Question: Please describe your business - who does it serve?Horticultural Solutions, LLC: I am the owner of an organic landscape design, maintenance, and construction firm in Charlestown, RI. I have been primarily organic since 2005 experiencing an increase in organic services each year. Additionally, I speak at NOFA Courses, give organic workshops and consult with other landscape firms looking to improve their business organization, profitability and organic services offered.
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| Frank Crandall |
Question: What is the state of the organic gardening
industry? Where do you see the greatest growth and what’s driving it?
The demand for organic services has increased steadily over the past 5
years…mainly from customer concerns about chemicals used on their lawns, in
their gardens and throughout their properties. The concern for the environment,
child and pet safety and wanting to do the right thing influences customer’s
desires to have environmentally friendly landscape services. Our clientele,
mostly homeowners living on coastal properties, are concerned about chemical
use that will affect their families, pets and local sensitive areas like ponds,
the ocean and streams.
Question: What are some of the most common challenges
professionals face in caring for the land organically and what approach do you
take to solving them?
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| Organic veggie gardens increasing in popularity |
Commonly, new clients think organics will not work and they are
expensive…two myths that need to be explained before new customers will
consider organic services. We have many examples to show clients that organic
lawn care, landscape health care and organic vegetable gardening not only work
but produce extremely healthy, productive and pesticide free landscapes.
Although the initial cost of transitioning to organic care will involve an
investment…the long-term expense will actually be similar to traditional
landscape care or even lower.
Question: What advice do you have for conventional land
care professionals who are considering transitioning to organic?
Education is the Key for
Homeowners and New Organic Professionals: Unfortunately, there are landscapers, lawn care, and maintenance
companies that believe that they can convert to “organics” without a
comprehensive educational program (like the NOFA Accreditation Course) which is
not the case. Transitioning to an organic based land care program requires the
science, experience, knowledge and expertise of the instructors that teach
(share) the information, methods and research that is needed to fully
understand the organic way. They also demonstrate how to implement the methods,
seek additional help and educate your new customer base to understand why, how
and when the organic transition will be effective. Becoming an AOLCP
(Accredited Organic Land Care Professional) is the best way to gain the knowledge,
resources, confidence and expertise to understand organics…and make them work
for you and your customers!
Question: How do you consider your business to be part of the solution to environmental degradation and overuse of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides? How do you educate your clientele?
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| Raised beds, welcome additions to the landscape |
Organic Landscaping is Part of
the Solution: I have always had an inclination toward less pesticide and chemical use,
but it wasn’t until I took the NOFA Accreditation Course in 2005 that I began
to feel confident about making the transition to organics, personally and
business-wise. I feel I am making a difference in the RI coastal communities I
serve…one organic landscape at a time. Sharing information, realistic
expectations and a sound plan to convert to organically maintained properties
is the key. One area that has become a vital service I offer is organic
vegetable garden design and maintenance. Our gardens have become much sought after,
beautiful and the most productive gardens around…all with no pesticides and
100% organic.
Organics…the Investment That
Helps You, Your Business and the Environment!
There are few educational opportunities that will provide the benefits
that the NOFA Accreditation Course will…for your future life, business
opportunities and the environment. The NOFA Course was the best educational
course I ever have taken…and it continues to supply innumerable benefits 11
years later!
Please feel free to contact me to
discuss the course, my organic business or anything related to transitioning
from traditional to organic landscaping!
Frank Crandall 401-742-7619 cell FrankCrandall3@gmail.com
