Pesticides and Herbicides are poison, plain and simple.  They were created to help us manage pests such as harmful insects, arachnids, rodents and weeds.

Unfortunately, whatever is lethal to a pest or a weed will usually cause illness in human adults and even more severe symptoms in children and pets. They are poison for our families and our animals. And when it rains, we all “drink the kool aid” as water flows into our local waterways filled with poison.

In this article we will provide a listing of Long Island Organic Landscapers and other useful resources so you can be part of the solution to maintaining a healthy environment for yourself and your family.

A quote from GardenGuides.Com:

Most service companies use inorganic chemical fertilizers, weed-killers, and pesticides. Each has its problems. Inorganic chemical fertilizers encourage the accumulation of thatch in the top layer of the soil. Thatch becomes an ideal place for insects to breed and diseases to take hold. The tightly matted roots and rhizomes, which comprise the thatch layer, prevent water from seeping through to the soil. Roots grow in the thatch layer, searching for water. Lawns get parched easily and go brown and dormant, while organically alive turf stays green and healthy with less water. The soil below the thatch becomes compacted, and with the steady diet of chemicals, is devoid of earthworms and soil microorganisms which help keep your lawn alive and healthy.

Pesticides, of course, cause other problems. According to a Federal report issued by the General Accounting Office, diazinon is “the most widely used pesticide on residential lawns…EPA subjected the insecticide diazinon to Special Review when it found that diazinon was killing waterfowl and other bird species.”

It is easy for people with busy lives to just maintain their lawns with pesticides and chemical fertilizers.  It takes an educated homeowner to maintain an organic lawn or landscape.  The Long Island Network Neighborhood has developed a comprehensive guide to maintaining a healthy organic lawn.

And luckily there are more and more lawn care companies that have grown tired of being known for the applicators of poison.  We are redistributing the list from Network Neighborhoods 2009 organic Landscaper List.

Organic Landscapers Provide an Alternative to Widespread Pesticide Use

Long Island is one of the areas of the State with the highest pesticide use. Environmental Protection Agency estimates show that Long Islanders apply approximately 10 million pounds of dry and liquid chemical pesticide products annually. Many of these pesticides are associated with health effects such as carcinogenicity, hormone disruption, and nerve toxicity, which can be especially harmful for more vulnerable subpopulations like children, elderly, asthmatics, or those with chemical sensitivities.

What is “Organic” Landscaping?

Organic methods work by enhancing the natural systems that support a healthy lawn. Instead of synthetic chemical pesticides or fertilizers which harm soil life and merely mask a symptom of an underlying soil deficiency, organic landscapers use products containing natural ingredients that build up the soil. Some materials an organic landscaper may use include compost, natural fertilizer, earthworm castings, biological controls, beneficial insects, and oils and soaps, and a variety of non-chemical techniques that work in harmony with the eco-system of a yard, such as mowing at 3” or higher to shade out weed seeds. Every time chemical pesticides and synthetic fertilizers are applied, the number of living organisms in the soil declines significantly.

The list of organic landscapers features the names and contact information for 44 companies, the areas they service, and also provides information about the type of services provided by each company, such as mowing, fertilization, non-chemical pest control, tree-care and landscape design. This way, Long Islanders can find the service that best suits their needs.

Give Me The List Already:

(download the pdf file – 2009 Long Island Organic Landscaper List)

Suffolk:

Only 100% Organic Services:

Organic Care Inc - Karl Fridenberger 631-689-9353
Services: Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control
Areas of Service: Suffolk County

The Barefoot Gardener – Suzanne Ruggles 631-288-4351
Services: Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Remsenberg to Hampton Bays
Other Services: Vegetable Gardens, nature, wildlife habitat gardens

Some Organic Services:

Anderson’s Organic Plant Health Care – Steven Anderson 631-686-5115
Services: Fertilization, Arborist, Design, Installation
Areas of Service: Suffolk County
Other Services: Tree and Shrub Care (deep Root)

C. Whitmore Gardens Inc. – Charles Whitmore 631-267-3182
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Arborist, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Towns of Easthampton and Southampton
Other Services: Flower design

Holistic Gardenscapes Inc. – Peter Haralabatos 631-806-6153
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Central Suffolk North Shore, Smithtown to Shoreham
Other Services: Custom Brewed Liquid Compost

Montauk Garden Center – Jeanine Miedzwiecki 631-668-5990
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Montauk

Nature’s Guardian – Michael Sperber 631-726-1970
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Arborist, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Hampton Bays to Montauk

Okula Tree Care – Paul Okula 631-878-8982
Services: Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Mid-Suffolk to both forks

Red Dragon Organics – Giacomo Mulé 631-928-9175
Services: Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Arborist, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: North Shore, North & South Forks

South Country Arborculture, Inc. – Jeffrey Jensen 631-286-2128
Services: Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Arborist
Areas of Service: Brookhaven Hamlet, Bellport and
East Patchogue

Summit Landscaping – Anthony Gattuso 631-325-1669
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Town of Southampton

Nassau:

Only 100% Organic Services:

Bona Fide Landscaping Inc. – Timothy J. Schmitz 631-427-6532
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: All Huntington Township, Northeastern Nassau
Other Services: Planting, pruning, clean-ups, mulching

Cipriano Nursery and Landscaping – Peter / Maria Cipriano 516-542-0499
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: East Meadow, Merrick, Bellmore, Uniondale, Hempstead, Levittown, Wantagh, Old Westbury, Great Neck, Garden City
Other Services: Flower design

Jeff’s Custom Landscaping Corp. – Jeff Forsander 516-674-0634
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Arborist, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Glen Head, Brokvilles, Sea Cliff, Glen Cove, Lattingtown, Locust Valley, Mattinecock
Other Services: Compost tea

LJB Finest – Lou Brust 516-582-0358
Services: Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control
Areas of Service: North Shore Nassau County
Other Services: Flower design

Organic Magic Inc. – Robert Gaudiuso 516-944-0989
Services: Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Arborist, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Port Washington, Sands Point, Manhasett, Plandome, Seacliff, The Brookvilles
Other Services: Flower design

Organic Solutions, Inc. – John Lamberti 516-883-0340
Services: Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control
Areas of Service: Nassau County

White Clover Landscaping – Hans Neuwirth 516-868-3532
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control
Areas of Service: South Shore Nassau; Five Towns to Massapequa, and Franklin Square to Garden City

Some Organic Services:

Complex Landscape Care and Design – Rich Staudt 516-385-2240
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Eastern Nassau from the South Shore to Jericho Turnpike, also Garden City

Joe D Landscaping – Joe De Salvo 516-997-4841
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: West Hempstead, Malvern, Franklin Square, Valley Stream, Lynbrook, New Hyde Park, Garden City
Other Services: Pruning

LI Organic Landscape & Garden Inc. – Tony Cosme 516-354-3840
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Garden City, Mineola Town of Oyster Bay

M & A Organic – Michaela MacDonald-Maddigan 516-676-0980
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: North Shore, Huntington, Loyd Harbor

Mike’s Landscaping & Design Inc. – Mike Varrone 516-868-5046
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Arborist, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: South Shore of Nassau County

Total Landscape Care & Design – Andrew / Rich Staudt 516-735-0265
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Central Nassau – Merrick, Wantagh, Bellmore, East Meadow, Jericho, Brookville, Locust Grove Muttowntown, Woodbury, Plainview

Tyler Lawns Corp. – Marc Bancaleri 516-876-8093
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: East Meadow Westbury, Levittown, Bethpage,
Wantagh, Plainview, Hicksville, Carl Place, Plainedge

Nassau & Suffolk:

Only 100% Organic Services:

Eco-Logical Organic Landscaping – Chris Perrone 631-345-6040
Services: Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Nassau and Suffolk Counties

Gro-Kind Organics – Eric Christopher Pomisel 631-265-5276
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Nassau and Suffolk Counties from Queens to the Twin Forks
Other Services: Pruning / tree and shrub care

Haven on Earth Garden Designs – Beth Feldman 631-261-1617
Services: Fertilization, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: All Eastern Nassau and Western Suffolk -(Mostly North Shore)
Other Services: Garden Renovations and Consultations

Natural Way Organic Landscaping – Antonio Bellia 631-224-3486
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Montauk to Manhattan. MOWING AND FERT in Stonybrook and Ronkonkoma
Other Services: Poison ivy removal and exterior lighting

Organically Green Professional Lawn and Tree Spraying Inc. – John Aronica 631-467-7999
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Arborist, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Nassau, Suffolk, and the Five Counties
Other Services: Flower design

Some Organic Services:

All Natural Tree & Turf Care – Richard Di Mezza 631-956-1003
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: West Islip, Babylons, Lindenhurst, Copiague, Amityville, Massapequas
Other Services: Masonry

Bartlett Tree Experts – David McMaster 631-283-7494
Services: Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Arborist
Areas of Service: Nassau and Suffolk Counties

D’Amato Landscaping – Stephen D’Amato 631-754-3927
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: North Shore of Western Suffolk and Eastern Nassau

Goldberg & Rodler/Tree Care, Inc. – Steven Rodler 631-271-6460
Services: Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Arborist, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: All Long Island, Montauk to Manhattan
Other Services: Horticultural Maintence

Green Rose Corp. – John Verderosa 516-801-3504
Services: Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Arborist
Areas of Service: Nassau County, Suffolk County, NYC

Independent Lawn Service – Mark Ferro 516-455-4912
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Nassau and Suffolk Counties
Other Services: Plowing

Kyo Matsumoto Inc./ Madame Butterfly – Christiane Matsumoto 631-368-1554
Services: Fertilization, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Nassau and Suffolk Counties

Morning Dew Landscape Inc. – Michael J. Lovell 516-937-5242
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: East Nassau, West Suffolk
Other Services: Hydroseeding

Organics Matter – Stephen D’Amato 631-754-3927
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: North Shore of Western Suffolk and Eastern Nassau

Prestige Lawn Care – Peter Behensky 631-427-6677
Services: Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control
Areas of Service: Nassau and Suffolk Counties
Other Services: Lawn installation, seeding, and feeding

Tree Believers – Ron Strauss 631-864-5514
Services: Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Arborist, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Long Island and Queens, except South Fork
Other Services: Mulching, diagnostics, patio plants, walkways, drip irrigation

Long Island, Westchester, Connecticut and New Jersey:

Only 100% Organic Services:

Artscape Organic Care LLC. – Michael Papa 203-252-1954
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Consultation All LI for 100% natural lawn and ornamental services Stanford, Greenwitch, Fairfield
Other Services: Soil Fortification

Some Organic Services:

Dwight Brooks Horticulturist Inc. – Dwight Brooks 914-232-0714
Services: Arborist, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Westchester and Fairfield counties
Other Services: Organic horticulture

Earth Groomers – Steven Davidson 732-573-1800
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: Ocean and Monmouth County NJ and the Jersey Shore
Other Services: Sustainable landscape design

Organic Poison Ivy removal.com – Steve Greenspan 631-421-3602
Services: Non-Chemical Pest Control, Arborist, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: All LI, NY Metro Area, Westchester, Rockland & Fairfield Counties, NJ from Princeton North and CT
Other Services: Organic poison ivy, bamboo, and weed removal

Robert H. Witcomb Landscape & Gardening – Tom Witcomb 516-292-6060
Services: Mowing/Turf Care, Fertilization, Non-Chemical Pest Control, Design/Installation
Areas of Service: LI Manhattan, Brooklyn, Bronx

Are you a landscaper interested in becoming a 100% organic landscaper?
Check Neighborhood Network’s Organic Landscaper Listing Program, Organic Standards for Landscapers

Other Useful Resources Related to This Article:

Pesticide Action Network North America | Advancing Alternatives to Pesticides Worldwide

Garden Web’s Organic Lawn Care FAQ

Neighborhood Network’s Organic Lawn Guide

Organic Lawn Care 101

National Cancer Institute – Questions and Answers about the Breast Cancer and the Environment on Long Island Study

Long Island Pesticide Use – Pesticide Reduction

What’s on my food? – Pesticides – An Open Forum

The Future of Food (Film)

Sierra Club – Long Island Poisoned By Pesticides

New York TImes – Island’s Organic Landscapers Get Organized

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So upon my investigation and my new found knowledge of how to spot them, I went hunting. Boy did I find loads of them, and I don’t have that big of a garden. I was amazed at how many there were.

Well, not that amazed, considering the amount of my plants they had eaten, bastards.

But I could not bring myself to kill the little suckers. They were just too damn cute. So I walked over to my backyard fence and tossed em into the parking lot (near the LIE service road) to fend for themselves. Let’s see how long it takes until they make their way back in. If they do, watch out! They will get a good stomping.

Oh, I could just use BT (Bacillus thuringiensis), which is used by organic gardeners. I used it once to get rid of Colorodo Potato Beetles on my crop of Potatoes last year. It worked good.

Followup: Well, its two days after my initial cabbage worm investigation and each day I have pulled more cabbage worms off of the kale, brussel sprouts, and cabbage. There were not nearly as many as my first findings, but I hear they grow fast and eat a lot. They are ruining my crops. Well, hopefully I’ll be able to keep up with them. I have yet to kill one. I can’t say the same about the fruit flys in my house though. There was a massacre this afternoon.

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Anyway, as I dug in my spade, I got a shocking sight of what looked like endless piles of maggots, big ones!

After some reasearch on the net, I found an answer about these suckers.

It is almost certain that the grubs you’re seeing are the larvae of the Black soldier fly, (Hermetia ilucens), which is highly beneficial, carries no disease and will aid the breakdown process in your bin. The link below will take you to a post with a lot more detail. Though the post was originally directed to a person living in Australia, this fly species is common here as well, and the information is as relevant to the US as it is to the Aussies.

Link to the Forum

After finding out they are a purely beneficial fly species, I considered myself lucky I had them in my pile.

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