ORGANIC AND SUSTAINABLE

This winter I attended the NOFA Organic land Care Program. Everyday for a week in January, I attended classes from 8am till 5 pm in New Haven, CT in preparation for a final exam and accreditation. My head was filled with amazing information by the time I finished the course. Everything related to Organic Land Care. Some of the topics discussed were Site Analysis, Design and Maintenance, Rain Gardens and Stormwater Infiltration, mulches, lawn alternatives, fertilizer and soil amendments, compost, soil biology and ecology, soil health, water management, pest management, wildlife management, invasive plants, and disease control. I hope to discuss some of the healthy alternatives available in this blog. Sometimes it's confusing to understand what is really organic. We have all used chemicals  to make our plants grow and to kill insects and disease. The most awesome fact that I have learned is that we don't need to use all that stuff. If we keep our soil healthy with organic measures, everything else will fall into place!  P.S. I passed!!

What is organic gardening?

Organic gardening is gardening without using pesticides, herbicides or fungicides. It is using a variety of plants that complement each other and help build a thriving ecosystem.

What about sustainability?

By placing plants in the ideal spots for them to thrive, you are working with the land not against the land. A sustainable environment uses quality materials and proper building techniques to help your outdoor space last as long as it can.

Why?

Safety, peace of mind, a healthy environment and a better world.
Did you know that 18 pounds of pesticides are used per acre per year on golf courses?
"Pesticides are poisons -- ones that can never be legally labeled "safe" in this country, because they never can be guaranteed as such. Some pesticides on the market are carcinogenic, or cancer-causing, while others have been linked to reproductive problems, nervous system disorders and birth defects. Their limited use is permitted when their proposed benefits -- like, say, protecting crops from fungi or insects so as provide food for society -- theoretically outweigh their potential harms." -Jake Tapper - salon.com
Did you also know that when you spray pesticides or herbicides on your property that only 5% of that spray goes onto the plant. What happens to the rest of it? It goes into the air, that you are breathing as you spray the plants, some if stays airborne and goes into your neighbours airspace, the remaining toxins seep into the ground and as you water or it rains it makes it's way into the sewers which then travels into our oceans.