Organic Landcare Standards
Visit the Organic Land Care Committee's website!List of NOFA Accredited Land Care ProfessionalsMembers of the Connecticut and Massachusetts Chapters of NOFA have created Standards for Organic Land Care: Practices for Design and Maintenance of Ecological Landscapes. This NOFA Organic Land Care Committee worked for two years to write the Standards, which are the first of their kind. According to Kim Stoner, Ph.D., the chair of the committee, "These standards are just as rigorous as those set for organic agriculture by Connecticut and Massachusetts NOFA chapters, but they have also been adapted to address the special issues and challenges of designing and maintaining landscapes." This 66-page technical manual spell out recommended, allowed, and prohibited practices and materials according to what the committee, consisting of land care professionals, scientists, educators, and activists, finds to be ecologically appropriate. Printed copies of the Standards are now available for $20 each from NOFA/Mass, 411 Sheldon Road, Barre, MA 01005; (978) 355-2853. Click here for an order form. The NOFA Organic Land Care Committee for CT and MA has adopted the following mission statement: "Education of land care professionals and concerned citizens in the methods, benefits and limitations of organic and sustainable land care, with the goal of eliminating pesticide and synthetic chemical use, improving the soil, increasing landscape diversity, and improving the health of people and all living organisms that make up the web of life on the earth." This mission is being accomplished primarily with an annual accreditation course in organic land care for professionals and a statewide public outreach program. A newly written brochure, A Citizen's Guide to Organic Land Care, is now available for free. For further information, contact the NOFA/Mass office in Barre, Massachusetts at (978) 355-2853 or nofa@nofamass.org To assist those interested in organic land care, we list the following references, and locations where organic materials may be purchased: References (some may not be exclusively organic):
Sources of Organic MaterialsPlease note that not all products offered by these companies are organic. Read product descriptions carefully. Biological Pest Controls:
Land Care Supplies
Retail Sites Carrying Organic ProductsPlease note that most sites carry only a small line of organic products. Massachusetts Sources
Connecticut Sources
New Hampshire Sources
Information on NOFA Bulk Order for those living in MA, CT and RIEach December the Bulk Order list is mailed to NOFA members in the three-state region. This is a wonderful way for individual gardeners, farms and small businesses to pool their resources and save money on hard-to-find organic amendments and useful tools. Orders are due at the end of January and are available for pick-up at five to six regional sites on a pre-determined day in mid-March. Seed potatoes and onion sets arrive in April. All orders must be pre-paid in full. What is usually available? Typically the NOFA Bulk Order includes inoculants, labelling materials, row covers, general garden supplies, seed starting equipment, soil amendments, fertilizers, cover crop seeds, potting soil, compost, seed potatoes and onion sets. This year organic land care supplies including canola oil (a substitution for horticultural oil) and bulb fertilizer will be available. The best way to become a part of next year's order is to join a NOFA chapter in one of these three states now. You'll receive the Bulk Order mailing in December. Links to other sites of note:This page was last modified on March 07, 2008 at 1:20:03 PM. |
