Organic Land Care for Your Community

A Step-by-Step Guide for Community Members Working to Change Municipal Policies for a Greener Future

Organic Urban Land Care is much more than simply restricting the use of synthetic chemicals, it is working with natural systems to create healthy and resilient landscapes. It is a process of planning and caring for spaces with an ecosystem approach, relying on various elements of that ecosystem to support each other so there are fewer inputs needed and less waste produced. At its core, Organic Land Care is about increasing the biodiversity and subsequent resiliency and function of landscapes.

Most municipalities have recognized that diverse urban tree canopies are less susceptible to pest and disease pressures, both by breaking up pathways for the travel and transmission of pests and diseases and by minimizing the chances that a single pest or disease will cause extensive damage to an entire urban forest. There is growing awareness and acceptance of the fact that mixed species turf areas are less bothered by pests and diseases than monoculture lawns and are usually the first to return to active, lush growth at the end of a drought.

The next step along this path is an understanding of the function and benefits of diverse soil biology, how it helps increase resilience of other elements in the landscape, especially during unusually wet or dry periods, and learning how to replace current horticultural practices that harm soil biology with practices that support its function and diversity and are healthy for both the landscape and the people who spend time in it.

On its own Organic Land Care won’t fix all of the issues that municipalities will face with changing growing conditions but it is an important piece of the puzzle, complementing and supporting green infrastructure, urban forestry plans, and improved green space design.

It can also help municipalities reduce the cost of maintaining and renovating landscaped spaces. Organic Land Care provides a toolkit for working with available resources to create conditions where soil biology provides plants and turf with the bulk of their required nutrients and water. It can help mitigate increasing pressures on storm water systems caused by intense rain events by maintaining healthy, stable, porous soils that hold water and allow it to infiltrate into the water table where it belongs.

Organic Land Care helps to create conditions that improve urban tree survival rates and life span and can keep the plants in green infrastructure projects healthy so that they can do their job of filtering water, cleaning the air and further stabilizing soils to prevent erosion and nutrient leaching.

What to Expect

With many municipal land use and planning policies being disrupted by the need for, or the requirement to develop, plans for climate change mitigation and adaptation, especially in relation to increased flooding and reduced summer water supply, this may prove to be one of the best times to suggest a new approach to green space management in your community.

Keep in mind that changing public policy is a slow process, one that requires time and persistence, but presenting your municipality with well supported information and an existing Standard that they can reference when developing project specifications and drafting contracts may prove to be a solution to challenges that they are already facing.

In most situations you will find it easier to gain support from your municipality if you can present solutions to problems that they have already identified. Spend some time researching what your council already has planned for upcoming projects and if there are any existing priorities that Organic Land Care can help them to achieve.

When starting conversations about changing how things are done, try to keep the focus on positive outcomes from organic techniques, manufacturers of chemical based fertilizers and pesticides have plenty of carefully phrased and targeted information that they can use to challenge claims of environmental and human health harms and conversations can quickly breakdown into a deadlock between competing claims split along political lines.

A good way to begin is by gathering information. Try to find out what policies and standards are currently in place and if there are any existing short or long term plans for changes. Also look into whether there is a framework or policy that you need to follow for making a proposal to Council. Compile supporting information for the changes you are proposing. Work on building up a group or team to support your efforts and help amplify the issues. If several Councillors hear similar things from their constituents it increases the odds that changes will be seriously considered.

And, finally, don’t expect immediate, extensive adoption of organic practices. Municipal governments have legal requirements that they need to meet regarding fiscal responsibility and large scale change in a short time frame can make them nervous. They may choose to start small with trial areas or pilot projects. Stick with it and follow up, find out if projects are implemented, cared for and data collected and used to fine tune and expand projects and inform larger policy changes. Check in, ask for updates and keep lines of communication open.

The Current Situation

A clear understanding of the current situation is a vital element for planning how to get from where you are to where you want to be.

A practical place to start your research on how public lands are currently being designed and maintained in your community is your municipal website. You likely won’t find a specific policy posted unless a sustainable or organic plan has already been adopted but you can likely find the contact information for someone who can answer your initial questions about current practices. If you can’t find an appropriate contact start with the general information desk, email address or telephone line. Let them know that you are looking for information on how municipal lands, including turf, garden areas, natural spaces and trees are maintained. They should be able to direct you to someone who can answer your questions.

Keep in mind that this is the research stage, taking the time to understand the existing policies and to research any information about products or processes that are described to you will help you formulate an effective case for change. You don’t need to be advocating for changes yet, just collecting information.

You can find a list of questions to help get you started on the SOUL website.

Some additional avenues of research can include:

• Does your municipality have a strategic plan and are there any goals in it that organic land care could fit into or help them meet?
  
• Has your municipality set environmental goals of any kind? Climate change, clean water, plant or wildlife conservation etc. or are there provincially imposed outcomes that they are required to meet?
  
• Is there an Environment Committee? Have they set goals and do they have a plan in place to reach them?