The Gloved Hand Poison Ivy Specialist

Poison Ivy

SERVICES

1. Guesstimates - The root system is the mystery, which is why it’s a “guesstimate” and not an estimate. I usually won’t need to go to the property because what you can see above ground is what I would see. There are indicators above ground that you can describe over the phone [203-736-0664] answering the questions I ask to help me determine what difficulties the root system will present, once we dig in. In this way I can help you with a “ball-park” figure.

2. Eradication - Eradicating poison ivy roots, runners and climbers (climbers under 2-inch in diameter) by digging the plant’s entire root system out using a double set of gloves, a trowel and sometimes a shovel. Pulling it off the tree as high as can be pulled down from the ground. Based on different factors sometimes the full length of the climber comes completely off the tree.

3. Tree Root Specialist - Where an old poison ivy climber has developed over many years, those particularly thick poison ivy roots are dug out (two-inch diameter or thicker) that are tougher to extract around the base of a tree and the climber is pulled off the tree as high as can be done with the assistance of a ladder.

4. Tree Climbing Specialist - A worker who climbs a tree to remove the vines that cannot be taken down from standing on the ground or on a ladder. This tree specialist can also remove the most humongous of vines that literally cannot be pulled off by human strength alone but require a winch on the back of a pickup truck.

5. Ripping - A less thorough but quicker method for getting out a large ground cover of poison ivy in a shorter period of time. This method requires a 2nd visit at a later point in time to dig out the remaining roots more thoroughly. Ripping out poison ivy, grabbing the vines and pulling as much of the root out of the ground as possible. When new leaves shows themselves these roots are dug out meticulously, one at a time, to finish off the eradication.

6. Stone Walls - eradicating the roots from out, under and in-between stones in walls sometimes calls for relocating stones and putting them back or, considering the situation, moving the stone wall laterally by some feet.

7. Poison Ivy Documentary - on YouTube:

An hour-long Poison Ivy Documentary for Do-It-Yourselfers. This video includes the best poison ivy identification lesson on the web for those who want or need to know what it really looks like!

For specific information on…

P. Ivy Identification… go to 8 minutes + 30 seconds into the video

P. Ivy Look-A-Likes… 21 minutes + 15 seconds

Techniques for Digging it out… 25 minutes + 50 seconds

Dressing & Undressing Safely… 40 minutes + 15 seconds

Watching this video is helpful prior to taking the following Trainings or Workshops...

8. Private Training - Train individuals (1 or up to 3 at a time), on one of their properties that has poison ivy on it, in the Poison Ivy Eradication and Protection Protocol. This is a common sense procedure developed by “The Gloved Hand” for safety from the ivy's oil/resin while working with the plant. The protocol was developed out of necessity, creating results through trial and error. A trainee(s) is brought up to speed on this protocol in one session. There will be some time spent working directly with the poison ivy plant (wearing gloves of course!) while avoiding the invisible culprit - urushiol - in all situations.

Watching the Poison Ivy Documentary is a boon, prior to this training:

Link to Poison Ivy Documentary

Optionally, a 2nd training further acclimates an individual to becoming more confident and comfortable within this routine that concerns your safety.

9. Professional Training - A one-to-one professional training for an individual to bring back to their current company, go into the business of poison ivy removal for oneself, or to become a sub-contractor of “The Gloved Hand”. This 6-hour training is divided into 3-hour sessions, each one on a separate day. Time will be spent handling and working with the poison ivy plant each day (wearing gloves).

A certificate from “The Gloved Hand” is mailed to the Trainee upon completion of the training.

Watching the Poison Ivy Documentary prior to this training is definitely encouraged.

Link to Poison Ivy Documentary

10. Laboratory Workshop - Train groups in a fun and interactive way, incorporating three learning styles: watching, doing and verbally observing others practicing the protocol developed by “The Gloved Hand”. These procedures are to keep everyone safe from exposure to the ivy’s oil/resin, urushiol.

Watching the Poison Ivy Documentary prior to this training is highly recommended.

Link to Poison Ivy Documentary

The training takes place indoors in a laboratory-like setting and does not include any contact with poison ivy.

If a group wishes to continue by gaining experience of working hands-on with poison ivy under the guidance of “The Gloved Hand,” then taking the following “In-the-Field Workshop” will round-out the training experience.

11. In-the-Field Workshop

Pre-requisite: “Laboratory Workshop”

This workshop takes place on premises where there is poison ivy available for those in the workshop to try their hand at digging it out. Continuing the interaction of watching, doing, and verbalizing started in the Laboratory Workshop, “The Gloved Hand” will provide digging techniques and ongoing guidance to avoid the invisible culprit, urushiol, in all situations. (Bathroom breaks are before exposure to or after cleanup from the urushiol.)

PRICES

For Services

1. Guesstimates - OVER THE PHONE - No Cost

If there is some reason to visit the site:

To do a “Search & Assess” = twice the travel fee – $20 minimum.

(travel fee rates near bottom of website)

The cost of this site visit is NOT deducted from the actual job.

2. Eradication - 3 hr minimum:

(pro-rated by the minute after 3 hrs)

$48/hour: Lead Eradicator

$42/hour: 2nd Eradicator

Hauling Fees: $10 per large bag

3. Tree Root Specialist - 3 hr minimum:

(pro-rated by the minute after 3 hrs)

$63/hour: Tree Root Specialist

Hauling Fees: $10 per large bag

4. Tree Climbing Specialist - 2 hr minimum:

(pro-rated by the minute after 2 hrs)

$96/hour: Tree Climbing Specialist

Specialist Hauling Fees: $500/level dump truck or $125/cubic yard, for example: 2" diameter vine at 50' in height may cost around $50 in hauling, however, distance to dumping site and other circumstances will vary the price.

5. Ripping - 3 hr minimum:

(pro-rated by the minute after 3 hrs)

$48/hour: Lead Eradicator

$42/hour: 2nd Eradicator

Hauling Fees: $15 per large bag

6. Stone Walls - 3 hr minimum:

(pro-rated by the minute after 3 hrs)

$54/hour: Lead Eradicator

$48/hour: 2nd Eradicator

Hauling Fees: $10 per large bag

7. Poison Ivy Documentary - FREE

DIY-ers, work at your own risk – and be aware.

Please share this video with anyone you please because “the more the merrier.” There just aren’t enough people on my side of the fence. ;-)

I am especially interested in using more subcontractors because my business continues to grow.

Link to Poison Ivy Documentary

8. Private Training

1st Training –

$132 for 1 person

(3 hr Training)

$80 each for 2 or 3 people

(3.5 to 4 hr Training)

2nd Training - OPTIONAL

$132 for 1 person

(3 hr Training)

$80 each for 2 or 3 people

9. Professional Training - two 3-hr sessions on separate days:

$360 for one person includes both days.

Anyone taking this professional training can choose to override the direct fee by subcontracting to “The Gloved Hand” for approximately 50 hours spread out over months and starting at the base wage of $18 per hour. Also, a combination of labor and dollars can be arranged to compensate for the training.

If a person chooses to subcontract with “The Gloved Hand” for further work the responsibilities taken on within the company are accompanied by pay increases.

10. Laboratory Workshop - For Organizations

PROFIT Organizations:

1-3 people: fee = $345

(2-hour workshop)

4-6 people: fee = $495

(3-hour workshop)

7-9 people: fee = $630

(4-hour workshop)

NON-PROFIT Organizations – A Sliding Scale:

1-3 people: (2-hour workshop)

full price = $345 on a sliding scale to $135

4-6 people: (3-hour workshop)

full price = $495 on a sliding scale to $195

7-9 people: (4-hour workshop)

full price = $630 on a sliding scale to $250

––> NOTE: Let “The Gloved Hand” know what your organization can afford.

11. In-the-Field Workshop

Pre-requisite: “Laboratory Workshop”

PROFIT Organizations:

$345 for 1-3 people

(3.5-hr workshop)

$495 for 4-6 people

(4-hr workshop)

$630 for 7-9 people

(4.5-hr workshop)

NON-PROFIT Organizations – A Sliding Scale:

$345-on a slide to-$135: 1-3 people

(3.5-hour workshop)

$495-on a slide to-$195: 4-6 people

(4-hour workshop)

$630-on a slide to-$250: 7-9 people

(4.5-hour workshop)

––> NOTE: Let “The Gloved Hand” know what your organization can afford.

The Gloved Hand

We are dedicated to poison ivy eradication just as a butler, who with his white gloves, is dedicated to being rid of dust. We are thorough in a meticulous way.

Landline phone – 203-736-0664

YouTube channel – WeedPoisonlvy

Email – WeedPoisonIvy@TheGlovedHand.com

Poison ivy roots are dug out using hand toosl to extract the entire root system.

The Gloved Hand

– Poison Ivy Specialists –

an organic poison ivy service company

Pictured below is William Bartlett, my Tree Specialist Eradicator. For the largest tree-climbing vines he uses a come-a-long to bring them down. He will also climb up a tree when he has to. He's tackled to the ground some thick, record-breaking vines. I'm posing with a large base of poison ivy roots that he pulled out for me. He's been in the business for over 40 years.

Same tuber: if you look closely enough, this picture below (click to enlarge) shows how skinny the long roots will become the deeper we explore.

______________________

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When I visit a poison ivy patch, I often dig up some rather interesting-looking roots. The way I explain the first one pictured below is this: when poison ivy roots are cut or ripped (you can see the cut in the first of the two photos), the sources of energy that would have normally flown through the runner, past that previously cut spot, have now bumped into a dead end. The energy collects and stores in that dead end by filling out into a root tuber. From that tuber (or rhizome), 4 or 5 roots may start out in multiple directions but also a tap-like root may begin to grow straight down, as a means to support survival of the plant under its newly threatened circumstances (of having been cut).

Therefore, ripping or trimming roots just down to the ground level (not digging them out) causes the root system to "bush out" underground. This is a similar process to when one trims a bush above ground in order for it to fill out and become more bushy. This is not something I recommend, that poison ivy roots be ripped out, mowed or otherwise cut at the ground level every year and maintained this way year-in and year-out. It creates a HUGE root system and eventually a greater magnitude to the job when finally digging the entire root system out.

__________________

You can see from the second photo that this root was dug out of a deep hole. When we measured the hole and the root itself, they both measured nearly two feet. Poison ivy, in its undisturbed state, normally runs less than an inch under the earth's surface and fairly parallel to the ground. Any secondary roots growing off of a typical runner are only 4 or 5 inches in length and grow at an acute angle to the runner. Abberant roots like the one pictured are found to grow vertically, perpendicular to the earth's surface. When we start chasing a root that goes straight down like this, I feel that 8" is an adequate depth for digging the root out. Once past 8", a root often is too skinny for survival on it's own, especially at such a depth.

_________________________

A poison ivy root tuber: at the top left corner of this tuber you can see the original cut (click to enlarge), causing this tuber to develop in the first place.

1. Guesstimate - The root system is the mystery, which is why it's a "guesstimate" and not an estimate. I usually won't need to go to the property because what you can see above ground is what I would see. There are indicators above ground that you can describe over the phone to me. [203-736-0664] Answering the questions I ask will help me determine what difficulties the root system will present, once we dig in. In this way I can help you with a 'ball-park" figure.

Download File Now

Geoff Martino, working with

Cindy Campbell (since 2011).

Hello there. My name is Cindy. It is 2022 and I became involved with the poison ivy plant in 1988 when my husband and I bought a house (in Connecticut) with poison ivy on the premises.

My husband, Robert, had previously contracted a particularly severe case of the poison ivy rash which had required medical treatment, so I proceeded to clear out our new yard by myself. I found that the most comfortable method for me was to remove the entire root system by hand. The results were good, too. While under the tutelage of a knowledgeable Yankee farmer I learned techniques regarding weather conditions and seasonal changes that make for the most productive weeding. Now I am able to identify poison ivy in the dormant season when there are no leaves, just the buds on the plant; I can eradicate poison ivy before the season even begins! I recommend keeping this in mind when hiring The Gloved Hand. (May and June are very busy.) As soon as the ground thaws in March, it is possible to get started. Work continues on through spring, summer and again, autumn is also an excellent time for poison ivy eradication - right up until the temperature is below 55º by 10:00 AM.

After helping my husband out on our own property I began helping other relatives as well; and next, it was my neighbors calling. My business officially started for the public in 2009. When I advertised on the internet in 2011 everything started in earnest.

Contrary to what you might think, I am not one of those rare individuals who is blessed with a natural immunity to the plant. Armed with tenacity however, I have developed protocols for my personal protection and have trained others with the same.

TOXICODENDRON MAPS

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING CAN BE PAID OFF WITH A COMBINATION OF LABOR AND MONEY:

At the conclusion of the Professional Training and in order to make payment in full for this training, begin working for "The Gloved Hand" at $27 per hour, taking $3 off your pay each hour worked until the full cost of the training has been paid. (Hence, 27-3=24 with $24/hr being your take home pay.) Quickly rise to $30/hr once the Protection Protocol has been consistently implemented on the job. And once a worker is able to determine the best approach to a poison ivy patch, while working with a supervisor, the pay increases to $33. Additionally, when the ability is gained to follow up on a job by working a day alone at that site, the pay increases to $36 per hour. As this pay/work combination is ongoing, a person's labor pay is arranged to have automatic deductions of $3 per hour made towards the Professional Training. Any amount of money upfront that has been paid off will decrease the number of $3 deductions but if not, it will take 120 hours of working for The Gloved Hand (probably the first 20-30 days of work) to reach the total reimbursement amount due The Gloved Hand for the Professional Training.

RASH REMEDIES

Poison Ivy Documentary

For specific information on...

P. Ivy Identification:

8 minutes + 30 seconds into video

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P. Ivy Look-A-Likes:

21 min + 15 sec

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Techniques for Digging it out:

25 min + 50 sec

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Dressing & Undressing Safely:

40 min + 15 sec

Watching this video is a cornerstone to participating in The Gloved Hand training.

8. Professional Training - A one-to-one for an individual to become a sub-contractor for "The Gloved Hand." This 6-hour training is divided into 3-hour sessions, each one on a separate day. Time will be spent handling and working with the poison ivy plant each day (wearing gloves).
Watching the Poison Ivy Documentary is a pre-requistie to this training.

$360 for one person includes the two days. At the conclusion of the Professional Training start working for The Gloved Hand at $27, quickly rising to $30 and further down the line, to $33 and $36, with even higher rates for those who develop further on.

– two 3-hr sessions on separate days –

See box below for more information:

– FREE –

DIY-ers: work at your own risk. Please be conscious of what becomes contaminated with urushiol.

Share this video with people interested in subcontracting with The Gloved Hand. If you become interested, please check out the Professional Training information below the video.

$72/hour: Lead Eradicator

$66/hour: 2nd Eradicator

Hauling Fees: $12 per large bag

– 4 hr minimum –
(pro-rated by the minute after 4 hrs)

6. Stone Walls - eradicating the roots from out, under and in-between stones in walls sometimes calls for relocating stones and putting them back or, considering the situation, moving the stone wall laterally by some number of feet.

$60/hour: Lead Eradicator

$54/hour: 2nd Eradicator

Hauling Fees: $15 per large bag

– 4 hr minimum –
(pro-rated by the minute after 4 hrs)

5. Ripping - Ripping out poison ivy without the use of tools. By hand, pulling out as much of the root as possible. This is not a coomplete eradication since some roots may still remain in the ground. This quicker method is for clearing out a larger area of poison ivy in a shorter period of time. A 2nd visit is recommended to dig out all the roots.

4. Tree Climbing Specialist -

A worker who climbs a tree to remove the vines that cannot be taken down from standing on the ground or on a ladder. This tree specialist can also remove the most humongous of vines that literally cannot be pulled off by human strength alone but require a winch on the back of a pickup truck.

3. Tree Root Specialist - Where an old poison ivy climber has developed over many years, its particularly thick main roots are dug out (two-inch diameter or thicker) around the base of a tree and the climber is pulled off the tree as high as can be done with the assistance of a ladder.

$60/hour: Lead Eradicator

$54/hour: 2nd Eradicator

Hauling Fees: $12 per large bag

– 4 hr minimum –
(pro-rated by the minute after 4 hrs)

2. Eradication - Eradicating poison ivy roots, runners and climbers (climbers under 2-inch in diameter) by digging the plant's entire root system out using a double set of gloves, a trowel, a shovel and pulling vines off the tree.

7. Poison Ivy Documentary -On YouTub

See below: an hour-long Poison Ivy Documentary for Do-It-Yourselfers. This video includes the best poison ivy identification lesson on the web and a Protection Protocol for Do-It-Yourselfers!

OVER THE PHONE – No Cost.

203-736-0664 or email me your # and I will contact you.

If there is some reason to visit the site, a "Search & Assess" fee is double the travel fee ($30 minimum) + the travel fee.

Travel fee rates are listed near the bottom of this webpage.

The cost of this "Search & Assess"

visit is NOT deducted from the actual job. This is a separate cost.

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William Bartlett, Cindy Campbell and a tree-climbing poison ivy vine with its' roots detached. (click to enlarge)

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SERVICES | PRICING

$96/hour: Tree Climbing Specialist

– 4 hr minimum –

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$72/hour: Tree Root Specialist

$66/hour: 2nd Tree Root Specialist

Hauling Fees: $12 per large bag

– 4 hr minimum –
(pro-rated by the minute after 4 hrs)