Contact:

Jeremy Pelletier

203-408-6819

NOFA Organic Landscaping Course to be Offered for the First Time Online

NOFA’s celebrated Accreditation Course in Organic Land Care is back and will be offered virtually, for the first time, to overcome COVID-19 in-person meeting restrictions. The same quality programming as the in-person course, complete with ‘online office hours’, will be held evenings, twice per week, for four weeks this August.

To meet the growing market demand for organic landscape design and services, landscaping professionals transitioning to organic practices and those already using chemical-free options who want to learn more are invited to attend the NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) Accreditation Course in Organic Land Care, a professional training and accreditation course to be held online on August 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25 & 27.

In light of restrictions to in-person meetings and conferences, along with the growing need for online education, the NOFA Organic Land Care Program will be offering this course for the first time online. Those who pass the accreditation exam after the course will become Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals (AOLCPs), joining over 2500 NOFA AOLCPs in 20 different states across the country.

This credential, NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professional (AOLCP), tells consumers that you are trained in and adhering to the strict NOFA Standards for Organic Land Care and that you belong to a recognized accreditation program. There is an increasing demand by homeowners, municipalities, and private entities for organic practices on a wide variety of landscapes. Since the word ‘organic’ is not regulated in landscaping services, NOFA’s recognized and respected credential will demonstrate that you have professional competency in the area of organic landscaping and that you will protect the public interest with responsible land management practices.

Demand for organic land care professionals is increasing rapidly across the Northeast and beyond, due to a growing concern about the hazards of synthetic pesticides, and the adoption of ordinances banning or restricting the use of chemical pesticides on public, and sometimes private, land. Landscaping professionals consider this course a good investment to distinguish themselves as trained experts, meeting demand in the growing market for non-toxic and organic landscaping services. Since 2002, The NOFA Accreditation Course in Organic Land Care has set the standard in professional training courses for landscapers, lawn care specialists, municipal groundskeepers, landscape architects, environmental educators, and advocates to learn about and adopt best practices for caring for the land without synthetic fertilizers and pesticides.

“This dynamic course is packed with an enormous amount of information delivered by some of the organic landscape industry’s most knowledgeable and engaging speakers,” says AOLCP, Jen Dunlap, a horticulturist with Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay. “Business owners, organizations, and individuals alike will benefit both from this excellent value and keen marketing tool. Whether you are new to the idea of organic land care or are interested in advancing your skills to the next level, this course can meet your needs.”

AOLCP, Ken Twombly says "To me, it was the most comprehensive and enlightening course on [organic land care]. Landscape managers should learn from past experiences that chemicals in the environment and in the soil don’t work. The sooner you learn how to work with Nature the better off your business will be."

Seasoned instructors include leading organic land care industry experts like Michael Nadeau of Wholistic Land Care Consulting, Frank Crandall of Frank Crandall Horticultural Solutions, Paul Wagner of Greener Pastures Organics and Soil Food Web New York, and Thomas Barry of Greens Farms Academy, among others. The curriculum includes soil science, site analysis, green stormwater infrastructure, plant care, disease control, organic turf, and more.

The course runs during the month of August on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 5 pm and 7 pm. The registration fee is $400 per person which includes additional ‘virtual office hours’, online exam, and Accreditation for 2020 and 2021. Discounts are available to current AOLCPs, their employees, and students. Group discounts and payment plans are available. Enrollment is limited to 70 students and registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. For more details, including a course curriculum, and to register, contact the Northeast Organic Farming Association (CT NOFA) office at 203-408-6819, email jeremy@ctnofa.org, or visit www.organiclandcare.net.