the grasses produced by Four Star Farms, a 200-acre farm near Northfield, Massachusetts, which is owned by Linda’s sister, Bonnie L’Etoile and her husband Eugene.
Te strategy of forecasting what the market will ask for in each of Sodco’s products is complex, notes Hodgson. “John’s expertise in plotting the process of crop rotation and cover cropping for optimal soil health and productivity is vital. He also tracks which fields have historical success with specific crops and adjusts the planting schedules accordingly. Te farm is run very efficiently.”
John Eidson was asked by long-time friend Don Woodall to develop a self-sustaining product, Microclover Black Beauty Blend, to be installed at Lindower Park in Brooklyn, NY.
or leaching. At the end of the vegetable harvest, we overseeded with the microclover mix. Te project garnered a lot of attention and we were able to talk about the grass and what it can do.”
Tey also planted 1.5 acres of sunflowers in the organic section of the fields. Eidson says, “Tat was basically for aesthetics, though originally we considered a weekend event inviting people to cut the flowers for a minimal price with the proceeds donated to charity. We did plow the sunflowers back in for green manure and reseeded with Microclover. We’ll evaluate how effective they were as a cover crop to determine if we grow them again. We will interplant the vegetables again next spring. We’ll just move over a foot, till new 5-inch strips and plant, rotating the vegetable placements.”
Different Grasses
for Different Applications Post ’08 sales have become more challenging reports Eidson. “Before ‘08 the demand would outstrip the inventory. Now we not only need to have product, but also the right product for multiple user groups. We’re currently producing 10 grass products: short cut bluegrass at ½-inch; standard cut bluegrass; an 80 percent bluegrass and 20 percent ryegrass standard cut; bentgrass for fairways cut at ½-inch; bentgrass for greens at 1/8-inch; Black Beauty standard cut; Black Beauty cut at ½-inch; a 100 percent fine fescue blend of creeping red, chewings, and sheeps; a mix of 80 percent bluegrass and 20 percent fine fescues using creeping red, chewings, and sheeps; and the Microclover Black Beauty Blend.”
Eidson adds, “We are part of the Harmony Outdoor Brands program and supply the Home Depot and Lowe’s stores with those branded sod products.” Sodco also markets all
TPI Turf News January/February 2019
Harvesting multiple grass products each day often requires traveling to four or five different fields and each one needs to be properly prepared for the harvest. Eidson says, “Some fields may need to be mowed, or irrigated, or vacuumed prior to harvest, which all must be coordinated around the weather conditions. Of course we can plan ahead on the big projects, but we also do a very brisk pickup business with direct sales to landscape contractors, homeowners, and sometimes golf courses. Orders for pickup are usually made the day before, but we also accept them in the morning for an afternoon pickup. Our staff does a great job of accommodating our customers’ needs.”
While producing the specialty grasses is more demanding, Hogan says, “Te specialty grasses open doors to our other grass products. A golf course may try out short-cut Black Beauty for their tee boxes and when they see how well it performs, decide to put it around the bunkers. Tat success may lead to installing it on their fairways and considering our standard-cut bluegrass for the clubhouse lawn.”
Eidson says, “We’ll always be watching new introductions in grasses and changes in the marketplace. We want to continue to be innovators and leaders in the industry.”
Certifications and Awards Hogan reports that Sodco is the first and only farm that has passed the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Green Certification for sustainable sod farms. He says, “We’ve been Green Certified since 2015. Te DEM tracks reduction numbers in pesticides, fertilizers, water usage and CO2
emissions.”
Sodco’s owners have been named Conservation Farmer of the Year by the Southern Rhode Island Conservation District three times over the years. Tat honor was last awarded to Linda Tucker in November of 2013. In November of 2018, the District selected John Eidson and Sodco for their Conservation Innovator of the Year award in recognition of their farm conservation practices. Eidson says, “We’re honored by the award. We strive to be environmentally-conscious in everything we do, working to make all areas of our operations sustainable. We appreciate the recognition of our efforts.”
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