Shown in photo, left to right are Charles Gardner, director, Suffolk Consumer Affairs; S.C. Leg. Mike Caracciolo; Keith Henn, landscaper; Tom Williams, Cornell Cooperative Extension; Pat Vogis, president of Nassau Suffolk Land Association; Bill Sanok of Cooperative Extension; Scott Clark, course instructor, and S.C. Leg. David Bishop.

by Leonard Greco

Although a program to help train landscapers in the use of organic materials for pest control and fertilization is just a year old, it is already considered an unqualified success. At a July 16 press conference, S.C. Leg. David Bishop (D-Lindenhurst) pointed out that over 350 landscapers have already taken the three hour organic landscaping class and

that many of them have been able to put to use what they’ve learned. The class was established under legislation sponsored by Bishop and co-sponsored by Riverhead Republican Mike Caracciolo.

Given at various times during the off-season, the class was developed under the legislation by the county’s Department of Health Services, with assistance from Suffolk’s Office of Consumer Affairs. Cornell Cooperative Extension provided knowledgeable instructors to teach the course. It covers a wide range of alternatives to chemical pesticides, from the introduction of predator insects to the lowering of acidity in the soil.

"This allows landscapers to offer a new service to their customers—a service that can be very effective and also does not harm our environment," Bishop said.

Bishop added that according to recent studies, chemical pesticides seep into the ground at a rate of one pound for every man, woman and child (in Suffolk County) per year.

"I’m thrilled we’ve already trained so many landscapers in safer methods to care for their customers lawns." Bishop was joined at he press conference, at which he and Caracciolo announced plans to provide more funding in next year’s county budget for the the program, by members of the Cornell Cooperative Extension, representatives of the Office of Consumer Affairs and several landscapers who had completed the three-hour course. Bishop said the cost to underwrite the course was just $9,000.

"It was a pleasure to work with this program," Cornell Cooperative Extension instructor Scott Clark said. "Our primary goal is to increase awareness. The course identified pest problems and offered organic solutions."

Cornell Executive Director Thomas B. Williams said the role of the Extension is simply educational. "We provide the information that directly effects homeowners," he said. "And it has been a pleasure to do so in partnership with the county."

Landscaper Keith Henn said numerous homeowners have been asking what’s involved in using organic matter instead of chemicals.

"Since taking the course, we work with homeowners and inform them what organic matter we’re using to rid their lawns of pests and weeds," he explained. "We also work with soil composition. I’ve found numerous homeowners are more than willing to be educated, and what we’re trying to do is promote alternatives to chemicals. And I would say our customers are becoming more aware, more conscious of what the alternatives are."

Consumer Affairs Commissioner Charles Gardner said that while all landscapers are required to be licensed, those who complete the three-hour course are awarded with a certificate attesting to that fact and a sticker to use on their vehicles. "At the Office of Consumer Affairs (this course) has proven to be one of our most successful programs."

Caracciolo, meanwhile, put it in more personal terms. "Each of us has children or grandchildren and we want to ensure for them a safe environment; one that protects them, farm animals and our wildlife," he said. "A number of landscapers are turning to organic materials and I encourage more to take advantage of these safer options."

Bishop and Caracciolo said they will sponsor a bipartisan initiative to fund next year’s organic program. "This is an exciting time for us," he added. "And we want to continue our efforts."