Recently I had the chance to catch up on a few webinars (one of the main perks of TurfNet). One that I particularly enjoyed was Frank Rossi's "Plant Health, Plant Smealth." In it Dr. Rossi talks about the role of plant health elicitors in our turf programs. He speaks to their efficacy in some cases, but is quick to caution us not to become too dependent on them as a quick fix. The one line that stuck with me was, "we get distracted."

Dr. Rossi made the critical point that if we see these products as a panacea for our many turf maladies, then we may become complacent with the things that really matter. When we forget to focus on things like regular topdressing, thatch management, shade control and sharp mowers, we become beholden more to these products to fix problems. Once that cycle begins it is easy to get stuck in the wrong mindset.

As I reflected on that prophetic line, I could not help but draw the same analogy with modern society. So much of what we ingest on a daily basis through the media and mass marketing monster is really designed to be a distraction. Politics, the news, the commodification of our holidays... they are all distractions to skew our attention away from the real problems and to sell us products.

As a culture we can be quick to fall under its spell and most times don't even realize there is anything amiss. We become transfixed by the messages we receive and hold them as truth. The mantra becomes, "If I can just buy the right thing, my problems will disappear." Well, this mentality works great if you own the company that comes up with the next big gimmick that distracts us yet again, but as a society does it really help in the long run?

The answer to that question brings me back to the core of Dr. Rossi's message. Don't forget about the fundamentals. The latest drug or vitamin may help, but is not going to solve the real problem if you are overweight and completely out of shape. It merely works as a BandAid to cover up a deeper problem. Eating the latest and greatest snack food or drinking the magic beer is not going to make your problems disappear; they are usually right there waiting for you when you wake up the next day.

I have learned in this short life of mine that anything worth doing takes intention, discipline, and patience.  So over the next few posts we are going to tackle the fundamentals. But instead of talking about shade management, watering techniques and thatch control, we are going to talk about physical fitness, tips for eating well, and mental well being. Think of it as sort of a Superintendent Wellness Boot Camp... except I promise there will be no yelling.