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Organic Land Care workshop with NOFA

Northeast Organic Farming Association's
Organic Land Care Program
October 21-24

Back by popular demand, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is bringing Northeast Organic Farming Association’s Organic Land Care accreditation program back to Southern Maine. The Organic Land Care program is an ideal course for landscapers, lawn care pros, garden caretakers, park and land trust managers, landscape architects, educators, gardeners and anyone else who is interested in learning how to care for properties without toxic materials. Increasingly, landscapers are using this unique course to study and prepare themselves to capture the growing market of customers seeking nontoxic and organic landscaping services.

This 30-hour, four-day course for land care professionals and environmental educators offers a well-rounded curriculum which will cover organic land care principles, practices, design, and maintenance. This year, in addition to the four-day course, students can sign up for single-day sessions in either Organic Lawn and Turf or Planting for Sustainability – see below for further details about these individual sessions. All programs are eligible for MELNA continuing education credits. Those who complete the full program are eligible to earn professional organic landscaping credentials that show they are NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professionals (AOLCPs), joining over 500 NOFA-accredited organic land care professionals in 20 states.

This special program is offered in partnership with NOFA-CT and the City of Portland. For daily agendas and learning objectives, please visit www.organiclandcare.net.

Course graduates benefit from: 

• The respected AOLCP credential for use with potential clients and employers. This shows that you have learned the NOFA Standards for Organic Land Care and know how to grow without toxins.
• Use of the NOFA Organic Land Care logo for promotional materials and websites.
• Discounts on other NOFA OLC courses and other affiliates gatherings.
• Networking with a community of highly trained organic professionals who know how to manage organic lawns, gardens, and landscapes.

Business-level AOLCPs can be found by new clients via the website's 'Organic Landscaper Locator' for organic land care professionals.

The cost of the course is $500 for CMBG members and for currently accredited AOLCPs and $600 for nonmembers or those who are currently unaccredited.

Register now—we’re excited to partner with NOFA and the City of Portland to bring this program back to Maine.

Planting for Sustainability

Wednesday, Oct. 23 | 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Join the NOFA accreditation students for a single day to discuss Planting for Sustainability with instructors who specialize in landscape design, native plant propagation, and horticulture and gardening. With their focused perspectives, we’ll cover designing for sustainability, including selecting healthy plants, choosing the right plants for the right places, long-term plant care in the landscape, and plant habit for ecological function. This workshop is part of the four-day accreditation course but can be taken separately, and will include indoor and outdoor instruction at Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens. Register for Course

Organic Lawn and Turf Wednesday

Oct. 23 | 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in South Portland Join the NOFA accreditation students for a single day to learn best practices for organically managing lawns, athletic fields, and parks in this organic lawn and turf intensive. Learning objectives for the day include how to use soil tests to make management decisions for your grass and athletic turf; the newest advances in organic lawn fertility and the differences between many products on the market; equipment, including tools for aeration and soil drenching; meeting other professional practitioners who are doing organic lawn and turf care successfully. This workshop is also part of the four-day accreditation course but can be taken separately. Register for Course

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
132 Botanical Gardens Drive, Boothbay, ME 04537
(207) 633-8000   |   info@MaineGardens.org