NOFA Standards for Organic Land Care

This spring, I'll be digging deep into lawn care. I want to understand commonly used lawn chemicals and how they interact with plants and the soil. How long do they stick around in the dirt? To what extent do plants absorb them? How much is applied to a typical lawn? I'll be interviewing lawn care specialists (if they're willing!) and poking around for existing journal articles on this topic. I hope to make some sense of this info for folks who are foraging or gardening on previously treated property, and for folks whose neighbors choose to practice this type of lawn care.

The Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA) offers a detailed resource for applying organic standards to landscaping and land care. If you rent your home, feel empowered to share this guide with the person you rent from. (If I were your landlady, I'd be delighted to have such a conscientious tenant!)

 If you own land, check out this document to learn how you might better serve the ecosystem your property is a part of--and how to keep your family safer, too.  

Did you know that the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation has a Pesticide Reduction Policy stating it "will strive to adhere to the land care specifications and practices prepared by the Northeast Organic Farmers Association"? Stay tuned to learn more about this statewide Parks policy.

Image: springtime violets (Viola sp.) and ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)  in a coniferous WNY backyard.