An Organic Lawn-Care Expert Visits my Farm
You may have seen my television show this past Tuesday with guest, Paul Tukey, an organic lawn-care expert and founder of SafeLawns. Paul is also a motivational public speaker and the author of The Organic Lawn Care Manual.
I have a keen interest in organic lawn care because I have animals, large and small, at my farm. After our informative TV segment, Paul and his wife, Katie, stopped by the farm to take a look at the lawn and hay fields. My property manager, Mike, and Dominick, who cares for the fields, showed them around. Paul took notes and also some weed specimens and I look forward to hearing his advice when he gets back to me.
1 Paul Tukey arriving at my farm - Love the T-shirt!
2 Katie - Paul's wife, Paul, Dominick, and Mike discussing various lawn problems.
3 This particular area has a lot of wild violet growing. Because it is beneath tall pine trees, Paul suspects the soil has a low pH level, which can be raised by adding high calcium limestone.
4 A closeup of the wild violet
5 Paul is a firm believer in spraying lawns and plants with compost tea and asked if there was a brewer on the property. We have one in the greenhouse.
6 Spraying a lawn with compost tea spreads beneficial microbial life into the soil and onto the grass foliage. This brewer is from Growing Solutions. www.growingsolutions.com
7 The next stop was one of the paddocks where the horses graze.
8 Paul liked what he saw here.
9 He thought that the balance of clover and grass was a good ratio.
10 Dominick was happy for that good report.
11 This stretch of lawn is where I recently hosted an outdoor wedding. It has since been aerated and fertilized.
12 The group was transported by Kawasaki to one of the hay fields, where Dominick is having a weed issue.
13 Paul was impressed with the quality of the pasture mix.
14 However, Dominick is bothered by a very nasty weed and is curious for Paul's recommendation for an organic eradication.
15 The weed has sharp thorns, which is a terrible presence in fodder. Paul thinks it may be in the nightshade family and he took it for positive identification.
16 The group drove past the compost area, a subject of great interest to Paul.
17 The next stop was another hayfield to look at a different weed Dominick would like to be rid of.
18 Dominick explained that this one has been spreading rapidly through the field for the past couple of years and the horses really dislike it.
19 This weed grows like a vine and has thick and glossy leaves.
20 It also has numerous seed pods.
21 Those pods most likely burst open, sending out seeds that blow in the wind. Paul also took this weed for analysis.
22 Mike asked about feeding the grass in the turkey pen.
23 Paul commented that because of all the turkey manure, the soil will already be high in phosphorus.
24 Katie loves horses and no trip to the farm would be complete without visiting the stable.
25 Katie and Paul visited each of the boys.
26 Paul Tukey posing with a copy of his book - The Organic Lawn Care Manual
Martha, the weed in picture 15 looks like what we always just called a brier. It wasn't fun in the cotton fields, either.
I'm interested to know what answer Paul will have, so...please do a follow-up on his visit and the results.
Gloria!!
Posted by: Gloria | October 1st, 2010 at 12:10 am
What a fascinating blog post. I can't wait to read about the analysis of the lawn.
Posted by: Sonya | October 1st, 2010 at 12:31 am
Sounds like a very interesting and informative day! Will you share the recommandations? I would be curious...
Thanks.
Posted by: Funkysteph | October 1st, 2010 at 2:58 am
I think that weed is called "Horse Nettle" we have it all over the place too, it is a nasty weed!
I would be interested to hear how to get rid of it organically
Posted by: Kathy Bilodeau | October 1st, 2010 at 7:17 am
Lawns are luxuries that most do not have. Grass
grown for forage is quite different and glad you have shown the difference here.
Posted by: ann | October 1st, 2010 at 8:45 am
The weed in picture 21 is black swallow-wort, it is very invasive and impossible to get rid of. If you discover a way to get rid of it, post it!
Posted by: Elizabeth | October 1st, 2010 at 9:19 am
I like that Tshirt! I'm always very happy to see Organic Lawn Care being used. I wish more people would be receptive to this approach and realize the harmful effects of chemical pesticides. I won't elaborate on my own personal experiences with pesticides right now but I will say they have no safe place on our lawns or in our homes. Thankyou for using an
educated and earth friendly approach to your lawn care Martha.
Posted by: Katescana | October 1st, 2010 at 10:02 am
Just heard Paul speak at the Garden Writers Symposium, what a knowledgeable guy!
I think the vining weed with seed pods is called devil's claw. It was the subject of ID and lively debate recently on our master gardener discussion board.
Posted by: Rhonda Fleming Hayes | October 1st, 2010 at 10:04 am
Hi, Martha,
I'm so disappointed that I can't watch your show anymore, since it's now on the Hallmark Channel and it's extra money to subscribe to that. I've been a follower for many years. Aside from that, I received a notice from AT&T U-verse saying that "Hallmark denied AT&T customers a fair deal; therefore Hallmark Channel ... are not currently available." Even though AT&T is probably at fault, I still wish you were on syndicated TV.
Thank you for putting on such an excellent show.
Mimi Wentz
Posted by: Mimi Wentz | October 1st, 2010 at 10:22 am
Hi Martha,
I think I know what the vining weed is that has all the pods. It's called black swallow-wort, or Vincetoxicum nigrum. Here's a link. http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/fact/swallowwort_black_photos.htm
It's growing in my veg garden in Riverdale. It's in the milkweed family, hence the pods that split with all the seed flying out, a reason it can spread so rapidly.
Posted by: tony bielaczyc | October 1st, 2010 at 10:46 am
Hi Martha, Not only do you have a great crew at your farm, but you also have great garden experts who help solve any growing problems. It was terrific to see Paul Tukey on your Hallmark Channel TV Show and then see your blog about he and his wife visiting your farm. These photos were terrific and very informative-learn something new every day! Loved Paul's T-Shirt and his wife visiting the horses in their stable-really cute! It will be interesting to learn how to organically eradicate weeds. Guess I better get Paul's book-The Organic Lawn Care Manual. Thanks for sharing more important knowledge! Have a great weekend everyone! Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | October 1st, 2010 at 11:53 am
There is a saying "don't throw the baby out with the bath water" indicating don't over do and have tunnel vision. Organic is not fool proof and because of expense often not financially sound in agriculture. Perhaps another agricultural consultant from the area who would immediately recognize regional noxious plants would complement the farm sustainable management program.
Posted by: Margie | October 1st, 2010 at 12:05 pm
This is great stuff. Looking forward to seeing results of weed analysis, and recommendations for remedy!
Posted by: hannah | October 1st, 2010 at 1:24 pm
Love the shirt! I grabbed one for myself on the Safelawns.org site, here:http://safelawns.org/merch/
Now I can proudly tell all my non-organic neighbors to "Kiss My Grass!"
Posted by: Cory | October 4th, 2010 at 12:25 pm
Great job getting an expert in the science of organic land care. With thousands to millions of different species of Weeds (a plant out of place) getting an analysis is extremely important. Paul Tukey will find the correct non synthetic chemical recommendations. There is no reason to use synthetic herbicides any longer or any other synthetic practice. Thank you for influencing the importance of sound organic science. The big chemical companies need a run for their money. The practice of organic science supports entrepreneurial businesses and sustainable environmental concerns. Looking forward to hearing Paul's reports.
Posted by: Kris Treat | October 4th, 2010 at 1:57 pm
Thanks a lot for having Paul Tukey on your show! I have been organic since learning how I am harming my children, my pets and my environment by using a typical 4 step chemical fertilizer/pesticide/insecticide program. I really feel most homeowners do not realize the trouble they are causing by using these products. I have gone on to become a master gardener and am fascinated by the soil food web. Healthy, live soil sustains the plants the way nature intended. Paul is a great speaker and I promote everything he is teaching us all to anyone who will listen.
I also have the thorny weed which came into my yard with some pines I planted last year-curious to read what it is exactly. When you pull it up, it is hard to get the roots with it.
Posted by: Diane | October 4th, 2010 at 3:25 pm
Miss you Martha! We don't get the Hallmark channel! Is your show available online somewhere?
I have some interesting glass and wire art on my sites if you ever have a chance to look!
Continued success in all that you do!
Hope to find your show!
Posted by: Lyn | October 4th, 2010 at 4:00 pm
LOVE seeing organic yard care published to the world. Keep it up...we need this.
Posted by: Ms. Adventuress | October 4th, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Please bring Paul back! I would love to see a whole hour on organic gardening. There so much to know!
Posted by: Lynn | October 4th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Martha
I love chili,but never can fix a good one. I would like a good old fashion one.
The last one I fixed was so bad I threw it out. I was so ashame of it.
Please help me. Now that its getting cooler it would be nice to have some chili.
Thank you
Lila Kirby
Posted by: Lila | October 4th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
I was wondering when you would investigate "organic" lawn practices because of your pets. This will be a fab blog post. Thanks Martha.
Posted by: http://twitter.com/Geotravel | October 5th, 2010 at 5:51 pm
It was very interesting for me to read this blog. Thanks for it. I like such topics and anything connected to this matter. I would like to read a bit more soon.
Kate Smith
escort girls schweiz
Posted by: Kate Smith | November 13th, 2010 at 8:08 am
Organic lawn care is not just for naturalists or pet people. Organic lawn care is healthy lawn care. Healthy soil grows beautiful lawns not weeds.
I have been writing about healthy lawn care for several years now in newsletters to my customers. It has been slow to catch on, but with your voice, Martha, maybe it can happen sooner rather than later.
Thank you for bringing more light to this subject and I hope you continue with it.
Cheryl Jones
Posted by: Greenwood Nursery | November 23rd, 2010 at 2:00 pm