Organic Land Care Needs Assessment of Professional Landscapers in New Jersey

Rowe, A.A.1; Bakacs, M.2; Hlubik, W. T.3; Weidman, R.4; Zientek, J.L.51Environmental and Resource Management Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Roseland, NJ, 07068

2Environmental and Resource Management Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, North Brunswick, NJ, 089023Agricultural Agent, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, North Brunswick, NJ, 08902

4Program Associate, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, North Brunswick, NJ, 089025Senior Program Coordinator, Rutgers Cooperative Extension, Roseland, NJ, 07068

Abstract

Organic landscaping is an approach to land

Objectives

• To gauge professional landscapers’ interest in organicland care

Needs Assessment Results

• Landscaping company owners were more likely to becare that implements environmentally-friendly techniques that not only maintainbeautiful lawns and turf, but also improveswatershed health by reducing bothstormwater runoff and nonpoint sourcepollution. Currently, the Northeast OrganicFarming Association (NOFA) runs anOrganic Land Care Program in Connecticut

land care

• To collect data about landscapers’ existing knowledgeabout organic land care techniques

• To determine if landscaper clientele have requestedorganic land care as a service

• To learn if landscapers believed their clientele wouldbe willing to pay more for organic land care service

• Landscaping company owners were more likely to beinterested in becoming certified organic landscapersthan managers, who were more interested than staff(Table 1)

• Owners, managers, and staff were generally unsure ofif customers would be willing to pay more for organiclandscaping service (Table 1)

• Many landscapers have never had a client requestorganic techniques but owners have received the most

ObjectivesThis program’s goals are to educate municipal officials with 

practical information about these systems and to dispel myths 

Organic Land Care Program in Connecticut,Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and NewYork. The basis of the program is a 5-dayaccreditation course which certifies industryworkers to be NOFA-accredited organicland care professionals. New Jersey-basedlandscapers must travel to other states inorder to become NOFA-accredited. Rutgers

Methods

• Needs assessment surveys were given to professionallandscapers at several events

• After the landscapers’ need for more information wasestablished, two “Introduction to Organic Land Care”workshops were held

organic techniques, but owners have received the mostinquiries compared to managers and staff (Table 1)

Table 1. Organic land care needs assessment results of professional landscapers in New Jersey (n=141)

Role in Landscaping Company

Survey Question Owner Manager Staff

Are you interested in becoming a certified organic 73% 58% 43%p y p y

that may prevent the consideration of permeable pavement as 

a long‐term solution for stormwater management. 

ApproachesMunicipal officials may be hesitant to install permeable 

pavement for a variety of reasons and several methods may 

Cooperative Extension (RCE) is currentlyadapting and implementing the program forthe New Jersey landscaping industry.

In order to better understand New Jerseylandscaping professionals’ attitudes towardorganic land care, a survey was conductedover several landscaper workshop events

• Pre/post-workshop knowledge surveys were given toparticipants to assist in determining impact.

y g glandscaper? Answered "Yes" or "Maybe" 73% 58% 43%

Would customers be willing to pay more for organic landscaping? Answered "Maybe" or "I don't know" 51% 67% 50%

How many clients have requested organic landscaping? Answered "None" 29% 58% 63%

Introductory Workshop Resultsp y y

need to be employed to educate and overcome barriers to 

implementation. Successful approaches may include: 

Demonstration site

Cost analysis

Green incentives

over several landscaper workshop events.200 surveys were administered, yielding141 responses. 57% of respondentsanswered yes or maybe when asked if theywould want to become a certified organiclandscaper. 33% believed that beingcertified in organic land care would helptheir businesses, and 33% of respondents

Introductory Workshop Results

• Attendees of the “Introduction to Organic Land Care”workshops had some prior knowledge of organictechniques (52% of pre-workshop answers correct, n=26)

• After the workshop, 74% of the knowledge testanswers were correct

• This knowledge increase was statistically significant at

Comments from Professional Landscapers

believed their customers might be willing topay more for organic landscaping. 40% ofthose surveyed stated that their customershad already expressed interest in organic or“all natural” landscaping products andtechniques. Based on these results it seemsthere is moderate interest in organic landcare techniques among New Jersey

This knowledge increase was statistically significant atthe 0.001 level (paired t-test)Organics are the future. Let’s

educate the people and geton with it. I started organic land

care many years ago.

It’s an excellent idea topromote organics for thesafety and reduction of

t

Future Plans

• A working group including RCE, NOFA, and the NewJersey Department of Environmental Protection isbeing formed

care techniques among New Jerseyprofessionals and residents. Additionalsurvey results will be presented as well ashow these results will assist in planningNew Jersey’s organic land care program.

costs.Any sound science techniqueusing organics is always aplus.

• An organic land care accreditation program isexpected to be in place by early 2013

• The landscapers need assistance making the publicaware of the benefits of organic land care

• RCE will provide that assistance by holding workshopsfor homeowners