Meet Iowa's poison ivy slayer
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Dan Boelman says parts of the metro are in Iowa's "poison ivy belt," including this Madison County acreage with vines topping six feet. Photo: Courtesy of Dan Boelman/Iowa Poison Ivy Removal
By day, Dan Boelman answers poison ivy questions. By night, he pulls the dreaded plant from Iowans' yards.
Why it matters: His unusual side hustle could become more useful as rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere make poison ivy more aggressive.
Catch up quick: Boelman was a registered nurse in 2006, answering a newspaper ad seeking an ER-trained nurse interested in gardening and plant science.
- He landed at Zanfel Laboratories, which makes a poison ivy rash treatment, and is now its customer service manager, answering its poison ivy helpline.
Zoom in: A poison ivy specialist in the Philadelphia area later encouraged Boelman to start his own removal service, and he took the plunge about 12 years ago after his family faced a year of unusually high medical bills.
- Iowa Poison Ivy Removal in Johnston is now his after-work and weekend side gig. It served nearly 175 clients last year — with the typical job costing between $300 and $400.
How it works: Boelman pulls vines from trees when possible and digs out roots because simply cutting them allows the plant to regrow.
- He wears two pairs of gloves and protective clothing, yet still gets mild poison ivy reactions a couple of times a month.
- He uses a wash made by his employer to treat reactions.
The big picture: Boelman believes he's Iowa's only dedicated poison ivy removal specialist, citing a national directory that lists his business as Iowa's sole provider.
Zoom out: He isn't the only option for outsourcing the itchy work.
- Goats, like those used for vegetation control in Clive, are used in cities such as Washington, D.C., and Kansas City.
The bottom line: Boelman's busy season may be winding down, but poison ivy isn't finished with Iowans.
- Even dead plant material can still trigger a reaction.