Help for a new guy

[Tryingtobegreen]

I am very new to lawn care - have only taken care of my yard. The industry that I currently work in is very volatile and I feel that I am close to being laid off. My wife and I have always wanted to start a business and we noticed that there are no organic lawn care services offered in our town. I have been doing reading on organic lawn care and have run from the idea of a Spray Green franchise. I am brewing my own compost tea for the first time on Monday as I do more research. But, is there anywhere I can take classes or receive training on organic lawn care so I can become proficient enough to start an organic lawn care business? Thanks for any suggestions you might have for a new guy.:confused:

[DeepGreenLawn]

you are in probably the best classroom you can find right now. Look through the old threads and study up. There are reading materials that people recommend. I started a post a while ago "back to the basics." I asked a TON of questions earlier this year and pissed some people off. I then posted what I learned in an easy understandable way for someone like yourself. Check it out, it is just what it is, the basics. There is a link below.

Other than that, just keep studying. Your getting in at the wrong time of the season. Everyone has found their company for the year but if you advertise right not everyone likes their company. And the organics is a good nack to put yourself above everyone else.

Good luck,

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=215970&highlight=basics

[treegal1]

I am only a 2 hour drive away, the door is always open, every wed nite we give FREE classes

just east of the lake, stuart fl, we just set another LCO up in broward, he loves it. theres nothing to buy, we are not sales people, no products.

[DeepGreenLawn]

Treegal, you are unbelievable. I plan on coming down some time. How far are you from the beach?

Tryingtobe, you don't know how LUCKY you are to be so close to her. If I were you I would be there every week.

[zemzabob]

I am only a 2 hour drive away, the door is always open, every wed nite we give FREE classes

just east of the lake, stuart fl, we just set another LCO up in broward, he loves it. theres nothing to buy, we are not sales people, no products.

Wow you can't beat that.:walking:

[tamadrummer]

You should read statute 482 http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch0482/titl0482.htm

There is a link to it.

Any way before you get to crazy and buy stuff for business, you need to be sure that you can get licensed to spray in FL and in your county.

Good Luck and great job looking for and finding an under-utilized resource in our state!

[treegal1]

don't worry there's an extension service near us they can get you expedited licensing, training, compliance help. also that's a pest control lic, there's several different lic. types. just pay/test and play. we did a little trial, we let some kids study the test prep, then we quiz-ed them, trust me a 9 year old could pass!!!! its no harder than going to the DMV and there are no long lines.


also, wheres the statutes on compost and tea(no claims made) most of us have stop-ed the killings and learned to grow great plants. not spray death.

[tamadrummer]

don't worry there's an extension service near us they can get you expedited licensing, training, compliance help. also that's a pest control lic, there's several different lic. types. just pay/test and play. we did a little trial, we let some kids study the test prep, then we quiz-ed them, trust me a 9 year old could pass!!!! its no harder than going to the DMV and there are no long lines.


also, wheres the statutes on compost and tea(no claims made) most of us have stop-ed the killings and learned to grow great plants. not spray death.

So essentially you make no claim with your product? You just offer to spray tea and other organics (sprinkled/spread/sprayed) because it works and has no adverse effects on unwanted (weed) growth and pest life? You just don't answer those questions if and when asked? Otherwise 482 covers that stuff as well if it is being used for weeds in any way or insect control in any way.

I think, if I am wrong I am sorry if not, than at least you know a way to properly license this guy and keep him legit.

[treegal1]

yep and like you said 482 covers it!! and who licenses my left and right, they kill weeds by the thousands, whats the label requirements there

[treegal1]

really, this thread has been gone over and beat to death again and again

http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?t=232210
http://www.lawnsite.com/showthread.php?p=2346398

[tamadrummer]

yep and like you said 482 covers it!! and who licenses my left and right, they kill weeds by the thousands, whats the label requirements there

If you are hand pulling weeds and bermuda that grows like crazy in the beds, that is awesome.

What do you do about mites/thrips/aphids and all the other creepy crawlys out there? Are they basically manageable without pesticides? I am not trying to be a smart @@@ I am truly curious as to how this stuff is dealt with?

I just found the links in your last post. You can ignore this if you like.

[DeepGreenLawn]

the bermuda in the beds can be controlled for the most part by good cutural practices. Edge your beds with the edger you use on the driveway. It will cut any under and above growth keeping it out. Other than that, if you have a healthy bed the stuff takes a minute but you can get it out, especially if your beds are in good condition like mine.

There are other products and practices that are more or less the "good ole boy/girl" approach. Soapy water agitates this, and this will do that.

[tamadrummer]

the bermuda in the beds can be controlled for the most part by good cutural practices. Edge your beds with the edger you use on the driveway. It will cut any under and above growth keeping it out. Other than that, if you have a healthy bed the stuff takes a minute but you can get it out, especially if your beds are in good condition like mine.

There are other products and practices that are more or less the "good ole boy/girl" approach. Soapy water agitates this, and this will do that.

I edge all of my beds, the bermuda grows in the middle of the mulch (Stone and lava rock mulch is the worst). The stuff is unstoppable! Until my license gets here, I have my customers buy and keep jugs of round-up in some place that I can get to it so I can spray what-ever is in the beds. Some do some don't so once I have my limited commercial license in hand and can carry and use my own mixes, I will be using NuFarms ProDeuce on the unmulched areas and in my areas with mulch, it will be Snapshot after a good blanket killing with the round-up.

[DeepGreenLawn]

I know where your coming from, I have a rock bed in my front yard, I was able to eradicate the bermuda before I put it down and have kept it out since. I am in no way saying it is not a pain in the a$$. I am "organic-based" so that there allows me to use traditional products in situations such as these.

Good luck.

[treegal1]

lets see, fire, lady bugs,ant lions,crickets. and lets just go hypothetical, if some one dumped crap all over your world would you be into staying around, we did not do it to repel or fertilize, we spread compost to level the high spots. look at the bags of compost in the local store. there's one that's says helps soil fertility, it has a label, the others ( same product) says nothing and there's no label. lady bugs look cool,ant lions turn into dragon flies, crickets make noise. are those regulated. and a limited app lic??? no tank spray for you??? well we don't spray tea we apply it.to hold in the moisture

and rocks are hard to keep clean, test the pH and see if theres a reason

[Tryingtobegreen]

I am only a 2 hour drive away, the door is always open, every wed nite we give FREE classes

just east of the lake, stuart fl, we just set another LCO up in broward, he loves it. theres nothing to buy, we are not sales people, no products.

Treegal, you are unbelievable. I plan on coming down some time. How far are you from the beach?

Tryingtobe, you don't know how LUCKY you are to be so close to her. If I were you I would be there every week.

Treegal,

I will absoulutely take you up on your offer. Thank you. How can I get in touch with you? My e-mail adress is listed in my profile I believe. Thanks again.

[Tryingtobegreen]

You should read statute 482 http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch0482/titl0482.htm

There is a link to it.

Any way before you get to crazy and buy stuff for business, you need to be sure that you can get licensed to spray in FL and in your county.

Good Luck and great job looking for and finding an under-utilized resource in our state!
tamadrummer,

Thanks for the link. I have already been in contact with the Dept. of Ag. I am looking at a couple of options - looking for someone with an L&O or petitioning the state since many organic products don't "kill weeds or bugs". I am still early in the process so any additional advice will be read and greatly appreciated.

[treegal1]

well here it goes, we already do 700+ emails

laurastree@bellsouth.net

we do need to talk your on a very similar path with the MAN...

[Tryingtobegreen]

well here it goes, we already do 700+ emails

laurastree@bellsouth.net

we do need to talk your on a very similar path with the MAN...

Thank you treegal. I will be in touch soon.

Which MAN?:confused::laugh:

[DeepGreenLawn]

Well, your the WOMAN, so who is the MAN? Is that the MR. WOMAN? Or is there more than one THE MAN?

[treegal1]

the oppressor man, the one downpressing our ideas with antiquated laws that were not even "for the people by the people". they got my taxes now i want my representation. I have said many times as a group we need to band together(Florida organic land care providers) and get our own laws on the books. my bitching and crying will only go so far, if there is several dozen of us then there is some thing to be had???

noise is not pollution!!!

[DeepGreenLawn]

"Florida organic land care providers"

exactly how many of you do you think there are?

[treegal1]

well thers about 12, and we are setting up a new one in miami, we set a real go getter up in broward.

[Tryingtobegreen]

well thers about 12, and we are setting up a new one in miami, we set a real go getter up in broward.

Count me in once I get up and running. My wife and I were planning on arguing with the D.O.A. They told us that if you "kill weeds or bugs" you need a license. We replied that we were not planning on using chemicals that kill weeds or bugs. They didn't have an answer since they do not have regulations regarding organic lawn care. My amazing wife is an attorney - we need to learn more about organic methods before we can formulate a proper argument. Sounds like there are plenty of folks on this web site that can help in the matter. If we can get FL to act, then more states will follow. I will be in touch with you Ms. Treegirl. Thanks again.