As an organic horticultural professional I was surprised to read Jim Combs comment “We’re going to be doing a lot of extra hand-work.” As Ms. Barden stated, there are not a lot of planter beds in the park that would require such work, and proper use of mulch can almost eliminate the need for hand weeding. In lawns, and mulched playgrounds there are a wide variety of options for weed control that do not involve hand-work. There are organic weed killers made from vinegar, soap and essential oils, flame weeders work very well (and often encourage educational conversations with park users), and there are long handled weeders that would all help reduce or eliminate the need for hand-work. Altering a few management practices at the park can dramatically reduce weed problems and the need for hand-work. Mulching tree wells and planter beds, raising the mowing height, lawn aeration, overseeding the lawn in spring and fall, regular applications of organic fertilizers and compost and instructing park ranger to keep their vehicles off the lawns will go along way to prevent weeds. These practices should not require more funding then traditional maintenance practices, since you no longer need to purchase and apply toxic pesticides or spend funding on required pesticide applicator licensing, continuing education and insurance. Start up costs might be a little higher for organic landscape maintenance (i.e., mulch cost, purchase of flame and mechanical weeders, and eco-friendly weed killers) but in time the costs should actually be less then conventional practices. Factor in the environmental and health costs associated with pesticide applications (that are incurred by other governmental and public institutions) and it certainly is less expensive. Organic pest management should take about the same amount of time as pesticides when you factor in the time required to purchase and apply pesticides, conduct the required pesticide training of employees and record keeping of pesticide applications. Once a totally organic landscape maintenance program is in place (when funding returns to the Parks Department) there should be very few weed problems and the time and expense of pest management will drop dramatically. Any additional labor required in the short term well result from the Parks Department’s lack of funding and not the switch to organic practices. Steven Zien, Living Resources Company, Organic Horticultural Professionals