Smoke- Respirator Use

Working in Smokey Conditions

There has been some concern about breathing during these times with smokey conditions prevalent over most of our area.  The link here:  Respirator for use during smokey conditions  takes you to a pdf that will describe the proper minimum respirator for use by individuals working outside in smokey areas.  Keep in mind this does not apply to areas close to the actual fires or where there are large particulates of ashes in the air.  Additional protection may be required. 

Also as indicate in the article you should contact your medical doctor before wearing any respirator. One note is that starting in January if you use a respirator as part of your work- applying pesticides, dusts, fertilizers, etc or working in other conditions that would require respiratory protection;  you will need to have the respirator test fitted for your face and conditions.  There are various health issues that will preclude your use of typical respirators.  Beards and other facial hair may also make wearing a respirator difficult due to the inability to properly get a seal to eliminate air movement around the perimeter of the respirator.   

Our recommendation is that if you or your employees have health issues or encounter breathing difficulties working in conditions where the air quality is compromised; that you cease working in those areas and go inside until the conditions subside.  If you can access proper respiratory protection devices then use them on a limited basis with reductions in the time you spend outside.   Be sure that you know the life span of the respirator that you will be using.  Once the device or filter cartridges are exposed to the air (particularly polluted air)  they begin to age. As the filter gets full of particulates the functional use of the device declines and will need to be replaced.    

If you or someone on your staff has known health issues it would be well advised that they be assigned to working in a structure with filter air.  Nothing that you have planned to do over the next few weeks are more important than the health and well being of you or your staff.     

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Landscape Contractor Math and Bidding Clas

Landscape Contractor Math and Bidding Class

New guidelines require that Licensed Landscape Contractors obtain a minimum of 2 hours and a maximum of 4 hours of business credits each year as a part of their 7 hour requirement.  In order to assist clients with meeting this requirement we have developed a 3 hour class to provide basic training in Landscape Math and Bidding.  We may develop other business classes upon request but are planning to offer this class at least twice this fall.  The brochure attached below describes the class and provides a way to register to attend. 

 Registration Brochure

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Position Opening

Position Open

The town of Canton NC has a Right of Way Maintenance Position open.  See the job announcement attached;     Right of Way Job

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Small Nursery for Sale

Nursery for Sale

Sharon Yaste of Brevard NC has the following for sale as part of an acquired nursery.  She is retired and is scaling down so does not need or want to keep the materials.  

 She has  approximately 1500 plants, a custom built trailer, and a custom built work bench for potting, lots of empty pots (different sizes), and 4 wood boxes with screens and the sand (for growing clippings).  There are approximately 22 varieties and she can send you the list.  

if you are interested in expanding your nursery or starting a new nursery this may be a good opportunity.  Contact Sharon at: 

 Sharon Yaste

PO Box 1788

Brevard, NC  28712

828-883-9096 (home)

828-384-8423 (cell)

I can not personally vouch for the quality of these plants but am sharing the information as it was passed on to me.  

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Horticulture Industry IPM Symposium

Horticulture Industry IPM Symposium 

The attached flier for the IPM Symposium include new data that indicates the number of recertification  hours for each category.  Note there are hours for pesticide credits in both Carolinas and Tennessee as well as Landscape Contractor Credit hours in NC.  Please get registered soon as September 1st is the last day for early registration:

https://buncombe.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/2016-IPM-Symposium.pdf?fwd=no




For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Job Opening

Job Opening Posted

Thyme in the Garden, a retail garden center in the North Asheville area off of Merrimon Avenue has the following openings:

Local Garden and Gift Store Hiring Part-time Sales Clerk

6-20 hours; although this is not a seasonal position, hours fluctuate greatly with seasonal increases/decreases in business.   

Great environment. Ideal candidate will enjoy helping customers select product combinations from our unique selection of gifts and plants.  This type of sales engages your creativity! It also presents an opportunity for you to learn with the customer both about the plants and different products offered. 

Must Have:

·         Plant knowledge and enthusiasm for learning.  Experience of 2-3 years working with plants in a professional setting such as landscaping, horticulture, or agriculture is important.

·         Retail or other customer service experience preferred. Ability to engage customers in friendly, hospitable manner, good at reading customer signals.

·         Flexibility on amount of hours (the needs of the business fluctuate with the seasons)

·         Sense of design and confidence helping customers with creative tasks (plant arrangements, unique gifts, home and garden décor).

·         Ability to regularly lift 20-50 pounds and knowledge of safe lifting practices

·         Experience in a trade such as carpentry, welding, plumbing a plus

Contact Laura Carter at 828-628-3700 or visit their website at:

thymeinthegardenasheville.com   or  lauratigthyme@gmail.com

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Nursery Weed Management Field Day

Nursery Weed Management Field Day

September 7, 8 am to 1

This event features on-site demonstrations and will focus on recent research from Dr. Joe Neal's lab exploring the economics and efficacy of weed control strategies in container nurseries. Topics include herbicide efficacy and sensitivity, using mulches for weed control, and new products. Instructors for this event will include Dr. Joe Neal,Weed Science Extension Specialist; Amanda Taylor and Stacey Jones, Area Specialized Agents for Nursery and Greenhouse Crops; and Amy Barker, Research and Extension Technician, Department of Horticultural Science, NC State University.

3 NC pesticide credits (categories L, N, D, and X) are available. Lunch is provided. Cost is $10 per person. To register, visit  http://go.ncsu.edu/weedday.   Registration flyer


For more information, please contact Amanda Taylor at 828-475-2915. This event is sponsored by Hawksridge Farms.

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Electric Lawn Equipment Being Tested

Electric Lawn Equipment Being Tested

NCSU Grounds Department is testing various electric lawn care equipment.  Thought you as a Green Industry Professional might find this article interesting:  NCSU Electric Lawn Care

On a more personal note, I purchase three pieces of lawn care equipment with rechargeable batteries, this Spring.  I charge the batteries using a solar charger.  The items are a leaf/debris blower that weighs about 3 pounds; a string trimmer that is about 5 pounds; and 4 gallon backpack sprayer that I mounted onto my riding mower instead of trying to carry it (I'm not quite ready to put 45 pounds on my back)  I can run either of them for the equivalent of 4 hours on a single charge and re-charge the batteries, if the sun is out,  in about 2 hours.  Since they for home use only I don't need extra batteries for the equipment- (I run out of energy before the batteries do) .  But I'm not paying for gas, oil, or electricity- as long as the sun is shining.   Just a thought worth sharing.  Solar chargers can be mounted onto a truck with an inverter and outlets one can charge several batteries while they are working.  

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

2016 Horticulture Industry IPM Symposium

2016 Horticulture Industry IPM Symposium

Information and registration for the 6th annual Horticulture Industry Symposium has now been posted.  Both Pesticide and Landscape Contractor credits have been applied for.  

IPM-Sympoisum-2016

Register online:

https://4020a.blackbaudhosting.com/4020a/2016-Integrated-Pest-Management-Symposium

For more information contact your local Cooperative Extension Center and ask for the Commercial Horticulture Agent.

Landscape Management Workshop

July 18th, 2016

9am-3:30pm

North Carolina Cooperative Extension, Rutherford County Center

Spindale, NC

Agenda

8:30 - 9:00 Registration

9:00 - 10:15 Dr. Anthony LeBude - Sustainable Landscaping

10:15 - 10:30 Break/Instructions

10:30 - 12:00 Site Visits - Teams visit landscape sites to conduct site evaluations in sustainable design, management, and IPM- Supported with Extension Educators.  Ideas collected during session would lead to concepts used in a practice pre-bidding information gathering.

12:00 - 1:00 Lunch Provided

1:00 - 2:15 Create Presentations

2:15-2:30 Break

2:30- 3:30 Team Presentations

3:30 Adjourn  - Evaluations and Pesticide Card Scanning

***3 hrs of NC pesticide credits in LXND
***5 hrs of NC Certified Landscape Contractor’s Credits

Registration is required and class fee of $35 per participant is due to Henderson County Cooperative Extension, 100 Jackson Park Rd, Hendersonville, NC 28792 before workshop. Call (828) 697-4891 for more information.

Registration Form

Be forewarned! This class is full of activity. We will be doing quite a bit of walking outside so wear appropriate shoes and clothing! Also be prepared to interact with others in the landscape industry and exchange ideas with your peers. This is not the typical “sit down and listen to lecture type of workshop”.