Comments on: Former Chemical Applicator: ‘I Am Literally Ashamed of Myself for Being Part of It’

By: happy ladybug

happy ladybug — Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:09:43 +0000

Kudos. Keep the organic push going. I was a responsible chemical applying golf course superintendent managing as much as 300 acres of turfgrass since the late 90s. I took a job managing a course closer to home at a new course, then 2 months into the job my ownership demanded we convert to organics. Of which I conceded as long as I had the final say if a chemical application needed to be done to save the turf-afterall it was my job/reputation on the line. Through proper management practices, some strange(to me)treatments, and some extra costs in the first few years, we are now only treating for snow mold in the winter and no more than one application per year for dollar spot, otherwise no chemical applications.
We do use Milorganite which is not technically not considered truely organic( for food producers) because it is manmade and in theory there is a chance of accumulation of metals. We believe using the sludge product on turfgrass is a good alternative to putting it in a landfill. I believe it also helps with our disease resistance dramatically while providing a slow release form of fertilizer.

By: thelawnblog

thelawnblog — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 01:57:31 +0000

I have known Tom Kelly as a boss and colleague for the better part of 8 yrs. I can honestly say that Tom is a straight shooter and he says it like it is. I have never known him to take advantage of a situation in any professional setting, and I would trust his input in any shape it came. To those that think that this type of change came easily are very sadly mistaken. Good luck Tom!

By: Guest Blog by Tom Kelly: New Hampshire Needs to Proceed Toward Pesticide Ban | Safelawns Daily Post and Q&A Blog

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:12:39 +0000

[...] Tom Kelly of New Hampshire was co-founder of one of the largest chemical lawn care companies in New England. [...]

By: WishUponAStar

WishUponAStar — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 17:08:43 +0000

Dear JustaMom,
Check out the following report “RefuseToUseChemlawn” and you will find some personal accounts that pertain to chemical pesticide exposure. The descriptions are lucid and articulate. You can find this document at Toxic Action Center of Boston, MA website. There you can download it for free. Take care.
Wish

By: On Our First Anniversary: Your Top 10 Posts | Safelawns Daily Post and Q&A Blog

Fri, 18 Jun 2010 13:34:08 +0000

[...] Tom Kelly Comes Clean . . . On Feb. 21 we blogged about a lawn chemical applicator turned organic fertilizer salesman from New Hampshire. Reading through the comments on this one shows just how scared and angry the lawn chemical industry has become — http://www.safelawns.org/blog/index.php/2010/02/former-chemical-applicator-i-am-literally-ashamed-of... [...]

By: nomadicnorman

nomadicnorman — Fri, 28 May 2010 15:00:04 +0000

Hey, Tom, Scott, Paul and all the other people that the chemical industry likes to pick on: STAND TALL! Like the line in the A Chemical Reaction says, “We’re on the right side of history here.”

And as for me, the chemical guys can go kiss my hairy white ass because I think they’re all a bunch of delusional losers.

By: Kerri W

Kerri W — Mon, 17 May 2010 17:59:04 +0000

I have read quite a bit on the benefits of organics in the lawn and garden at the urging of my husband… I married a bit of a hippie Prior to my marriage, and quite uninformed, I was a Round-up kind of gal that went for instant gratification in removing trouble spots in my yard. After spending the past weekend digging up about 400 sq. feet of lawn, a/k/a creeping charlie, I can tell you that I’m a changed gardener.

In any case, the long term statistics on reactions and events from the use of pesticides in the lawn is alarming. I’m certainly not risking potential sterility in my children to be free of a few dandelions. Further, I’m not willing to openly poison the groundwater, and I’m quite fond of my garden toads, which would likely be the first noticeable critter to disappear.

Currently, we have a race with our children every night… “who can collect the most yellow flowers from the lawn?” (to prevent them from going to seed, of course) and the winner gets to steer the pedal firetruck to the park, or if it’s raining, choose the books for bed time. So far, so good (my 2 and 4 year old children are quite competitive) My husband and I of course finish up the remaining by moonlight when the kids are asleep. Once a weekend we find any of the now flowerless dandelion bunches and either dig them up by the root, or use our 10% vinegar solution. We’ve had quite amazing success in doing so. We’ve eradicated about 90% of our dandelion population… Yes, it is labor intensive, but I find that it’s far more rewarding to have a beautiful lawn that I worked on, versus a beautiful lawn that may forever change our species and more importantly, our water sources in the near future.

I will eventually rid myself of a lawn for a more environmentally sustainable option, but funds require the slow implementation of these ideas… in the interim, however, we will continue to safely battle these little yellow creatures.

By: John Light

John Light — Thu, 13 May 2010 15:09:28 +0000

Tom Kelly certainly is milking this “I-used-to-be-a-bad-guy-but-now-I’m-a-good-guy” angle for all its worth. And all of you losers who can’t make any money at organics because it’s too damned expensive want to fall in line right behind him. It’s galling.

Is Tom Kelly willing to give back the money he made from selling his share of Lawn Dawg? I’m guessing not. But he’ll bleed it away anyway by trying to sell organic products that the general public could care less about.

At the end of the day, customers want green lawns and no weeds. You can’t sell your overpriced (your words, not mine) organic crap because it doesn’t work!!

By: Pauly V

Pauly V — Wed, 12 May 2010 14:50:19 +0000

I have been in the Organic Lawn Care Industry since 1988. I started Organics Plus Co. based in Bristol Ct a few years out of high school.

I rode the wave..early on with much networking with Lou Carta and Todd Harrington. I can firmly state that having an aesthetically beautifull lawn with 0 pesticides/herbicides is done quite simply. Proper cultural practices and using the right varieties of grass blends for your site make it even easier. It is not rocket science. Its basic. I find the Cost factor to be the main snag in going large scale.

Late 80’s we purchased product in Lebanon CT, from Earth Gro- an 8-2-4 all natural product. They grew as a company..untill Scotts bought em out and ran them into the ground..$$$$$

I support all the comments in Toms interview..and wish him the best of luck in the future.

By: A Picture of a Lawn Sign is Worth a Thousand Words | Safelawns Daily Post and Q&A Blog

Sun, 09 May 2010 02:51:51 +0000

[...] enjoyed the post by our friend, Tom Kelly, at Fire Belly Organics: http://firebellylawncare.com/blog/. Share and [...]