Fast-Growing Sod Ready To Lay In 7 To 10 Days

Fast-Growing Sod Ready To Lay In 7 To 10 Days 28-4-8 Utah inventor Jim Anderson hopes to hit gold with a revolutionary new way to grow sod that's ready to lay in just 7 to 10 days. He first came up with the idea for "Envirolsod" 20 years ago although he only started selling licenses for it two years ago. The idea is to grow sod on shelves inside a greenhouse. The seed takes root in a biodegradable plastic mulch called Claf, which comes from Japan. There are multiple layers of shelving in the sod-growing units. Each layer is 4 ft. wide by 50 ft. long. A mechanical planter sprinkles a mix of peat moss and seed on top of the Claf, then a sprinkler system lightly mists it. The building needs to be kept at optimal temperatures for the fastest production. A license fee of $20,000 includes the cost of having Jim on site for about 3 weeks but doesn't cover the greenhouse, shelving and other equipment. "An initial investment of between $40,000 and $60,000 is generally required," Anderson's wife Joyce says. Existing greenhouses can be modified to accommodate the Envirolsod system, she notes. Anderson says the sod sells for about twice the amount of regular sod. "If regular sod sells for 20 cents, then we wouldn't sell ours for less than 45 cents per foot because it's a much better product," says Anderson. She also says the main selling points are that you can blend virtually any variety of grass seed and the fact that the roots take hold quickly. "It works well on hillsides and doesn't erode." No fertilizer is added to the sod. The seed has just enough to get it through the first two weeks. The Andersons target owners of greenhouses, nurseries and landscapers for Envirolsod. "It's a very good market for them," she says. Currently, the Andersons have six growing operations across North America and are looking for others. Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Jim Anderson, 7976 S 3685 W, West Jordan, Utah 84088 (ph 801 280-4777; website: www.envirollsod.com).

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