Lakewood, Colo.-based Natural Grocers has partnered with Beyond Pesticides and People and Pollinators Action Network to launch organic land management demonstration sites at multiple city parks in Colorado, according to a release. The launch follows a successful program in Longmont, Colo., with a focus on environmental and public health protection.
Natural Grocers, which carries only 100% certified organic produce in its nearly 170 stores, has been a longtime advocate for organic land management practices and raising consumer awareness about the harmful effects that synthetic pesticides have on the environment, the company says.
The grocer’s partnership with Beyond Pesticides, a non-profit advocacy and grassroots organization, helps local parks, schools and businesses convert their outdoor spaces to pesticide-free zones, Natural Grocers told The Packer in an email.
The programs collaborate with the cities and the environmental organizations Beyond Pesticides and People and Pollinators Action Network and are underwritten by Natural Grocers. Both include horticultural consultation services and the development of an organic land management plan relying on methods and products that support microbial life in the soil.
Longmont implemented an organic program at two parks and is now ready to take the program city-wide, the release said of the programs that are a collaboration of the cities and the environmental organizations Beyond Pesticides and People and Pollinators Action Network, with underwriting from Natural Grocers.
Beyond Pesticides, through the Parks for Sustainable Future nationwide program, collaborates with communities across the country to transition parks, playing fields and public spaces to organic land management. The program provides in-depth training to assist community land managers in transitioning two public demonstration sites and the knowledge necessary to eventually transition all public areas in a locality to organic practices, the release said.
Beyond Pesticides says the program’s goal is to further shift from synthetic weed killers and other potential pesticide use to organic practices that rely on methods and products that support soil biology and microbial life in the soil. This approach, used by organic agriculture, naturally produces nutrients for plants, resulting in more resiliency and a reduction in water use, the release said.
Two additional Colorado cities — Lakewood and Golden — have since joined the program.
“We are excited to be working with the City of Lakewood and the City of Golden on organic land management practices that protect community health and the environment, including bees, butterflies, and birds, and support efforts to mitigate climate change and biodiversity decline. Organic practices eliminate fossil fuel petroleum-based products and sequester atmospheric carbon in the soil, combating the climate crisis,” said Jay Feldman, executive director of Beyond Pesticides.
Lakewood, Colo., in addition to serving as the headquarters of Natural Grocers, is home to 114 parks and 240 miles of trails, totaling over 7,400 acres of open space, the release said.
In collaboration with the City of Lakewood, three park demonstration sites have been selected for the program: The Link Recreation Center Baseball Field, The Mountair Dog Park, and Belmar Traditional Park, a 199,000-square-foot open turf space.
Lakewood, Colo., in addition to serving as the headquarters of Natural Grocers, is home to 114 parks, including Belmar Traditional Park, a 199,000-square-foot open turf space. (Photo courtesy of the City of Lakewood)
“We are excited to work with Beyond Pesticides in creating organic park areas and adding to our existing conservation efforts, converting bluegrass areas to native grass stands, maintaining industry-leading water conservation practices, and supporting pollinator pathways within our park system,” said Jim Haselgren, parks manager for Belmar Traditional Park.
The Parks Department in Golden, Colo., which maintains 253 acres of parks within city limits, has also joined the program. The city selected three parks for demonstration sites, including DeLong Park, New Loveland Mine Park, and Southridge Park.
“We are grateful for the opportunity to participate in the Beyond Pesticides program,” said Carly Lorentz, deputy city manager for Golden. “The guidance and training for staff will help the development of maintenance practices and plans that support our effort to be a leader in our industry, including water conservation and organic practices.”
The program seeks to create safe spaces for people, pets and pollinators, the release said.
“It’s inspiring to see our cities leading the charge in piloting organic turf management, and we’re confident that other communities will follow their example,” said Joyce Kennedy, executive director of People and Pollinators Action Network. “It’s an excellent model for how local governments and communities can work together to create safe havens for pollinators.”
The Parks for a Sustainable Future program is supported by Natural Grocers, which underwrites the horticultural consultation services, including testing of soil biology, development of a plan with recommended practices and materials, as well as ongoing collaboration with parks department staff.
“We are thrilled [to] have Lakewood and Golden, both of our home cities, committed to organic management of these treasured areas that are so important to their citizens,” said Alan Lewis, vice president advocacy and governmental affairs at Natural Grocers. “We know from long experience the parks managers will be happily surprised by the naturally weed-free landscapes and the cost savings due to lower water use. The biggest benefit, of course, will be for families with children and pets who will have safer green spaces to play on.”
Natural Grocers says “organic” is at the heart of the company and its stores are Certified Organic Food Handlers, which means all stores are inspected annually by an organic certifying agency to ensure they use only organic-approved processes and cleaning products.
