Go Organic...

Hemingwayscapes is committed to preserving Nantucket's natural ecosystem by practicing environmentally conscious landscaping techniques. Since the business formed in 2002 we have proven that organic landscaping on Nantucket is indeed possible and can provide bountiful, beautiful results.

Jon has always been a believer in organic practices. In 1995 he and a compatriot began experimenting with compost by recycling and fermenting the waste generated from cleanups and turning into nutrient-rich compost. Jon began applying compost for top dressing lawns and planting shrubs and trees. This resulted in plants that grew stronger and lawns that eventually needed less pesticides and processed nitrogen.

Katie attended NOFA (Northeast Organic Farming Association) of Massachusetts Organic Land Care program in 2004, where she learned incredible statistics on the benefits of compost tea. Compost tea is made much like brewing your morning coffee, by filtering water through the compost and adding oxygen. In addition to nutrients, the tea contains millions of healthy microorganisms that remain in the soil after each application, killing harmful organisms that cause plant disease. In 2008 Katie will take the NOFA exam to become an Accredited Organic Landcare Professional.

Using compost tea helps the food chain and therefore supports the diversity of animal species on-island. Certain synthetic pesticides may kill the targeted insect but also can kill every other beneficial insect in that area, like lacewings, and ladybugs. These helpful insects naturally destroy certain pests and killing them only exacerbates the initial problem. Birds that eat these sprayed insects have reproductive problems and often die prematurely.

Hemingwayscapes is proud to announce that beginning in 2007 their home-brewed compost tea will be a powerful new tool in their organic land care maintenance program. In this first year we will specifically target roses, annuals, perennials, and disease prevention in shrubs and perennials. This tea has been laboratory tested and is standardized to provide microbial species diversity.

Much like humans are becoming resistant to certain antibiotics, plant diseases continue to build resistance to chemical sprays and over-the-counter synthetic pesticides. Our mission is to migrate away from chemical dependency. We seek to protect Nantucket's natural resources while achieving beautiful results in our clients' yards and gardens.