Please stay with me because I am not the best writer. Because the governments answer to everything is just politics, we have these amazing laws?
- Did you know, over 90% of mass killings happen in gun free zones, why?
- Did you known because of the ban on use of Nitrogen & Phosphorous fertilizers in our summer months this has decreased runoff and or debris management? See below what the County Commission has approved.
Fertilizer ban started Jan. 2011
Excess Nitrogen & Phosphorous polluted over 70% of Pinellas County waters. Excess nutrients cause harmful algae blooms that turn the water a green or rust color which lower oxygen levels and lead to fish kills. The treatment to remove these nutrients cost taxpayers millions of dollars each year. Fertilizer and landscape debris are nutrient sources that can be controlled with your help. An ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure!
Incorrect use of fertilizer and poor landscape debris management can allow nutrients to leach into the groundwater and wash into storm drains that flow to lakes, streams, and bays.
Why am I qualified?
- Started in this industry in 1958
- Have been licensed in all phases of Horticulture, except inside pest control & termite control, in Florida.
- On the board of Directors of the FNGA, early 1970's.
- Member of the PGMA, Professional Grounds Maintenance Ass. In the 1970's the PGMA averaged 400 attendees at monthly meetings. It was truly the who's who of the Tampa Bay Horticulture industry.
- Winner of 4 City of St. Petersburg city beautification awards in Landscape Maintenance.
- Studied 4 years of night school PTI ( Pinellas Technical Institute ) under Jack Siebenthauler (Mr. Siebenthaler also was a consulting arborist for Busch Gardens, Cypress Gardens, and Walt Disney World. He was honored by two first ladies in the White House for his innovations, which included a system of delivering time-release nutrients to tree roots beneath the pavement.) , Charles Bingham, disease control, Dick Comfort, irrigation and Ray Foster, insect control.
- In business in Pinellas County since 1971.
- If you're interested in ideas to start your business, read below.
- Please read "Creating a Landscaping Maintenance Business 14 chapters." on this blog.
Then after 3 years of discussion, the County forces me to take this BMP course information below. I asked, are you sure you want me to take this course?
Ok, being semi-retired I spend 50 to 100 miles a week cycling. Normally I cycle out to check out a prospective customers lawn after they call for Verticutting. So being this guy who has spent his life in this industry, I cruise through lots Pinellas County neighborhoods, yes looking at lawns and landscaping.
In the so-called off-season here, I have noticed the past few years the lawns are growing more all winter, Why? One reason the lawn spray companies are now increasing fertilizing to make -up for the change in fertilizer laws. This also increases the amount of debris or overflow of clippings in the streets, gutters, sidewalks and driveways during what once was the slow growing season ( see photo ). Also, because it rains so much here, and the lawns are overwatered, the fertilizer run-off problem has not changed. So at the BMP course
( Best Management Practices ), I asked?
( Best Management Practices ), I asked?
When I asked at the BMP course about what effect the new laws have had, they had no answer! So it is very simple, gun free zones get more people killed, and changing fertilizer laws solves nothing, why, because it all about politics, not common sense!
In the photo below the quality work by this contractor is a lot more common than most know? It is just my guess that the changes in the fertilizer laws will only compound the debris management problem! So of course, improving the environment!
If you live in Pinellas County, take the BMP course below. Please let them know when you disagree.
GI-BMP Training & Program Overview
What Are The GI-BMPs?
The GI-BMPs are a science-based educational program for Green Industry workers (lawn-care and landscape maintenance professionals), brought to you by UF-IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ program. The GI-BMPs teach environmentally safe landscaping practices that help conserve and protect Florida’s ground and surface waters. They can also save the Florida homeowner money, time, and effort; increase the beauty of the home landscape; and protect the health of your family, pets, and the environment.
This training is designed to provide corporate, governmental, environmental, and other personnel the Best Management Practices for lawn and landscape. Learn what impact the BMPs will have on your business or municipality. Developed by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and endorsed by the pest control industry, this training is brought to you by UF-IFAS Florida-Friendly Landscaping program with partial funding by FDEP through a Nonpoint Source Management (Section 319h) grant from USEPA.
Who Gets Trained in the GI-BMPs?
Florida Statute 482.1562 states that all commercial fertilizer applicators must have a license from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) by January 1, 2014. To get this license, each Green Industry worker must be trained in the GI-BMPs and receive a certificate of completion from UF/IFAS and FDEP. Additionally, many non-commercial Green Industry applicators or other workers are required to pass the training by local ordinances or voluntarily participate in the program to better serve their clients.
Who Should Attend:
- Supervisors and employees in the lawn care, pest control, or landscape industry
- Municipal parks and recreation facility supervisors and employees
- Irrigation industry workers
- Commercial property managers
- City and county planning department staff
- City and county environmental department or water quality staff
- City and county commission staff
- Builders and developers
- Landscape designers and architects
- Golf course employees
- Anyone working in the areas of water quality, urban development, or environmental issues
