Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Sod Farming

I probably have mentioned a few times before on here about my place of work. I do have one of the best jobs in the world and it is kind of unusual. I work on the family sod farm! What is sod? Well this is what Wikipedia says: "Sod or turf is grass and the part of the soil beneath it held together by the roots, or a piece of thin material."




When I say that I work on a farm people always except me to pull out my cowboy boots and plaid shirt! This is no regular farm, we're a fairly big operation that caters to the turf needs of homeowners, golf courses, schools and municipalities.


Mowing


So, what does a turf farmer do? Well, we grow grass, which was how the business got started by my parents in 1977. Since then the farm has grown to employ around 40 people and from a tiny office inside their house to multiple buildings and sheds.



We grow, harvest and sell grass, seed and fertilizer. One of the biggest parts of our business is the custom work. That is where we go to a customers to look after seeding, fertilizing, hydroseeding, laying grass, aerating, topdressing and many other things! I can't forget our newest addition, artificial turf! So, I guess we cover all kinds of grass, real and fake!


Hydroseeding


90% of the outfits that I wear is part of a uniform and the realities of living and working at the same spot (30 second walk away) is that you never really get away from work. However, the good certainly outweigh the bad, we have such a close knit group of people working here, we really are like family! Not to mention the amazing people you meet through the turf industry, some that become great friends! (Hi Schreiber!)



Jilly and I


Ryan and I are both lucky and unlucky to work at the same spot. I love having someone who understands the seasonal stress that I may go through. We always have to remind each other to leave work, at work.



When going to University people would ask me what I was taking. Then they would proceed to look at me funny when I said, "Turfgrass". I know it's kind of weird, and I'd be the first to tell you I'm a total nerd when it comes to grass! But, I love it and wouldn't change any thing in the world! It's so nice to be able to say that I love what I'm doing for a living!



So, if anyone out there ever has any grass related questions, don't be shy!



What do you do for a living?


xo

9 comments:

  1. What do I do for a living? Well, I sit at a desk, sweating my ass off, across the office from you, who has a heater going under your desk. ;)

    PS - You can totally tell from my bleary eyes in that pic that I was up early for the WEDDING! lol

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  2. Ha ha well I think it's because MY side of the office is freezing!! I love my heater!

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  3. I'm getting ready to go back to school because what I do isn't making me a living... :(

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  4. What a timely post because I've got a grass question that must be answered! We have a kentucky blue grass/perennial rye/ tall fescue mix made for high mountain elevations in our yard and I was wondering what type of fertilizer would be best? Our local nursery recommended an 18-0-6, but the typical fertilizer found at Walmart is 28-3-3 (weed and feed). Does it really make a big difference or would either be fine?

    Thanks,
    Lynell

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  5. Yay! I love turf questions!!! Weed and feed is very different then regular fertilizer. Weed and feed should only be used if you have a weed problem. I always recommend to our clients to do three applications of fertilizer a year, spring, summer and fall. For the spring, you should be putting down a fast release fertilizer, the numbers we recommend is 22-4-8. The biggest thing is that the nitrogen source (the first number, 22) is urea or something fast!! In the summer the numbers can be close to being the same but it's a slow release so that it lasts all summer long. In the fall the first number should be small, like 4-14-27 and is another slow release. Any questions don't hesitate to ask!! :-)

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  6. Thank you so much for the info, I'll start my search today!

    Lynell

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  7. What an interesting job! :-) I work in my family business too and it definitely has its pros and cons!

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  8. Reggie has a question, but refuses to ask. He says that would be like asking a doctor at a party a medical question! LOL!

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  9. This is a really good read for me, Must admit that you are one of the best bloggers I ever saw. I look after seeding, fertilizing, hydroseeding, laying grass, aerating, topdressing and many other things! I can't forget our newest addition, artificial turf! Thanks for posting this informative article.

    Sod Prices

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