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Development and Early Assessment of an Organic Land Care Department of Environmental Pro- tection (NJDEP), 2002]. Connecti- cut has banned the use of any U.S. Environmental Protection Agency registered pesticide at day care centers Extension and kindergarten to eighth grade (K–8) school properties (State of Connecticut, 2009). New Jersey, Con- necticut, New York, and other states in Education the region have recently enacted strict fertilizer laws that restrict the type, amount, and timing of fertilizer appli- cations to turf (NJDEP, 2010). Finally, Methods landscaping is a competitive industry and offering environmentally friendly or organic services may be a way to Development and Early Assessment of an distinguish one company from others (Michelson, 2014). Organic Land Care Extension Program Background for Landscapers The federal government through the U.S. Department of Agriculture 1,3 2 1 (USDA), National Organic Program Michele Bakacs , Amy Rowe , William T. Hlubik , and (NOP) developed national organic Jan Zientek2 standards for agriculture and a certi- fication program that certifies that agricultural products were produced ADDITIONAL INDEX WORDS. integrated pest management, compost, native plants, using approved organic practices sustainable landscaping, turfgrass, natural, best management practices (USDA, 2014). Currently, there are SUMMARY. This article presents findings from the first 3 years of implementing an no federal standards for organic lawn organic land care training program for landscapers, including landscaper attitudes, and land care. The lack of universally lessons learned, and the potential role of extension. Results of a needs assessment as accepted standards for organic land well as discussions with organic practitioners provided evidence that New Jersey care has led to confusion in the land- lacked in-depth training needed to assist practitioners in determining acceptable scaping industry and the general practices when offering organic services to their clientele. As a result, Rutgers public over what organic land care University convened an organic land care working group and developed a certificate actually means. The prevailing notion program for professionals with the long-term goal of promoting healthy soil, enhancing biodiversity, and reducing polluted runoff from managed landscapes. in the industry and among residents is Thus far the program has been attended by 63 landscapers with 48 fulfilling the that ‘‘going organic’’ is only about the program requirements. Follow-up surveys with participants of the first 2 years type of fertilizer or pesticide applied showed that 38% of the 1163 acres (470.6 ha) under their management are either in and that one can simply ‘‘product transition or have been completely converted to organic management. Respondents swap’’ from a conventional product reported a significant decrease in use of synthetic fertilizers and significant increase to an organic one. in use of organic fertilizer. Median synthetic pesticide usage decreased by 40%. In the absence of federal stan- Respondents reported since attending the program they were more effective at dards, a few organizations have de- a number of practices including removing invasives and installing native plants, veloped program standards to provide installing rain gardens, reducing stormwater runoff, and reducing irrigation. organic professionals with credibility Focusing on the science, patience in transitioning, and understanding there are no ‘‘one size fits all’’ organic programs have been important lessons learned by and to specify practices professionals experienced practitioners. Clientele acceptance, product efficacy, and finding skilled can abide by when offering organic staff were cited as consistent challenges. These results indicate that extension can services. These include the Northeast play a lead role in conducting applied research and providing relevant, effective Organic Farming Association’s Organic educational programming for landscapers in the organic land care field. Land Care program, Oregon Tilth, and the Society for Organic Urban Land Care in Canada (NOFA, 2011; Oregon ncreasingly in New Jersey and the addition, pesticides are increasingly Tilth, 2013; SOUL, 2013). The New surrounding region, lawn and being restricted or even eliminated York Department of Environmental Iland care professionals are offer- on public properties (Marshall et al., Conservation developed the ‘‘Be ing organic options to their clientele. 2015). For example, New Jersey Green Organic Yards NY’’ program This may be because of a number of School Integrated Pest Management as well as terms and conditions that reasons. The organic food industry is (IPM) Program encourages minimal apply to businesses that use the one of the fastest growing agricul- pesticide use and the use of low impact program’s service mark. Practitioners tural sectors and it is possible this is pesticides in addition to strict 72-h may choose to adhere to the standards now expanding into land care services notification requirements when more offered by local programs where they (Dettmann and Dimitri, 2010). In toxic pesticides are used [New Jersey have been developed. Many of these • February 2016 26(1) 89 EXTENSION EDUCATION METHODS organizations use the USDA, NOP product of compost, in an effort to Methods (USDA, 2014) practices as the basis transfer microbial biomass, fine par- NEEDS ASSESSMENT. In 2012, in of their program standards, with ad- ticulate organic matter, and soluble response to inquiries from land care ditional considerations for addressing chemical components to plants and practitioners and regulatory agencies, issues such as tree and shrub care, soils in ways not economically feasible Rutgers University began to assess lawn management, native and inva- with solid compost (USDA, 2004). the industry need for a formal exten- sive plants, and water management. Organic landscapers use slow- sion program on organic land care. A A few definitions have been put release fertilizers with ingredients that 14-question survey was conducted at forth for organic land care (NOFA, come from natural sources such as industry training events attended by 2011; SOUL, 2013). In general, plant or animal by-products (i.e., fish, landscapers as well as public em- these definitions promote the con- feather, or blood meal), rock pow- ployees. Landscapers were asked if cept of landscaping as a system of ders, and seaweed. Some practitioners they were interested in becoming a sustainable practices that restores, will use a bridge product, which is certified organic landscaper, how this enhances, and protects the local and a mix of synthetic nitrogen (most certification would help their com- surrounding environment. These likely urea) with a natural organic pany, and whether they had already practices should promote diversity, fertilizer. Bridge products are often received training in organic tech- restore and improve soil biology, use used while transitioning a landscape niques. They were also asked how local materials, and reduce waste, but use of these products would not many of their customers had requested including reducing energy use, mate- be consistent with true organic man- rial products, and water. The goal is agement because of the inclusion of organic services and if practitioners to create a holistic approach to land synthetic nitrogen. believed their clients would pay more management where the soil, plants, Pest and disease management in for these services. Additional demo- and animals within the system are an organic system is similar to an IPM graphic questions were included, in- interdependent and should sustain approach. This approach focuses on cluding the company type and how each other. creating a landscape that is unfriendly many properties they managed. Generally, in an organic pro- to pests and diseases (using right PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT AND gram, synthetic pesticides, synthetic plant, right place concepts, and other IMPLEMENTATION. To assist with pro- fertilizers, and synthetic soil amend- cultural practices), monitoring, and gram development, Rutgers Univer- ments are not used. Rather, organic using allowed pesticides, usually from sity assembled an organic land care landscaping focuses on emulating a natural source such as insecticidal working group made up of landscap- natural conditions by using fertilizer soaps, horticultural spray oils, botan- ing professionals, extension faculty from natural materials (manure, ical insecticides such as neem- (Aza- and staff, regulatory representatives, plant, and/or meal based) and com- dirachta indica) and BT- (Bacillus and industry experts. This group post in addition to focusing on thuringiensis) based products, as a last helped review other existing pro- cultural practices such as returning resort. Some synthetic substances are grams and guidelines, and developed grass clippings as a nitrogen source, allowed in an organic program and the program curriculum and educa- mowing at an optimal height, and these are listed in Section 205.601 tional support materials. proper planting and pruning of trees under ‘‘The National List of Allowed Rutgers University developed and shrubs. Practitioners incorporate and Prohibited Substances’’ of the the Organic Land Care Certificate native and pest-resistant plants into USDA, NOP (USDA, 2014). Program to educate and assist practi- landscape designs and place plants in Ongoing debate and discussion tioners in determining what is accept- areas that optimize the sunlight, soil, continue to exist in the field of or- able under organic
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