Geoponics Blog

Geoponics Corporation is proud to have Louisiana-born and raised Eric Fry as a new technical sales representative working in Louisiana, Mississippi Alabama and Florida. Eric Fry has a unique interest and ability to see things on both a very small, close-up scale as well from a larger, bird’s eye view.

This is a great asset to Geoponics and its current and future customers, especially when it comes to the microclimates on the course and the larger scale environment.

Fry has 23 years experience in the golf course industry, beginning from a spray tech while still in school become a golf course superintendent, then as a multi-state territory manager and consultant, among other roles throughout his career.
“The advantage of being in the industry of the Golf Boom was that we were literally enjoying the benefits of technology both in equipment, irrigation systems, chemistry, etc. This was a time when getting a course to that next level could be obtained as long as the members were willing to support the budget,” Fry said.

He found the developments and creativity in new architecture as interesting as the developments being made in the operations methods. “The courses that Fazio, Nicklaus, Palmer, and RT Jones were designing were just so unique and stimulating to all levels of skill.”

Geoponics Corporation attracted Fry quickly because of his love for the game of golf, the courses, water management, the environment—the whole package, he said. “I get a charge on going to new properties that I have never seen to listen, learn and observe about the micro-climates and features the property has to offer.”

As a South Florida territory manager for about eight years, Fry worked in some of top cities for golf, including Naples, Sarasota, Ft. Lauderdale, New Port Richey and just about every place in between. He developed agronomic strategies to plan the year for turf and landscape maintenance, learning a great deal about protection from disease and insects as well as water management in an area the fluctuates between drought and saturated rainy seasons every year.

“Water management is probably the key factor that I learned the most about while working in Southwest Florida and why I chose Geoponics to champion. The company shows great conception, appreciation, and desire to teach people about the importance of water usage and its role in promoting healthy productive systems…Geoponics’ philosophy of using natural-based products to provide solutions for unique challenging conditions is an attractive one to support, he said.

As a former superintendent, Fry has been exposed to many of the same challenges that turf managers face. “As another set of critical eyes and an advocate of program planning, the consultative consideration I can offer is sound and unique. I was fortunate to have worked with some of the best superintendents in my area of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and was exposed to the Southwest Florida talent pool as well,” Fry said.

There’s another perk in being on the courses often. “I have always enjoyed the outdoors, camping, hunting, and bike riding… being in the woods and natural landscapes, so golf sparks that sensory need.”
Eric Fry is ready to listen to your turf and landscape challenges and offer suggestions if you’re looking for them. If you’ve yet to meet him, just keep an ear out for his hearty laugh and eye out for his genuine smile.

Contact

Eric Fry
Geoponics Corporation
efry@geoponicscorp.com
Direct (225) 772-2552
Main (877) 667-6330
3425 Radio Rd. Bldg 202
Naples, FL 34104
Geoponicscorp.com
Facebook.com/Geoponics
Geoponics.TV

Matthew Thorpe of Green Earth Investments, a new Geoponics distributor in South Africa, applies Penterra at the first golf course in the region to use Geoponics, Randpark Golf Club.

Geoponics Corporation, based in Naples, Fla., is reaching across continents joining forces with its newest distributor, Green Earth Investments, in South Africa.

Leaders of both organizations say it’s a joint venture that just makes sense.

Geoponics is an environmentally-friendly company supplying green products and services to lawn and turf, garden and golf course managers using earth sciences to foster water, soil and plant health.

Green Earth Investments was founded by brothers Julian and Matthew Thorpe with the aim of providing earth-sustaining, biological and non-chemical products for plants, humans, animals and fish.

“The aim of the company is to find a more environmentally friendly way of sustaining our golf courses by introducing products that won’t harm the environment. This is why we are so exited about the Geoponics products as it fits so nicely with our vision,” said Julian Thorpe of Green Earth Investments.

Geoponics is equally enthusiastic about the venture.

“I am so pleased and excited to have Green Earth Investments as a part of the Geoponics family expanding our reach to South Africa,” said Robin Wicker of Geoponics.

The first Geoponics product hit South Africa soil through Green Earth Investments earlier this month (January 2012) and was a great success.

Randpark Golf Club in Johannesburg, South Africa applied Penterra (www.Penterra.net), which immediately began doing what it always does– MOVING WATER through the soil while improving the growth and activity of aerobic micro-organisms necessary for a healthy soil profile environment.

The beneficial secondary effects to challenged areas such as localized dry spot were noticed rapidly and the course is beginning to save much needed water.

Not only is Randpark Golf Club improving the soil with Penterra, the course managers are adding a long term soil management to the turf and plants to make them healthier, and increase its disease and insect tolerance.

Randpark is the second longest course in South Africa and its use of Geoponics products while undergoing renovations and remaining playable is part of protecting that ongoing investment.

Green Earth Investments, similar to Geoponics, seeks to provide products that provide solutions while protecting the Earth’s resources—particularly one of the most valuable resources, water.

“We are always looking for new ways to do things more efficiently and with more care,” said Thorpe.

Some of the products that Green Earth Investments will be offering to the South African Green Industries are: Penterra, HydraHawk, FertaFlow, Carbotein, Agriox and Detox

Contact
Green Earth Investments
Direct: Julian Thorpe
Julian@gritmaster.co.za

Company website: greenearthinvestments.org

Contact
Geoponics Corporation
3425 Radio Road Bldg 202
Naples, FL, U.S., 34104
(877) 667-6330
info@geoponicscorp.com
www.GeoponicsCorp.com
www.FB.com/Geoponics
More product information
www.SoilSurfactant.com
www.Geoponics.TV

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Geoponics welcomes technical sales rep in South Florida

Meet turfgrass growing expert Jeffrey S. Burgoyne, the newest member of Geoponics Corporation.

Jeffrey Burgoyne is a Certified Golf Course Superintendent who accepted the position of technical sales representative with Geoponics on Jan. 24, 2012.

He will be a great asset in South Florida, providing answers to turf growers’ and golf course superintendents’ questions about the technical challenges they face.

“My previous superintendent experience will help me serve my customers better by being able to answer technical questions on the spot and not always refer them somewhere else for answers. I understand the everyday pressures that superintendents are under to provide optimal playing conditions and I am passionate about working with them to help solve the agronomic challenges they are facing,” said Jeffrey Burgoyne.

As superintendent at The Club at Twin Eagles in Naples, Fla., Jeffrey Burgoyne earned the 2008 Environmental Leader in Golf chapter award from the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (gcsaa.org) and the Environmental Institute for Golf (eifg.org).

His understanding of the relationship between the environment and the golf course industry is a great asset to Geoponics as well to their future and current clients. Experience taught him that stewardship didn’t always have to come at the expense of a great playable course.

“I had been using several of the products from Geoponics for the past several years with tremendous results and couldn’t pass up the opportunity to be a Geoponics representative when I was offered,” Jeffrey Burgoyne said.

“I have a passion for beautifully manicured turf that began at the age of fifteen when I began working in this field. I knew from that time this business would be my career.”

He has nearly 20 years of experience as a golf course superintendent in Florida, ranging from courses in North Florida, including Ocala Palms Golf Course and The Links of Spruce Creek, to South Florida, including Bonita Bay clubs as well as Heritage Bay Golf and Country Club in Naples.

He is a member of the Everglades Golf Course Superintendents Association, Florida Golf Course Superintendents Association, Florida Turf Grass Association and GCSAA.

When he’s not talking turf he’s covering lots of ground in triathlons and, when time allows, on his motorcycle. He completed his first full Ironman in November 2011.

He’s extremely hard working and lives by the motto of treating people as he would want to be treated.

Jeffrey S. Burgoyne, CGCS.

Geoponics Corporation

(239) 989-6867

3425 Radio Rd. 

Naples, FL 34104

(877) 667-6330

Geoponicscorp.com

Facebook.com/Geoponics

Geoponics.TV

Several months ago, a woman who lost her mother to cancer came upon a Geoponics booth at a “green” trade show in Florida. She was impressed with the idea of an organic fertilizer and the knowledge provided by the Geoponics team member she met.

Vicky thought it would be perfect for this organic garden at a hospital in North Naples, the Garden of Hope and Healing, which is managed for and by cancer patients and their families.
Since neither the hospital staff nor the patients are professional farmers or even well-practiced gardeners, they had some challenges maintaining a fully organic garden of produce.
They started using FertaFlow(TheOrganicPlantFood.com) and are reporting the best results ever in growing several vegetables that will feed their immune-compromised patients.

Here is their story:

What is the garden?
The Garden of Hope and Healing was started three years ago by our cancer support group “Survivors and Friends,” who were not satisfied with not having a hand in their own treatment. They wanted to take some control back in a situation where every doctor and nurse and agency was telling them what they could do and what their chances of survival were.

Why is it important to be fully organic?
These are people very determined to live and live well. They know that organic and alkalizing foods help to fight cancer.
Due to patients having compromised immune systems, they must be at six months out of treatment to work in the garden. However, they can come out and participate by recommending weeds get pulled in a certain area and in other ways. Organic matter can get them sick. The produce is harvested, bagged and available for the support group on Tuesdays, so that if anyone chooses to take some they can. We are conscientious about avoiding infections in our immune compromised members, so they actually never touch the produce.

How did the Garden of Hope and Healing go from an idea to a reality?
Where we meet for our group sessions has a window that looks out on to a courtyard at the North Naples Community Hospital. It was very weedy and overgrown but it had potential. We asked administration if we could start an organic garden and were given permission to do so.
Our volunteer auxiliary people even gave us a grant to get it started. It was cleared, gravel and insecticide riddled dirt were removed, garden beds developed and we’ve never looked back. Volunteers from various parts of southern Florida have helped us to continue the transformation. Businesses have donated plants, seeds, tools – or we’ve been given very good discounts – and the progress continues. We’re looking forward to a Boy Scout Eagle project to start some time this year to help with enlarging the beds and creating safe seating groups and a shelter so everyone can come out and enjoy the Garden.
Some patients come back and work here once they are six months out of treatment because they are so highly motivated. They made it through this and they want to help other people.

How common are these gardens?
These kinds of places just don’t exist. There are many people, experts and practitioners in the areas of infectious diseases, who don’t like these. They don’t like the risks. That’s why we are very careful about everything we use and everyone who comes here.

What are some other challenges?
The problem is that organic food is also very expensive. Anyone going though cancer treatment will tell you, your financial world is also turned upside down, along with all the emotional turmoil and personal implications. So, while this garden helps with that, getting it going has some challenges.
We are not farmers by profession and we learn as we go.
I get so nervous when a tree or plant that was dedicated to a lost family member or in honor of someone starts to go wrong.
What plant or tree works best where is coming together finally. Taking care of damaging bugs and critters is always a challenge.
Making sure every product we use is truly organic has made taking care of the garden a bit difficult.

How did you come across Geoponics and why did you try it?
The challenge of ensuring that all our products are truly organic is why we were all so excited about Geoponics.
One of our group members, Vicky, was at a “green” trade show and met the some of the people from Geoponics. She was very excited and came back to tell us – we’ve been very happy about that chance meeting!
Geoponics gave us two huge jugs of the concentrate FertaFlow and we’ve used it to good results.

What results did you observe with FertaFlow?
We’ve never had the tomato plants glow so fast that we couldn’t keep them supported fast enough! They’re a foot taller than they were at this time last year.
We have a couple test patches of cabbages – the plot with Fertaflow is much further along.
The onions treated with FertaFlow on the right side of the bed are taller and heartier than those on the left side of the garden bed that did not get the FertaFlow. It’s going to make a big difference come harvest time.
For me, the next big plus has been the smell – it really doesn’t stink. This is a hospital courtyard after all! And the fact that we have an organic garden in it is a national rarity! We want to be sure to comply with all the regulations the hospital must conform to, so we are very careful about who can work in the garden, the dirt issue and the smell. Our patients come here to get well and I can’t have them getting sick due to a strong fishy smell. This product is minty smelling and mild at that. I’m a bit messy, but if I get some on me I don’t stink when I have to walk by a patient.
Also, I thought I was losing one of the dedicated trees, but it is coming back with lots of new growth after being fertilized.
We are impressed with this product and its results.

Thanks!
~Bob Weiss and Therese Richmond, NCH North Campus, Compassionate Drug Program, Outpatient Infusion Services