Organic Lawn Care in the Northeast
You are right to be upset about the lawn care chemicals being dumped on the lawns of your community – or anywhere for that matter. the Figure Ground Studio cares deeply about responsible land management and has done a fair amount of research and even public speaking about the importance of organic lawn care. Here is a list of resources and links that would be helpful in developing a plan or finding precedents to inspire change:
- NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) has a program that certifies organic landcare professionals. They extend their principals of organic farming to the managed landscape. They are a great resource. Here is their website: http://www.organiclandcare.net/about/mission.
- Organic Towns: http://www.organiclandcare.net/organic-towns
- NOFA Organic Landcare professionals: http://nofa.organiclandcare.net/ The course started in CT so there is more of a CT & MA presence on this site.
- NOFA Online Lawn Care Course: http://www.organiclandcare.net/lawncertificatecourse
- Edwina von Gal, a well known landscape designer, is currently dedicating her time to her Perfect Earth Project specifically about the importance of toxic free lawns and landscapes. It is worth checking it out. Edwina just spoke at Bosocbel about this project.
- No responsible lawn email would be complete without a link to the Goddess of Soil: Dr Elaine Ingram and The Soil Foodweb This website is full of great information!
- BOOK – The Organic Lawncare Manual by Paul Tukey – a comprehensive book for homeowners: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/annie-spiegelman/the-organic-lawn-care-man_b_691377.html
- DOCUMENTARY – A Chemical Reaction
- The State of Connecticut treats their children’s athletic fields organically: http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/p2/government/turf_mgt_without_pesticides_final_(2).pdf ( I think this ban is still in effect, but not positive).
- Well known and successful organic land care company in CT: http://harringtonsorganic.com/
One of the biggest challenges, apart from lack of public understanding, is finding professionals that are not simply “greenwashing”. We have had many clients, friends and colleagues ask for recommendations of companies that are truly working from the soil up. I think it’s a huge professional opportunity for landscapers and we would love to have more of a network to glean from.
