Organic Lawn Training??

[McFarland_Lawn_Care]

Hi All,
I am looking to implement an organic lawncare program next year and would love to get as educated as much as possible on the whole organic process because many of my customers have tons of questions that I cannot answer right yet. I have read many posts on here but I'm considering ordering this training program from www.naturalturfpro.com. Just curious if this looks like a valuable and reputable program or if anyone could point me towards a better one?? Thanks so much...

Jason

[phasthound]

Yeah, I know them. You'll learn from this course. For more training take the 5 day NOFA course during the winter.

[ICT Bill]

and go here to register
while there download "standards for organic lawn care" it is on the main page and is an excellent reference for FREE

www.organiclandcare.net

we will have training videos coming out this fall on our web site

[McFarland_Lawn_Care]

Okay, thanks a lot Folks. Bill, I am looking to buy a setup for spraying CT on small to medium sized residentials next year. What type of setup would you recommend for spraying medium sized lawns? I looked at a boom sprayer that hooks up to a mower, but I am really new at this whole procedure. Sorry for the foolish question, I REALLY appreciate all of everyone's help and info in this forum.

Jason

[ICT Bill]

Okay, thanks a lot Folks. Bill, I am looking to buy a setup for spraying CT on small to medium sized residentials next year. What type of setup would you recommend for spraying medium sized lawns? I looked at a boom sprayer that hooks up to a mower, but I am really new at this whole procedure. Sorry for the foolish question, I REALLY appreciate all of everyone's help and info in this forum.

Jason

The only foolish question is the one not asked
There were some recent threads about spray rigs and what folks preferred. You can look them up, I have some experience but there are others on here that have much more that will chime in

there is a ride on unit called the pearl made by Purely organic lawn care up in York Maine that puts out 2 to 3 gallon per 1000 that I really like, good spray rigs can get expensive but if you buy something that works well its worth it. It is made for specifically for spraying tea, it is actually a little bigger than it looks in this picture

I think Barry Draycott mounted his spray rig on a trailer, if you need it just hook it up and go, I like that idea rather than a dedicated truck, Last time I saw him Gro used to use one mounted in a van

[McFarland_Lawn_Care]

Thanks a million, Bill. Very helpful....I will look that company in York up. Been reading threads way back to 2007 on here and think I'll start my own compost this fall and get ready for next season. I'm going to try to make the GIE in Kentucky, should see some good stuff there....=)

[ICT Bill]

Thanks a million, Bill. Very helpful....I will look that company in York up. Been reading threads way back to 2007 on here and think I'll start my own compost this fall and get ready for next season. I'm going to try to make the GIE in Kentucky, should see some good stuff there....=)

They stock an entire product line to use in the field. The owner has been a golf super for 20 years and went out on his own 3/4 years ago. They actually manage a couple golf course with a completely organic program also Commercial and residential.

Let me put it this way, these guys know exactly how to take care of turf up where you guys live. After you live in an area and work with turf as long as they have you just KNOW what is going on and what to expect, they will be good partners for you. Go see some of their sites/work before it gets cold

[cpel2004]

Thanks for the help info.

[ecoguy]

I just bought the Natural Pro...Plan to go through it in August.

[jonthepain]

I just bought the Natural Pro...Plan to go through it in August.

thanks for the rec - just ordered it myself. i'll let you know if i think it was worth the buck and a half.

[ICT Bill]

If you are not familiar with this guy, Chip Osborne, he not only teaches but gets his hands dirty in the field as well. He consults to many municipalities and has great classes too. Great guy with a wealth of knowledge to share

http://www.osborneorganics.com/chip.html

[jonthepain]

looking forward to learning from him.

[ICT Bill]

looking forward to learning from him.

Is that who is giving the class you are going to?
Do you mind sharing the link

[nc-jrock]

thanks for the rec - just ordered it myself. i'll let you know if i think it was worth the buck and a half.

Yes please let us know if it is worth it. It looks interesting.
Thanks

[ICT Bill]

could someone please post a link so we can figure out what you are talking about

[jonthepain]

sorry, Bill, i'm not going anywhere, i just ordered the DVD from www.naturalturfpro.com that Jason mentioned in his first post.

sorry for the confusion.

i'll post what i think of it as soon as i can.

actually i am going somewhere - nc state - thought i'd take some turf classes this fall. i'm sure they can teach an old dog new tricks if i'm up to it. :)

[Smallaxe]

Learning about soil structure, texture and blends, is probably the most important prerequisite to understanding, the why's and wherefore's of all healthy plant-life.

Learning and understanding essentials is better, than memorizing data...

[jonthepain]

soil science was a required course for my geography degree. but that was thirty years ago...

need to retool

[Smallaxe]

soil science was a required course for my geography degree. but that was thirty years ago...

need to retool

Hahaha, I know the feeling...That's where the internet, is handy.

[ICT Bill]

According to Jeff Franks his part was taped in 2004 in upstate NY, I don't know about Chip and James

Jeff says they cut his funniest stuff, bummer he's a pretty funny guy
"when i did the DVD for "Grass roots" they cut out alot of my very funny material and stole some of my best lines, but what the heck, imitation is a form of flattery.... but it was a very funny talk and a good group i believe it was done in 2004 upstate"

[jonthepain]

Jeff says they cut his funniest stuff, bummer he's a pretty funny guy


Yes he is great on the DVD but there are only a couple of minutes of him.

This would have been worth the $150 if they had not cut the talks down to a few minutes each. They basically just hit the bare minimum basics and edited out the rest.

Obviously all very knowledgeable guys. Too bad they only shared a very tiny fraction of that knowledge.

I wouldn't have minded the fact that it's way out of date if they had just included some deeper content.

Since it was so basic, most of the content you can pick up online here and other places. It was nice to have some reinforcement, but for $150 it would be nice to actually learn something.

I'd say it was worth $29.95, tops.

I wish I'd saved the buck and a half and applied it to tuition for a turf class at State this fall.

[Kiril]

This would have been worth the $150 if they had not cut the talks down to a few minutes each. They basically just hit the bare minimum basics and edited out the rest.

And that would be why these seminars are a complete waste of money for anyone other than the greenest of the green. Problem is, there is only so much you can teach in such a short period of time.

I wish I'd saved the buck and a half and applied it to tuition for a turf class at State this fall.

That would be money better spent IMO ... or you could buy the course material and teach yourself.

[jonthepain]

That reminds me, I need to get my app for admission in...

NC State is having a "Turfgrass field day" next week that I'm registered to attend. It will be fun to get out to their warm season grass research station and hobnob with a lot of the local lco bigwigs as well as the academics.

They are having several seminars but I think I'll probably get a lot out of just hanging in the field with the experts. :)