Season 2 Episode 9: Jennifer Shaffer, Director of the Organic Land Care Program at the Northeast Organic Farming Association

06/18/24 • 47 min

In this episode, we sit down with Jennifer Shaffer, Director of the Organic Land Care Program at the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA). Jennifer discusses how NOFA's mission of sustainable farming extends to their Organic Land Care Program, which aims to bring organic farming principles to landscapes. This program is designed for landscaping professionals and offers the only internationally recognized accreditation for organic land care. Jennifer shares insights into how the program educates land care providers on organic practices and sets industry standards, and highlights the program’s expansion from the Northeast to regions across the United States, including the Southeast, Mid-Atlantic, and Midwest.

Episode Hosts/Speakers: Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)

Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)

Jennifer Shaffer, Director of the Organic Land Care Program at the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA)

Caption – Photo: Tim Abbey, Penn State

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Episode Hosts/Speakers: Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)

Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)

Jennifer Shaffer, Director of the Organic Land Care Program at the Northeast Organic Farming Association (NOFA)

Caption – Photo: Tim Abbey, Penn State

Previous Episode

Season 2 Episode 8: Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State Extension Horticulturist

Join the Keeping It Green podcast as they explore the role of a generalist in horticulture education with Penn State extension horticulturist Emelie Swackhamer. For decades, Emelie has been helping farmers, growers, homeowners, and landscapers with plant issues. In this episode, she shares her expertise on problems like the spotted lanternfly and delves into the challenges facing our native beech tree, particularly beech leaf disease, including the life cycle of the disease and how nematodes are spread. The discussion expands to address invasive species, pondering how to deal with them amidst ongoing trade and the movement of firewood. Are we destined for constant invasions of pests in the future? The crew philosophizes on the topic, exploring potential solutions and the realities of invasive management. And how does Emelie pass the time during her long walks from Maine to Florida?

Episode Hosts/Speakers: Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)

Sandy Feather, Penn State Extension (host)

Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State Extension
Picture caption: Symptoms of beech leaf disease include darkening and thickening of the tissue between leaf veins that are most visible when viewed against the light sky. Photo: Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State

Next Episode

Season 2 Episode 10: with Andrew Bunting, Vice President of Horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Association

In this episode, we chat with Andrew Bunting, vice president of Horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society (PHS). Andrew discusses the history of PHS and its four main priorities: creating healthy living environments, increasing access to fresh food, expanding economic opportunity, and building meaningful social connections. He also reviews some of their major programs, such as the Gold Medal Plants and the Philadelphia Flower Show. Most intriguing is their vacant lot program. This initiative uses gardening and landscaping to clean, green, and maintain vacant lots in 13,000 lots to develop green spaces in urban areas. PHS partners with contractors and community groups to turn vacant lots into public green spaces, creating lasting benefits such as improved mental health.

Episode Hosts/Speakers:
Margaret Pickoff, Penn State Extension (host)

Tim Abbey, Penn State Extension (host)

Andrew Bunting, Vice President of Horticulture at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Association
Photo credit: Pennsylvania Horticulture Society