We are pleased to announce that Cooperative Extension's Cathy Neal and Jaime Roberge are among over 500 Organic Land Care Professionals throughout the Northeast and beyond, accredited by the NOFA Organic Land Care Program, a program of the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut. Over 2,000 professionals have been educated since the course’s inception in 2002. First published in 1999, the NOFA Standards were the first of its kind and are widely recognized as the source for appropriate organic landscaping techniques.
“As Extension Specialists, we strive to stay up-to-date with current trends and best practices. Given the increasing demand for organic lawn care, in part driven by pesticide bans in towns and cities, we wanted to make sure we understand the concepts, rationale, and challenges that organic land care presents. We will continue to provide the most current research-based recommendations to landscapers and lawn care professionals, wherever they are on the spectrum of conventional to organic” says Dr. Neal. “Good horticultural practices go a long way, but there are still challenges that need to be addressed to be able to meet customer expectations with an organic program.”
The NOFA Accreditation Courses are held annually in Connecticut and other parts of the Northeast and attract landscape designers, landscapers from large and small firms, state and municipal employees, school groundskeepers, garden and nursery center owners and staff, professors, entrepreneurs and students.
For more information about the NOFA Organic Land Care Program visit, http://organiclandcare.net/accreditation/about-accreditation
