clca north coast journal april 2011
DESCRIPTION
April NewsletterTRANSCRIPT
North Coast Journal CALIFORNIA LANDSCAPE CONTRACTORS ASSOCIATION
CLCA North Coast Chapter www.clcanorthcoastchapter.org APRIL 2011
North Coast Chapter - Events Calendar
April 19th - Supplier Night Expo & Sustainable Showcase – Rooster Run Event Center June 10th - 2011 Achievement Awards – Flamingo Ballroom
April Dinner Meeting Tuesday April 19th, 2011
Rooster Run Golf Club 6:00 PM - $25 with RSVP ($30 without RSVP)
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Supplier Night & Sustainable Showcase
Come join us for an evening with our chapter suppliers to hear what is new and exciting in all areas related to our industry. This is a great opportunity to see all of our local associate members in one location and learn about
their innovative products and services.
See RSVP Flier Inside
CLCA North Coast Chapter P.O. Box 1621 Sebastopol, CA 95473
RESPECT THE EARTH… RECYCLE
APRIL 2011
In this Issue
PAGE 2 ………….New North Coast Sponsorship Program PAGE 4…………..Industry Overview – Outdoor Living PAGE 8….............Our Chapter Partners PAGE 9…………..CLT Training Again This Year at Buckeye Ranch PAGE 11………….Grab N’ Grow Sponsors ‘Bounty Community Farm’ Kids Program PAGE 15…………CLCA’s Position on Leaf Blowers and the Ban in Sebastopol
PAGE 19…………Suggested Reading and Viewing PAGE 20………...The Benefits of Your CLCA Membership
This Publication is Printed on Recycled Paper
PRESORTED STANDARD
MAIL U.S. POSTAGE
PAID PERMIT #105
PETALUMA, CA
North Coast Chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association
New sponsorship program
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North Coast Chapter Board Members
Immediate – Past President Charlie Thompson Cagwin & Dorward
(415) 892-7710 [email protected]
President
Charlie Thompson Cagwin & Dorward
(415) 892-7710 [email protected]
Secretary Lyndsey Kornmaier
Coast Landscape Mgmt. (707) 332-8999
Treasurer Lisa Stratton
Cagwin & Dorward (415) 798-1753
Web Guru & Golf Guy Michael O’Connell
O’Connell Landscape (707) 462-9729 [email protected]
Associate Member Chair Kevin Kohl
Ewing Irrigation (707) 457-9530 [email protected]
Membership Co-Chairs
Jeff Hausman Gardenworks, Inc.
(707) 974-5799 [email protected]
CLT State Committee Liaison
Dave Iribarne City of Petaluma (707) 778-4591
Programs Chair Ben Kopshever
Sonoma Mountain Landscape (707) 695-2429
Legislative Chair Kjell Kallman Grab n’ Grow
(707) 333-7694 [email protected]
Awards Chair Brigid Flagerman
Bertotti Landscaping (415) 720-0065 [email protected]
Education Chair Salvador Ledezma Jr.
Gardenworks, Inc (707) 974-5800
Chapter General Board Members Jeff Jones
John Deere Landscapes (925) 595-6115
Luis Lua Cagwin & Dorward
(415) 720-6624 [email protected]
Will Jenkel Lampson Tractor
(707) 206-2294 [email protected]
Owen Mitchell
Mitchell Landscapes (415) 717-6214 [email protected]
Tyler Doherty
Cal West Rentals (707) 694-9108 [email protected]
North Coast CLCA Executive Director
& Journal Editor
Connie Salinas
P.O. Box 1621 Sebastopol, CA 95473
Phone 707-829-5487 Fax 707-829-5487 [email protected]
CLCA 2010 State Officers
PRESIDENT
Robert Wade, CLP,CLIA Wade Landscape
Phone: (949) 494-2130 [email protected]
PRESIDENT-ELECT Eric Watanabe
Majestic Pools & Landscape (818) 831-1390
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Sharon McGuire
Phone: (800) 448-2522, ext. 13 FAX: (916) 446-7692
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Industry Overview: Outdoor Living
By Bruce Fordyce
According to Chris Mordi of Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet, ''The economy was the biggest challenge facing the outdoor living industry. However, 2010 was Kalamazoo's biggest sales year ever, and we predict continued growth opportunity at the high-end of outdoor living.'' Shown here is a Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet kitchen installation.
Americans have always ''lived'' outdoors, but the concept of ''outdoor living'' is a relatively new and rapidly growing lifestyle phenomenon. The entire ''leisure
lifestyle'' industry is now a $6.2 billion industry. What is outdoor living? It no longer means just a few folding chairs, a picnic table, and a hibachi. It means bringing all the comforts of indoor living to the outdoors.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, $50 million dollars were spent towards outdoor living areas. According to The National Association of Home Builders: ''An outdoor kitchen addition can increase the value of your home, and bring upwards of 130 percent return on initial investment!'' This is a powerful marketing device landscape contractors can state to potential clients.
Danver's Larry Smith reported: ''The 'leisure industry' is growing 15 to 17 percent annually. During the first half of 2010, we noticed a shift in the design of outdoor kitchens, a shift from the traditional BBQ island or masonry kitchen island to modular cabinets inside a three-sided stone surround consisting of stone, brick, framed stucco structure or some other material popular in that area of the country.'' Shown here is a Danver outdoor kitchen.
The Depressed Housing Market And Outdoor Living
As homeowners forgo buying new homes due to the lackluster economy, they're investing instead in creative ways to enhance their yards. ''By 2015 we expect most homes to have some kind of outdoor feature, even in colder parts of the country,'' says Gopal Ahluwalia, VP of Research for the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). According to the Wall Street journal: Today, people feel that perhaps the housing market has hit bottom or is getting close to it, and projects they've put off are getting another look, says Abbe Will, research assistant at Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies.
Remodeling expenditures are forecast to rise at an inflation-adjusted annual average of 3.5 percent between 2010 and 2015, according to a recent report from Harvard's Joint Center.
Most investment in home improvements over the past couple of years has focused on the necessities. People replaced an air-conditioning unit if it went out, for example. That's beginning to change, though homeowners remain more cautious about overspending than they once were.
''Clients who we were talking to two years ago have called up and said 'We're ready to put this back on the front burner and move forward,''' Zuch reports.
This louvered patio roof rotates from completely closed to 155 degrees open by use of a small motor. The system comes with a portable remote control, a timer control system, and a rain sensor that closes the louvers during periods of bad weather. It is offered by Vergola.
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These Living Wall Planters are used to accent outdoor spaces. The
company predicts that in the future, homeowners will use such walls to grow herbs and vegetables. They are offered by Bright Green, LLC.
What's Hot In Outdoor Living
We polled a host of manufacturers to get their take on the industry, as well as what is hot in 2011 and how the industry can get through these difficult times.
Steve Ostrowski of ShadeFX stated: ''From our perspective 'Shade Pergolas' are red hot. We doubled our sales, 2009 to 2010 and plan to double them again in 2011. We see strong growth for The Outdoor Living Lifestyle industry.''
Joe Rider, President of Stone Age Manufacturing, Inc. added, ''The outdoor living industry held its own in 2010, in spite of the economy and housing market. We see outdoor living areas as the true bright spot in the construction industry for 2011. We see outdoor living continuing to grow in the future and we see the outdoor room becoming a permanent part of the home, making this industry not just a trend, but a lifestyle.''
Jessica Hall of Blue Ox Advertising for The Outdoor Greatroom Company declared: ''Gas fire pit tables are a hot item today. Consumers like the idea of gathering around the fire as opposed to sitting in front of it.''
Lynn Stearn, SunBriteTV's Vice President of Sales and Marketing observed: ''In our information-rich culture, we are finding that where people go, technology will follow. As homeowners are creating outdoor living spaces, outdoor audio/video technology is becoming an integral part of the landscape design plans. The demand for our TVs has grown exponentially.''
This retractable canopy system is designed to attach to pergolas and simple
overhead frames of all types. It uses a monorail drive track that needs no alignment on installation and will never jam or bind even if the frame goes
out-of-square over time. It is offered by ShadeFX.
According to Jill Cranford of Stone 2 Furniture: ''We see consumers doing more mindful consumption with sustainability being an important feature when purchasing outdoor furniture. Consumers are not looking to put a lot of money into furniture that is going to have to be replaced after a few years.''
Sheila Boyce, President of DeepStream Designs, Inc. sees ''continued interest in sustainable design and recycled materials (as well as) a desire for green space in the midst of every day city life'' as a hot trend over the next couple of years.
Danver's Larry Smith reported, ''The 'leisure industry' is growing 15 to 17 percent annually. During the first half of 2010, we noticed a shift in the design of outdoor kitchens. The transition is a shift from the traditional BBQ island or masonry kitchen island to modular cabinets inside a 3-sided stone surround consisting of stone, brick, framed stucco structure or some other material popular in that area of the country.''
Shown here is the Raw Urth Napa fire feature. It can run on either a propane or natural gas or can be used as a wood burning unit.
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Industry Challenges
As to what constitutes the biggest challenge facing the outdoor living industry today, Scott commented: ''Maintaining the demand for quality products when many clients are trying to save money. But we (the industry) all need to look long-term. We all know that classic design and craftsmanship will stand the test of time.'' Ostrowski added: ''The retail side of the business is not connected to the design-build side of the business. This has to change if growth is to accelerate. Homeowners are forced to bridge the gap between a design-build contractor who sells only half of the big picture.''
Rider advised: ''The biggest challenge I see in the outdoor living industry is the health of the economy and unnecessary government regulations concerning the EPA and emissions control. Also challenging, is educating the designer/dealer/contractor/homeowner as a whole about the importance of choosing quality products designed and intended for outdoor use that offer versatility, longevity, and value, while providing homeowners with the best possible results for their investment.''
This Kalamazoo outdoor kitchen is located in Boca Raton, Florida and was designed by Daniel Lowery, APLD, Queen Anne Gardens.
Hall added: ''Because outdoor rooms are typically considered discretionary spending, it is important that the economy and consumer confidence continue moving in the right direction.''
Stearn concluded: ''The economic downturn has taken its toll on the market segments that don't involve ''necessity.'' As the economy rebounds, the challenge is to enhance projects with utility-rich products and features that add value and function to their customers' lifestyle.''
Smith added, ''The biggest challenge facing the outdoor living industry today is a lack of knowledge about outdoor living and what the consumer is looking for in this very fast paced and growing marketplace.''
Conclusion From all indications, outdoor living is a growing trend and one that seems to be out-striving other landscape contractor niches currently.
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Reminder……. The Applications for the 2011 Achievement Awards are due Friday April 22nd If you have any questions, Call Connie (707) 829-5487
North Coast Champions – Be a Green Industry Giant
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The North Coast Chapter’s
2011 partners
We would like to thank and acknowledge the following for signing on with our new
Sponsorship Program thus far!!!
DIAMOND PARTNERS Hunter/FX Luminaire
PLATINUM PARTNERS John Deere Landscapes
Ewing Irrigation
GOLD PARTNERS LCIS
CONTRACTOR PARTNERS Cagwin & Dorward (2)
Gardenworks Inc.
(see inside front cover for sign-up sheet)
Happy Spring!
MORE VALUABLE TRAINING COMING TO BUCKEYE RANCH
Field Training days in August and September can be used for CLT Preparation or just for employee enrichment. In a bad economy training is even more important then ever. Saturday Saturday Saturday August 20th August 27th September 10th MAINTENANCE IRRIGATION INSTALLATION
April 11th & 12th - Legsilative Conference – Sacramento
April 19th - North Coast Dinner Meeting – Supplier Expo
April 22nd – Awards Applications Due May 14th – Heavy Equipment Training
May 17th – North Coast Dinner Meeting – TBA
May 18th & 19th – Awards Judging Days June 10th – Awards Dinner – Flamingo Hotel
June 18th – Giants vs A’s Game with Bay Area Chapter July 13th – 16th – State Summer Family Extravaganza
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Construction Math Fertilizer/Pesticide Calculation Tree Planting & Staking Walk Behind Mower Basic Program Controller Plant Identification
Construction Math Equipment - Trencher Valve Repair Lateral Installation Main Line Install Valve Wiring
Construction Math Tractor Grading & Drainage Instrument Paver Installation Plant Identification
Sign-up Applications will be in the July and August Journals. If you have any questions in the meantime please call Connie @ (707) 829-5487 or e-mail [email protected]
Calendar of Upcoming
Events
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Wholesale
Grab N’ Grow Soil Products Sponsors Petaluma’s ‘Bounty Community Farm’ Program for Kids
SANTA ROSA, March 15 – Grab N’ Grow Soil Products, a leading Sonoma County soil, compost and mulch maker for a half century, is sponsoring Petaluma Bounty’s Community Farm, an educational urban farm program that introduces gardening and nutrition to young people and provides low-income residents with affordable and healthy fresh food. Kjell Kallman, manager of Grab N’ Grow on Llano Road on the Santa Rosa Plain, said the soils company is providing Bounty’s Community Farm with $750 worth of organic soils, mulch and other soil amendments for the coming growing season. The soil will be used at Bounty’s 2.5-acre demonstration farm and children’s garden on Shasta Avenue off Petaluma Boulevard North, said Suzi Grady, Bounty Farm Manager. “Petaluma Bounty has been using Grab N’ Grow soils for years. It’s quality product,” she said. “We’re grateful for this in-kind donation and glad to have Grab N’ Grow as an active sponsor.” Kallman said Petaluma Bounty’s program is consistent with Grab N’ Grow’s goal to promote and support efforts that encourage families and young people to grow nutritious food and engage in sustainable lifestyles. “Suzi and the good folks at Petaluma Bounty are shining examples of Sonoma County people pulling together to enlighten and change children’s perception of how fresh food really tastes,” said Kallman. “Their efforts help to feed the less fortunate and create additional sources for locally-grown food benefit our community. We are very proud to help them with these programs” The Shasta Avenue farm produces field and garden crops. It is visited by as many as 400 children on field trips during the school year and over the summer in connection with clubs, summer camps and other youth projects. Grady said the program exposes young people to gardening and the benefits of growing nutritious food and gives them hands-on experience in gardening and preparing foods they help raise. She said children are introduced to a “pizza garden” and help prepare pizza made from Bounty Community Farm peppers, basil, rosemary, tomatoes, onions and other produce as they come into season. “We bake it in our oven on site, and it’s a very big hit,” she said. The farm also makes food available to families living on fixed or very low incomes at affordable prices. Petaluma Bounty (www.petalumabounty.org) was established in 2006. It is a community-based nonprofit that is helping people grow their own healthy food, redistributing surplus food, making affordable fresh food available to low-income families and seniors, and providing educational opportunities for young people.
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Operating for a half century, Grab N’ Grow Soil Products (www.grabngrowsoil.com) produces premium, hand-crafted soil, compost and mulch to meet the needs of farmers, landscapers, and gardeners for now and into the future. The company, owned by Soiland Co., Inc., produces much of its products from recycled tree, brush and yard waste it receives from customers at its Llano Road location.
Grab N’ Grow offers bulk and bag sales at its Llano Road location and bags in select retail outlets. This year, the company’s signature product, Mango Mulch™ Organic Compost, a fertilizer and soil conditioner in one, is being offered with two new companion products, Julious’ Choice™ potting soil for 1-5-gallon containers, and Marlene’s Magic™ Garden Mix, perfect for vegetable and flower gardens and planter boxes. Grab N’ Grow offers free knowledge and tips for healthy and sustainable gardens. It is open weekdays 7 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., Saturdays 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tree, brush & yard waste drop-off recycling 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. For more information on Grab N’ Grow, call Kjell Kallman, 707-575-7205. For more information on Petaluma Bounty Community Farm, call Suzi Grady, 707- 364-4883
Delta Bluegrass has a New Associate Stockton, CA, April 1, 2011— Delta Bluegrass Company, a leading turf company, recently hired Dinah Zuckerman as a sales and marketing associate. Ms. Zuckerman will be servicing customers throughout East and South Bay areas and can be reached at 925.389.3584 or [email protected]. Dinah Zuckerman “We are excited to have Dinah Zuckerman join our team of professionals,” said Dennis Gardemeyer, C.E.O. of Delta Bluegrass Company. “Dinah brings a great depth of marketing acumen to the northern California green industry and we look forward to having her represent our expanded array of products. While new to our sales force, Dinah has served as a Director on our Board of Directors for approximately three years and was instrumental in developing new marketing policies and procedures that have been of great benefit to our continued success.” Ms. Zuckerman has over 6 years of marketing, sales and management experience in the medical industry with Lincare, a national respiratory company. She held positions ranging from Sales Representative, National Marketing Representative and District Manager. Ms. Zuckerman attended Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo, graduating in 2004 with a BS in Agribusiness and a minor in Marketing. Delta Bluegrass Company has been providing turf and turf related products throughout northern California and western Nevada for over 30 years. Delta Bluegrass Company offers over 15 varieties of turf. Hundreds of thousands of homes have been enhanced by the inclusion of Delta Bluegrass turf selections. Famous golf courses, parks, ball fields, and other sports related venues proudly use Delta Bluegrass Company products and services. The company has been widely recognized as a developer and innovator of premium sod products and services. Their Bolero™ and Bolero Plus™ fescue grasses, as an example, have been developed especially for northern California climates and soils. Visit our website for more information: www.deltabluegrass.com, or give our Inside Sales Department a call at 800.637.8873.
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CLCA Position On Leaf Blowers Approved by the CLCA Board of Directors on March 25, 1999 The California Landscape Contractors Association acknowledges and understands that public opposition to the use of gasoline-powered leaf blowers is based upon concerns about sound, dust, and air emissions. However, an outright ban of this valuable equipment would be the severest of all possible remedies and one that would eliminate its many benefits. A ban should be a last resort and enacted only after exhausting all other alternatives.
It is CLCA's position that many such alternatives currently exist. They would alleviate the public's concerns about gasoline-powered leaf blowers without depriving the landscape maintenance contractor of this extremely efficient and safe tool. We wish to help find a solution to this issue that is fair and equitable to both the public and the leaf blower user. Therefore, we respectfully offer the following information for consideration. CLCA opposes across-the-board bans on gasoline-powered leaf blowers, such as the Los Angles ordinance that prohibits their use within 500 feet of a residence. CLCA believes these bans are unnecessary, bad public policy, and extremely harmful to the landscape industry.
Leaf blowers are essential for landscape maintenance professionals. This is because these machines are very efficient tools for cleaning up leaves and other small debris from landscape sites. Since their development in the 1970s, leaf blowers to a large extent have supplanted brooms, hoses, and rakes. Leaf blowers even perform functions that no other tool can handle effectively, such as cleaning areas covered by rock, gravel, bark, or mulch — with minimal disturbance.
Leaf blowers save enormous amounts of time. Most landscape industry estimates suggest that it takes at least five times as long to clean a typical landscape site with a broom and rake than it does with a power leaf blower. A similar estimate was provided in 1994 by the City of San Luis Obispo for its parks and public buildings; the city's maintenance supervisors estimated that their crews would take 50 hours to do work that took 10 hours with leaf blowers, and that much of the work would require the use of water. Some estimates substantially exceed the five times one rule-of-thumb: in a 1992 labor efficiency comparison report, the City of Whittier concluded that a job that took 2.25 labor hours with a backpack leaf blower took 76 labor hours with a hose and 282 with a broom! The bottom line is that without leaf blowers, public agencies and private owners would have to spend more time on outdoor work or accept a lower level of upkeep.
Time is money. CLCA members servicing landscape maintenance accounts estimate that their costs would increase an average of 20.7 percent if they had to perform the same functions without the leaf blower. This estimate comes from a survey that CLCA sent its members in late 1998.
CLCA believes many clients can't afford or are not willing to pay for the additional costs of performing landscape maintenance without the leaf blower. In fact, CLCA members servicing landscape maintenance accounts believe they could pass along less than a third (31.6 percent) of their increased costs through increased landscape maintenance fees. This information also comes from CLCA's 1998 membership survey. Most clients would do one of the following in the case of a ban: (1) expect their landscape maintenance firm to provide the same standard of care as before without paying more money for the service, (2) allow their landscapes to deteriorate, (3) do the work themselves, or (4) flaunt the law by using leaf blowers or hiring gardeners willing to do so. The last option is a possibility because leaf blower bans have been difficult to enforce in municipalities that have passed an ordinance to date.
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Sebastopol, CA To Ban Leaf Blowers
In an ever-growing trend that impacts the landscape maintenance industry, California’s Sebastopol City Council voted to ban leaf blowers. The action follows complaints by residents that leaf blowers spew pollution into the air and stir up dust that causes respiratory problems. “This is raising the consciousness, getting the word out that leaf blowers are not welcome in Sebastopol,” Mayor Guy Wilson said. “For somebody who is suffering from their neighbor's use of the device, there will be a remedy.”
The only exception to the ban would be for city public works employees in situations where other tools can't be used, such as cleaning out storm drains in an emergency.
This is the first such ban in Sonoma County. The vote was 3-2 with Wilson, Vice Mayor Mike Kyes and Councilwoman Sarah Gurney supporting the ban and council members Patrick Slayter and Kathleen Shaffer opposing it.
That option would adversely affect our members because we play by the rules by the very nature of the way our businesses are organized. CLCA members are all state-licensed contractors. We have a license bond on file with the Contractors State License Board, and we pay workers' compensation as well as liability insurance. We deduct federal and state income taxes from payrolls. Many of our members offer health insurance for employees and their families. Unfortunately, we compete against a vast underground economy of unlicensed operators that does not play by the rules. We believe these unlicensed operators would flaunt a leaf blower ban if given the chance, and consequently they would be able to underbid our members for landscape maintenance contracts. Legitimate landscape contractors could go out of business and their employees would lose good paying jobs. Most landscape maintenance clients are not rich. They are more likely to be middle income homeowners. Also, many are elderly and some are disabled. To ask these homeowners to pay more or do the work themselves is unrealistic and unfair. The leaf blower is an alternative to hosing down walks and driveways with water. Using water in this manner is unreasonable in drought-prone California. The reality is that people will always take the next easiest course of action when one course of action is closed to them. Hosing down walkways and driveways is much easier, quicker, and more efficient than broom cleaning those surfaces. Leaf blowers are no louder than many other types of power equipment. Some of the newer model leaf blowers are actually more quiet than many other types of lawn and garden power equipment. High decibel sound exposure can be severely damaging to hearing. The U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requires a hearing protection program for employees when sound exposures equal or exceed an eight-hour, time-weighted average sound level of 85 decibels. CLCA members typically require their employees to use hearing protection whenever power equipment is used. Although OSHA's regulation should not be taken to imply that lower decibels are always safe, compare it with the sound from the more advanced leaf blowers. Most of the newer machines are rated at, or less than, 70 decibels at 50 feet at full throttle. And, unlike landscape maintenance personnel, who need hearing protection because of their long hours of exposure to sound coming from a machine a few feet away from their ears, residents and homeowners are exposed to leaf blower sound for only a few minutes a week at much greater distances. CLCA acknowledges that leaf blowers can be a nuisance. However, we believe the culprits are old technology and improper use. Both problems can be remedied by means other than indiscriminate bans. CLCA strongly encourages leaf blower manufacturers to place a high priority on sound reduction improvements. However, credit should go where credit is due. Today's leaf blowers are significantly more quiet than their predecessors of 10 years ago. Manufacturers have steadily reduced sound levels in response to customer need. As of January 1999 at least two manufacturers had introduced revolutionary leaf blowers that generate a mere 62 dBa at full throttle at fifty feet from the source — without sacrificing performance. Manufacturers can be expected to make future sound reduction improvements, if given the chance. CLCA believes that landscape maintenance professionals and homeowners should be informed about the sound levels of leaf blower equipment before purchase. We believe that most buyers, if properly informed, would opt for the most quiet equipment, all other factors being equal. Unfortunately, some manufacturers do not disclose this information. CLCA, therefore, would support a state mandate that required all manufacturers to test the sound levels of their gas-powered leaf blower models according to the provisions of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) B 175.2 Standard for Hand-Held and Backpack Gasoline-Engine-Powered Blowers. We also would support a state law that required all equipment and packaging to be clearly and durably marked with the decibel rating. Although CLCA prefers other methods of dealing with leaf blower sound, our association does not oppose efforts to prohibit outmoded equipment — as long as the standards are not unreasonable in light of the existing technology on the market. We suggest that efforts to prohibit outmoded equipment be accompanied by buy-back programs that permanently remove the equipment from service. At a minimum, bans on outmoded equipment should go into effect at least one year after a decision is made. This would give users crucial lead time to phase out their equipment. CLCA believes the vast majority of commercial operators use their leaf blowers responsibly. Nevertheless, we acknowledge that improper use is a problem. It is caused chiefly by lack of knowledge, but, regrettably, it is sometimes a result of lack of courtesy for others.
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Cities, municipalities, and the CLCA should partner together to educate the public as well as the landscape industry about proper use of leaf blower equipment. Educational programs should include the following information: ►Generally speaking, leaf blowers should be run at half throttle most of the time. Low throttle speeds not only significantly reduce sound, but they also provide the operator with maximum control. Full throttle is seldom necessary. ►Leaf blowers should not be used in residential areas at unreasonable hours — early in the morning or late at night when people are likely to be disturbed. ►Debris should never be blown onto adjacent property, the street, vehicles, people, or pets. ►Crews should operate only one leaf blower at a time on small residential sites. ►Rakes or brooms should be used to loosen heavier debris. ►The full nozzle extension should be used so the air stream can work close to the ground. ►The muffler, air intakes, and air filters should be routinely checked to make sure they are working properly. ►Leaf blowers should not be used to move large debris piles from one spot to another. ►If conditions are very dry, mister attachments should be used. They suppress dust. CLCA believes that informed citizens and landscape maintenance workers are likely to be more considerate. For the few bad apples who may lack common courtesy even with increased knowledge, city ordinances to require proper use under penalty of a steep fine may be necessary. CLCA does not oppose ordinances that mandate common sense rules of leaf blower courtesy. Nor would CLCA oppose an ordinance requiring a governor attachment to leaf blowers that limited their throttle speed in order to meet local dba requirements. Such an ordinance would address the sound problem from outmoded equipment without going so far as to remove that equipment from the market. On the negative side, however, this solution would prevent users from switching to a higher throttle speed on the few occasions when it may be appropriate to do so, such as when they are doing their work at a substantial distance away from other people. Electric-powered leaf blowers are not an acceptable substitute for gas-powered machines. Most landscape maintenance professionals estimate that electric leaf blowers reduce efficiency by 50 percent. They tend to be less powerful than gas leaf blowers, and they are limited by the need for an extension cord that must be continually plugged in and unplugged. In addition, they can be hazardous to operators. Swimming pools, spas, garden ponds, and moisture from landscape irrigation make for a potential electric shock problem. Finally, the heavier duty electric leaf blowers, which are comparable in power to gas leaf blowers, do not reduce sound that significantly. Plus, the electric leaf blower's sound is compounded by the noise produced by a generator if electrical outlets aren't available. According to the results of a survey sent to CLCA members in late 1998, more landscape contractors would resort to brooms and rakes than electric leaf blowers if they were prevented from using gas-powered equipment. As manufacturers have steadily lowered the decibel levels of leaf blowers in recent years, criticism of the machines has to some extent shifted away from sound and towards dust and air emissions concerns. As far as dust is concerned, it should be pointed out that brooms create dust too. So does the wind for that matter. Properly used leaf blowers do not raise inordinate amounts of dust. Rule 403 of the South Coast Air Quality Management District states that " a person shall not cause or allow the emissions of fugitive dust from any active operation, open storage pile, or disturbed surface area such that the presence of such dust remains visible in the atmosphere beyond the property line of the emission source." Blower users can and should follow this rule. The air emissions issue is a spurious issue when applied to local leaf blower regulations. In 1995 the California Air Resources Board (CARB) put in place Tier I Standards that by 1998 had reduced air emissions from two-stroke engines by 30 to 70 percent. CARB Tier II Standards, which go into place on January 1, 2000, will cut emissions from handheld equipment by 74 percent by 2010. The Tier II Standards are stringent — so stringent that many manufactures initially asserted they would be unable to meet them. Air pollution issues are being addressed, and should be addressed, by CARB, the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the regional air quality districts — not individual cities and counties. Moreover, the frequently used criticism that leaf blowers produce emissions greater than automobiles should be placed in proper perspective. Actual emissions from leaf blowers are few because of the equipment's intermittent use. For example, one year of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from automobiles compares to 21 years of emissions from portable lawn and garden products. Portable lawn and garden equipment contributes only 0.8 percent of all U.S. VOC emissions, 0.6 percent of carbon monoxide emissions, and no nitrogen oxide emissions. (This comparison comes from an analysis of EPA emissions inventory data prepared for the Portable Power Equipment Manufacturers Association by Heiden & Associates of Washington, DC.) CLCA members are always willing to work constructively with city, county, and state public officials to develop win-win solutions to this increasingly prominent issue.
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Suggested Reading & Viewing
Here are more recommended resources from our January Dinner Meeting
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The Home Orchard By C. Ingels; P. Geisel; M. Norton Developed especially for use by backyard orchardists, rare fruit growers, and small-scale growers, The Home Orchard offers a comprehensive look at standard growing methods, as well as some innovative practices that enthusiasts have developed in recent years, some of which are uniquely suited to the small-scale grower. You will learn how trees grow, which species grow best in the different regions and soils, varieties from which to select, preparing the soil, planting, watering and fertilizing, pruning and grafting, thinning the fruit, diagnosing problems, controlling pests, and harvesting. You'll also find special attention given to organic and non-toxic pest management and fertilization methods. Recommended by Dave Phelps
The Power of Community – Documentary DVD When the Soviet Union collapsed in 1990, Cuba's economy went into a tailspin. With imports of oil cut by more than half – and food by 80 percent – people were desperate. This film tells of the hardships and struggles as well as the community and creativity of the Cuban people during this difficult time. Cubans share how they transitioned from a highly mechanized, industrial agricultural system to one using organic methods of farming and local, urban gardens. Cuba, the only country that has faced such a crisis – the massive reduction of fossil fuels – is an example of options and hope. Recommended by Charlie Thompson – Cagwin & Dorward
How to Grow More Vegetables – In Less Space By John Jeavons A classic in the field of sustainable gardening, HOW TO GROW MORE VEGETABLES shows how to produce a beautiful organic garden with minimal watering and care, whether it's just a few tomatoes in a tiny backyard or enough food to feed a family of four on less than half an acre. Updated with the latest biointensive tips and techniques, this is an essential reference for gardeners of all skill levels seeking to grow some or all of their own food. Recommended by Dave Phelps – Cagwin & Dorward
A Few of the Many Benefits to Your CLCA Membership
Access To Information A panel of experts on call, ready and willing to give you sound advice on computers, cost analysis, unions or how best to market your business. The single, most important benefit any association can offer may be the exchange of information and ideas among peers — done formally through programs such as CLCA's Peer Consulting Service, or informally through local meetings or statewide events. In addition, CLCA keeps legal counselors on call who specialize in license, labor and contracting law. In many cases, legal questions can be referred without a fee. Members may also access our special Human Resource hotline, and take advantage of our customized employee manuals.
Professional Development Our comprehensive programs provide you with the skills and information to make your business successful in today's competitive environment. Led by popular experts, CLCA seminars take place locally and in conjunction with statewide meetings. Check out our Profit Though Learning: Your Training Toolbox and How To Make Money In A Landscape Business programs.
Bringing Contractors & Suppliers Together CLCA provides numerous opportunities for buyers and sellers of landscape products to informally meet and get acquainted with one another. As Associate Members, suppliers gain access to potential buyers and the opportunity to educate contractors about their latest technologies.
Certification Another professional activity, our Certification Program accredits workers who pass hands-on field tests of landscape skills.
Market Your Business You may be the best landscape contractor there ever was — but are you a marketing maven? Through our pioneering Internet Referral Service and other publicity efforts, CLCA is educating consumers about quality landscaping — and steering them to members' doors.
Special Note – Contractors are listed in order of participation, so this is a reminder that you can go on the website http://www.clca.org/ and update your participation points from Chapter and State events to bring your company listing up even higher.
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Attention North Coast Chapter Members…. The Board of Directors has several committees that always need volunteers to help out with things like education, fundraisers, golf tournaments, special events, etc. It is a good way to get involved and see how the chapter is managed and assist them with some very valuable programs at the same time.
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Russ Clarke Sales Representative
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LANDSCAPES UNLIMITED NURSERY
4330 Bodega Avenue, Petaluma, CA 94952 Phone: (707) 778-0136 Fax: (707) 778-0633
George Carlin Quotes • The real reason that we can't have the Ten Commandments in a courthouse: You
cannot post "Thou shalt not steal", Thou shalt not commit adultery" and "Thou shalt not lie" in a building full of lawyers, judges and politicians. It creates a hostile work environment.
• I have as much authority as the Pope. I just don't have as many people who believe it.
• Have you ever noticed, in traffic, anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac!
• George Washington's brother, Lawrence, was the Uncle of Our Country.
• If the Cincinnati Reds were really the first major league baseball team, who did they play?
• Frisbeetarianism is the belief that when you die, your soul goes up on the roof, where nobody can retrieve it.
• Cloud nine gets all the publicity, but cloud eight actually is cheaper, less crowded, and has a better view.
• I'm always relieved when someone is delivering a eulogy and I realize I'm listening to it.
• Some people see things that are and ask, Why? Some people dream of things that never were and ask, Why not? Some people have to go to work and don't have time for all that.
• On Opening Day, the President doesn’t throw OUT the first ball. He throws it IN. If he threw it out, it would land in the parking lot and someone would have to go get it.
• Swimming is not a sport, swimming is a way to keep from drowning! That's just common sense!
• The IQ and the life expectancy of the average American recently passed each other in opposite directions.
• When someone is impatient and says, "I haven't got all day," I always wonder, How can that be? How can you not have all day?
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LANDSCAPES UNLIMITED NURSERY 4330 Bodega Ave. Petaluma, CA 94952, 707-778-0136
Landscapes Unlimited is a wholesale nursery located 3 miles west of downtown Petaluma, California. We offer over 800 varieties of landscaping plants in 1- through 15-gallon sizes. If we don’t have what you need, we will special order it for you.
Our customer service is the best. Our staff averages 20 years of experience in the industry and can offer excellent advice. We value our customers and get to know them personally. We will cater to your needs. If you have a special request, let us know and we’ll do what we can to meet your needs.
Our goal is to make your plant buying as easy as possible. Send us a list of what you need and let