“Within two years our goal is to be fully organic and advance to sustainability with our gardens and grounds keeping at the Pittsburgh Job Corps Center”, said Keith McNeish, Groundskeeper.  The Pittsburgh Job Corps covers over 98 acres and is located at 7175 Highland Drive in East Liberty/Highland Park area of Pittsburgh.  Mr. McNeish recently became certified as a Master Gardener through Phipps Conservatory and is taking the Job Corps to new heights.  He has started liquid composting, something that only Harvard University is doing on a large scale.   This process eliminates the use of pesticides and harmful chemicals to control plant disease. 

“The process of liquid composting is an organic approach that requires radical thinking”, said Mr. McNeish.  “The idea is to break the ‘disease triangle’.  The triangle has to have a susceptible host, a pathogen, and the right environment.  Break part of the triangle and you break the disease.”

“Liquid composting involves a rich compost which we make on center by recycling lawn clippings, kitchen waste, and shredded paper.   The compost is suspended in a mesh bag into a barrel of water which is aerated by a common aquarium pump and air stone.  This process releases microbes into the water which we then spray onto lawns and planting beds.  The microbial activity aerates the soil and produces not only the beneficial bacteria and fungi but also the microorganisms that feed on them, recycling nitrogen back into the soil.”

Six months ago, Mr. McNeish was one of a class of 25 who started the Master Gardener program at Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Garden in Oakland under the leadership of Gabe Tilove, Adult Education Coordinator.  This selective group heard professionals cover topics including soils, lawns, propagation, botany, plant pathology, fruits, vegetables, pruning, houseplants, herbs, landscape design, and native plants.  Instructors are professionals and arborists, some from the conservatory, the Penn State Extension, Penn State University, and Carlow University.  Today, Mr. McNeish is continuing in landscape design and sustainable horticulture for industry certifications.

Mr. McNeish is the owner of Landscape Designs by Keith McNeish, and has been in the landscape business for 35 years.  He came to the Pittsburgh Job Corps seven years ago as security personnel.  Once an opening occurred for a groundskeeper, Mr. McNeish put his skills to work in that area.  He has been the groundskeeper for the last four years.    A world champion in power lifting in the 90kg class, he is a man of many talents.  In his spare time he volunteers at Phipps helping with plant maintenance and continues to develop professionally.  At Pittsburgh Job Corps, Mr. McNeish will be advising a garden club on center that will meet on Monday evenings in a leisure time learning activity.