclude at 5:00pm, and takes place at Naugatuck Valley Community College, 750 Chase Parkway in Waterbury.
For more information or to register, visit organiclandcare.net or call the CT NOFA Office at 203-888-5146. The NOFA Organic Land Care Program, a program of CT NOFA, has worked to extend organic principles to yards, gardens and playing fields since 1999. To search for a NOFA accredited organic land care professional visit www.organiclandcare.net/aolcp-search.
