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TRANSCRIPT
California Landscape Contractors AssociationSan Fernando Valley Chapter
Volume 30, Number 8AUGUST 2012
Valleyscape is now available online! www.eldoradocommunicationspublications.info
GREEN THUMB NURSERY FOUNDER Dale Bergquist is remembered and honored in this beautiful Memorial Garden, visited here by attendees of the July 26 Green Thumb Nursery BBQ and SFV Dinner Meeting. (See page 2 for more Green Thumb BBQ photos.)
THE NEXT EVENT
SFV Chapter Wine Tasting Event• Friday, August 24, 6:30 p.m.• Home of Alfonso Castillo, Sylmar• Details on page 3
Green Industry Veteran
GARY VALLENPasses Away.
See story on page 4.
SFV Chapter Golf Tournament
SEPTEMBER 27See story on Page 7Registration Form
Enclosed
2 August 2012 SFV CLCA Valleyscape
The Next EventGreen Thumb BBQ Debuts Latest Monrovia Plants
THREE AMIGOS – John Vorbeck enjoys the company of Ken and Iris Bragar at the food-filled
and prize-filled annual Green Thumb bash.
VALLEYSCAPE ART DIRECTOR Jerry Robin and Golf Chair Dan Dvorak talk about ways to
promote the upcoming SFV Golf Tourney.
NEW FACES at an SFV event are Fran Fox and Fern Miller. The Green Thumb BBQ brings together designers, suppliers and landscapers from
all over the region.
CLCA AMBASSADOR Charles Nunley and wife Karen manage to make it out to several
SFV events throughout the year. Thanks for your support!
PAST STATE PRESIDENT and current SFV Board Member Mickey Strauss of MSM
Landscape Services thanks Green Thumb’s Nancy Bergquist for hosting the well attended event.
LANDSCAPE DESIGNERS Vicki Steinwender and Christine Leichentritt were able to get lots of fresh ideas for designs from Keynote Speaker
Nicholas Staddon’s interesting, informative, and sometimes funny presentation.
STATE PRESIDENT Eric Watanabe greets guests at the July 26 meeting held at Green
Thumb Growing Grounds. Eric also led the group in a moment of silence in honor of Gary Vallen
who had just passed away.
LONG-TIME SFV MEMBER Merle Thomsen laughs it up with good buddy Oliver Holt and his
lovely wife Regina.
SFV PRESIDENT Steven Kinzler and V.P. Membership Dan Dvorak of LCIS are first in line for the tour of the well-stocked facility located in
Canoga Park.
EVENT VIPS – Green Thumb Nursery’s Frank Soriano and Nancy Bergquist, along with SFV’s
Nelson Colvin, welcome Keynote Speaker Nicholas Staddon of Monrovia Nursery to the BBQ and
new plant seminar.
LITTLE VALVE’S Ted Sirkin and Past CLCA State President Rich Angelo catch up on the latest Green Industry happenings just before the seminar
portion of the evening begins.
STATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION and SFV Past President
Chuck Carr of Valley Crest (right) talks it up with Jaime Diaz. The informal atmosphere of the
BBQ lends itself to great networking.
SFV CLCA Valleyscape August 2012 3
Coming Events, Contact Numbers & More
Subject to Change – Check with Chapter Office First
Aug. 24 Wine Tasting, 6:30 p.m., Alfonso Castillo residence, Sylmar
Sept. 6 Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Golden Oak Office, Chatsworth
27 Chapter Golf Tournament, Angeles National Golf Club, Sunland
Oct. 4 Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Golden Oak Office, Chatsworth
25 Women’s Auxiliary Chinese Auction
Nov. 1 Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Golden Oak Office, Chatsworth
7–10 CLCA Annual Convention, Loew’s Coronado, San Diego
Dec. 6 Board Meeting, 6:30 p.m., Golden Oak Office, Chatsworth
? Chapter Holiday Party TBD
Board Meetings are held the 1st Thursday at Golden Oak Offices in Chatsworth; Dinner Meetings are the 4th Thursday of the month, unless otherwise noted.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Rene Emeterio
Specialized Landscape Management Service, Inc.
805-520-7590 805-520-7592 fax
VICE PRESIDENT PROGRAMS Alfonso Castillo, Jr.
Land Creations 818-833-7172
800-795-6110 fax [email protected]
VICE PRESIDENT MEMBERSHIP Dan Dvorak
LCIS 818-772-2121 310-480-7803
SECRETARY Tommy Endres SPJ Lighting
800-314-3756 818-735-0564
TREASURER Martin Schaefer
Automatic Sprinkler Controls 818-994-1159
818-519-5702 cell [email protected]
AMO REP Open
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Nelson Colvin Golden Oak Co-op Corporation
818-772-2262 818-772-2221 fax
David Junod Sheridan Landscape
818-768-6556 818-768-4648 fax
Gordon Larson Larson Landscaping
818-776-8197 [email protected]
Ted Sirkin Valvette Systems 818-887-1866
Mickey Strauss MSM Landscape Services, Inc.
818-402-4500 818-341-9236 fax
John W. Vorbeck John W. Vorbeck
Landscape Contractor 818-841-7779
818-652-2967 cell 818-848-9239 fax
PRESIDENT Steven Kinzler
S K Landscape Design, Inc. 818-345-0492
818-266-3828 cell [email protected]
SAN FERNANDO VALLEY CHAPTER Jan Veis, Executive Secretary
(818) 772-7233 Chapter fax (818) 772-2221
VALLEYSCAPE PUBLISHER John Hernandez (626) 965-5015
19055 Abdera St. Rowland Heights, CA 91748
[email protected] FAX (866) 591-5093
ASSOCIATE EDITOR/ART DIRECTOR Jerry Robin (626) 794-2674
STAFF WRITER Jared Hernandez (626) 965-5015
San Fernando Valley Chapter
2012 Board of Directors
SFV Chapter Wine Tasting Event Friday, August 24 in Sylmar
Last year’s outstanding Wine Tasting Event at the Kinzler residence was such a success that the Chapter has decided to
hold another, this time at the beautiful Sylmar home of Chapter VP Programs Alfonso Castillo and his lovely wife Lisbet. The event is slated for FRIDAY, August 24, and will get started at 6:30 p.m.
This special wine tasting and food get together is open to all San Fernando Valley Chapter members and friends. Attendees are asked to bring an appetizer and their favorite bottle of wine to this FREE event. Come hungry…there will be plenty of delicious food to go around!
RSVPs are a must by calling Jan at the Chapter Office (818) 772-7233 by August 21. Jan will give you all the details then.
Our SFV Wine Tasting Event is an informal gathering where you can really “make friends with and get to know” folks who you may have previously only interacted with in a business setting. Well, no business here…just a lot of fun and SFV camaraderie. Don’t miss it – we’ll see you there.
4 August 2012 SFV CLCA Valleyscape
There’s More to Life Than Business
My articles are usually about motiva-tion, self and business improve-
ment, and about taking advantage of the networking and educational opportuni-ties our CLCA membership provides. Although I am passionate about these issues, this month’s article is about something quite different and a little more personal…making sure your priori-ties are straight.
It’s easy to get caught up running and improving the business…sometimes to the detriment of family and friends time. This point was painfully driven home in late July, with the announcement of the passing of a very dear friend and highly respected member of the entire Green Industry…Gary Vallen. Gary left us much too early, and I wish I had spent more time with him while he was still with us.
I always looked up to Gary. He was a man of great inner strength and conviction, who was not afraid to show his emotions about issues and people. When Gary and I would see each other, it wasn’t just a handshake I got from him, but a big hug as well. This kind and gentle man was that way with many in our industry. Gary and his big bear hugs will truly be missed, and will live on in the memory of all of us who knew him.
We can’t go back and spend more time with those who have passed on, but we can do so with our dear ones who are still with us. Regularly tell your family members how much you love them…don’t assume that they know. Let your friends, employees and clients know how much you appreciate them. And like Gary, begin practicing random acts of kindness. This world could sure use more of it. – Steven
President’s Message
STEVEN KINZLER SFV President
SK Landscape Design, Inc.
Jerry RobinCertified Molecular Hydration Specialist
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Green Industry Veteran Gary Vallen Passes Away
CLCA and the entire Green Industry remains shocked and saddened by the passing of Gary
Vallen, a pillar in our industry and a friend to all who knew him. Gary died of a massive heart attack on Tuesday, July 24. He will be greatly missed.
Because of his 46-year involvement and leadership in many facets of the Green Industry – from nursery and sod sales to landscape contracting – Gary was honored last year with induction into the Green Industry Hall of Fame. His other awards include several from CLCA, such as the Allegiance Award (2010), and Associate Member of the Year (2005).
Having held State CLCA and local offices, Gary most recently served as Chairman of the Landscape Industry Show (2005 – Present).
Although Gary will be remembered by some for his professional and institutional accomplishments, it’s his beaming smile, love of life and gravelly voice that his
friends will miss most. Always ready to offer a helping hand, often before he was even asked, Gary’s vast network of industry contacts made him a go-to infor-mational person for anything green.
Speaking of green… Gary was recently referred to as The Green Kahuna by some of his friends, a term that merged two of his great loves…landscaping and surfing. May he ride that big wave to paradise.
To honor the memory of their dear friend, the San Fernando Valley Chapter is dedicating the net proceeds from its 14th Annual Golf Tournament on September 27 to the establishment of a Gary Vallen Memorial Scholarship Fund.
A Memorial Service will be held for Gary on September 8 at 2 p.m. at the Carpinteria Women’s Club. Our prayers go out to Gary’s children, Eric, Clayton and Erika, and to so many others who loved him dearly. – JRH
GARY VALLEN at his 2011 Green Industry Hall of
Fame induction.
RICHARD BARTOLOS ANGELES / VENTURA TERRITORY MANAGER
1589 N. MAIN STREET, ORANGE, CA 92867800-542-0209 / 714-279-3171 / CELL: 714-920-4389 / FAX 714-279-3199
www.villagenurseries.com / [email protected]
R O O T E D I N Q U A L I T Y
SFV CLCA Valleyscape August 2012 5
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A Refresher Course on Life
Reading and picking up on salient ideas and concepts is one of my favorite things to do. Whether the subject is business and
horticulture concerns, or new metaphysical thoughts, my reading often acts as a refresher course with information that I have had before, but may have not used for quite a while. I have found through my studies and observations that all of our tomorrows are created by our “now thoughts.” Yesterday’s thinking is just that…yesterday’s!
There seems to be a presence in each of us that urges us forward to experience new visions and dreams that makes us rise up with a passion inside that demands expres-sion. This inner energy and creative vision empowers us to create all of our tomorrows.
It seems to me by observing our members, that they are drawn to this realization by their focus and revelation. Just read President Steven’s monthly message…always with an emphasis on the possible steps to take towards professionalism, integrity and focus. And, his enthusiasm is infectious! He has known that the Creator within is everywhere, present at all times, and within everyone and everything. He is receptive to the realities of life.
July’s meeting with Nancy Bergquist and her terrific team at Green Thumb Growing Grounds was outstanding once again. She is a very generous lady and an asset to our landscaping
industry. Our Keynote Speaker for the evening, Nicholas Staddon (a Monrovia craftsman), was very enthusiastic about showing and demonstrating his passion for the new plants becoming available at Monrovia. Now, there’s a fellow who really enjoys his work. This was a very good seminar!
One of the most difficult things a person has to deal with in life is when a good friend makes his transition. Unexpected, it comes as a shock that makes your knees weak and your heart to beat harder. Gary Vallen was the consummate gentleman; a man filled with enthusiasm and friendliness, as well as love for our industry and its people. It might not be politically correct to say, but Gary was “a man’s man” who was always kind and loving to the ladies. Darn it…I am really going to miss him. I feel blessed and honored at having known him these many years. This
shows how finite life is.
August is special. This is the month Maria and I will be on vacation in Catalina with our family. It will be tough I know…what with R&R, swimming, Long Island ice teas and the wild thing. Oh, boy…life is good! – Dave
Just Takin’ a Moment
DAVID JUNOD Director
Sheridan Landscaping, Inc.There seems to be a presence
in each of us that urges us forward to experience new visions and dreams that makes us rise up with a passion inside that demands expression.
[email protected]/GreenThumbGGwww.gtgrowinggrounds.com
6 August 2012 SFV CLCA Valleyscape
It’s the Law!Continuing Education
800-347-4272www.JohnDeereLandscapes.com
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Please contact your local branch to learn more about these opportunities. We are eager to help you with as many of your business challenges as possible!
Continued on Page 12
Keeping Up With Plant I.D.• Basic Irrigation Classes Also Forming
We’ve talked before about building upon what is working in your business by
adding related activities and product or service lines that can broaden your market. Well, we have recently developed a new line of business that is actually helping our regular customers, while attracting new ones: EDUCATION.
Once we expanded our irrigation supply operation to include nurseries, it became evident that many landscapers and gardeners are in dire need of help when it comes to certain elements of the profession, such as plant identification. Thousands of dollars are lost each year by landscapers and gardeners because they thought one plant was another, planted some in the wrong spot, or cared for them improperly because they really did not know what plants they were working with. There are also problems not knowing which plants are kid and pet friendly, and which are not.
Not staying abreast of your plant identification – especially with the most commonly used plants in your area – will not only lead to loss of money, but loss of credibility with your clients…and ultimately, loss of clients themselves.
So, we have begun a series of plant identification classes at our Landscape Warehouse Nursery in Duarte. The classes – six in all in the Plant I.D. module – are being held on consecutive
Wednesday nights; in English with some translation in Spanish. Other modules will include classes on irrigation, trees, safety, plan reading, and turf management. These classes are being taught by experienced Green Industry professionals, including Past CLCA State President and one of the founders of the Certified Landscape Technician (CLT) program, Charles Nunley.
Our current Plant I.D. module is in its final sessions, but I mention it here to let you know that it will be coming around again, along with the other valuable educational modules. Our next classes cover all facets of Irrigation, and will be taught in six two-hour sessions – on consecutive Tuesdays and Wednesdays, October 2, 3, 9, 10, 16, and 17 beginning at 6 p.m. at Landscape Warehouse Nursery in Duarte.
It is our belief that all landscapers, gardeners and maintenance personnel can attain a higher level of professionalism through comprehensive education and training by experienced Green Industry professionals. We are in the process of meeting that need.
Whether you’re in our area or not, get plugged into a sound educational program near you to help take you and your business to the next professional level. You’re never too old or too smart to learn something new…especially when it will set you apart from your competition. If you want to learn more about our educational programs, call (626) 792-3319 and ask for Brenda. – Jose
JOSE ROBLESOwner
Landscape Warehouse
SFV CLCA Valleyscape August 2012 7
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SFV Golf Tourney Sept. 27 at Angeles National in Sunland• Join Pro Golfers from Golf Channel’s Big Break TV Show on the Course
• Gary Vallen Memorial Scholarship Fund to be Established
The only thing resembling last year’s SFV Chapter Memorial Golf Tournament on
Thursday, September 27, is its location – Angeles National Golf Club in Sunland. Big changes will be instituted in SFV’s 14th Annual Golf Classic, including participation by professional golfers who have appeared on the Golf Channel’s Big Break TV show. Net proceeds from the tournament will go toward the establish-ment of a Gary Vallen Memorial Scholarship Fund.
Also new this year will be a number of pre-shotgun activities hosted by the golf celebrities. They will also manage several on-course games to enhance your golfing experience. We’re not done yet…there will also be several big-ticket prizes, including an exciting mini-vacation getaway. And last but not least, the event will also feature a $10,000 hole-in-one prize!
Registration begins at 9 a.m., with shotgun start at 11 a.m. (Modified Scramble). Following the golf day, Valley Crest Tree Company will again be hosting a delicious Southwest BBQ Dinner at their Specimen Nursery located directly across the street
from the golf course. Tournament cost is $135 per person and includes green fee, cart, lunch, range balls, and dinner.
Angeles National Golf Club is located at 9401 Foothill Blvd., Sunland, CA 91040. For more information, please call the Chapter Office at (818) 772-7233, or Dan Dvorak at
(310) 480-7803. Registration is limited, so please respond by Sept. 10, 2012. A Registration Form is included in this issue.
There are still some sponsorship opportunities available, including Corporate Sponsor ($1,000), and Tee Sponsor ($125). New this year are On Course Sponsorships ($250 per location), where a vendor can have a table and representatives presenting the company’s products or services. Call for details.
Tell all your friends about this fantastic tournament, including members from other chapters. They are all welcome. This event will really be unique, and is a fitting tribute to Gary Vallen, who was a friend to us all.
NO, THEY WON’T ALL be there… but some will!
8 August 2012 SFV CLCA Valleyscape
Good, Better, Best…The Quest for Mastery By Phil Lundy, Head Coach, Organic Consulting
In the mid 1970s an idealistic college student decided to sign his name differently; it
changed the world. This quiet, unassuming youth went on to earn degrees in Biology and Greek, serve several years as a minister, marry three times, father five children and make millions for his preeminent landscape contracting companies.
I know what you are thinking. You read that list a second time and thought, huh? That’s it? That’s all there is?? You probably want to know which gadget he invented or what major corpora-tion he led; or perhaps he was the first to propose a radical medical procedure or business theory? None of the above, at least not yet.
This signature change wasn’t reported by or Fox News or local TV. No one noticed, no one cared. After all, how much more insignificant could something be? Life doesn’t rotate around such trivial matters as the way someone signs their name. Wrong.
In fact, life almost always turns on tiny, apparently meaningless details like that, decisions that are invisible to everyone but the person involved. When these little items are stacked up, lined up, focused, aligned and applied, they are the stuff of greatness. Hundreds, thousands of small incremental steps toward an all-consuming target: this is where mastery begins.
From afar, we see Lady Gaga, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, et al as they seem to appear in a flash – sudden superstars with more money, fame and fans than anyone should ever attain. The really good ones, the masters like Madonna and Pavarotti, continue to excel at their craft for decades. Closer examination reveals a similar pattern: years of practice, numerous failures, unflagging determi-nation and a myriad of tiny moments of vital importance when a wrong move or wavering commitment would have ended it all.
Current scholarship places the benchmark for mastery at 10,000 hours. That is the entry point. The 10,000 hours entail focused effort and rigorous practice not time spent wishing and hoping! That total represents 4 hours per day, 7 days per week for almost 7 years – and that is merely to enter the mastery threshold. Pick the discipline, whether it is music, sports, science, theater, litera-ture, or business, every master has devoted a major part of their lives to the demands of such excellence. Each of those lives has been a composite of tiny, seemingly insignificant moments of truth along the way.
Of course, there are also big decisions. There is skill and talent involved. There is often the “big break” that happens; the special connection or unique circumstances involved that jolt the process forward. But make no mistake, the lucky breaks (or providence if you see things that way) that help launch a master into the spotlight only serve to ignite the stored fuel of years of diligence.
What about child prodigies, you ask? What about those kids who (we now see on YouTube) perform wondrous feats of all kinds? There’s always Mozart, the penultimate wonder child who famously composed and performed elaborate piano concertos before he was 10 years old.
In our scientific world, massive volumes of research have been conducted to try to understand this phenomenon of ambition and early achievement. The consensus is, even though these precocious individuals have a lot of innate talent, their spectacular success is primarily due to spending many hours honing their crafts and improving gradually over time. Usually there is something very early in these peoples’ lives that they are praised for by teachers or parents and provides stimulus to attain more. Mastery is made, not born.
Ok, so what does this all have to do with you and me? After all, we are the 99%, the ones left out when the big talents were distributed. We’re the ones the system left behind; there’s no way for us to accomplish mastery. We are stuck in our backyards, wading in pools of mediocrity.
You are correct, sort of. Perhaps we cannot become an Einstein, a Tiger Woods, a Michael Phelps or Lady Gaga. Maybe we don’t have the time or talent to develop into the next Meryl Streep or Bill Gates or the resources to build another Apple. Hey! Instead of focusing on what we can’t do and what we won’t be able to achieve, let’s try looking at what we do have.
It’s the Law!Business Sense
Continued on Page 14
PHIL LUNDYOrganic Consulting
SFV CLCA Valleyscape August 2012 9
Polymer-Injecting Process Cuts Water Use in Turf• SJV’s Tom De Lany Launches Aqua Cents
The issue of water conservation is not
only prominent in California, but is fast becoming a big deal in municipalities all across the country. San Joaquin Valley Chapter CLCA member Tom De Lany, co-owner of Fresno-based All Commercial Landscape Service Inc. (ACLS), has developed a new service that addresses the issue in a unique way. He recently launched Aqua Cents, a service that uses a polymer-injecting process to dramatically reduce water use in existing lawns.
De Lany came up with the idea for Aqua Cents in summer 2010. “While doing installations for a developer, we were trying out this product called Stockosorb, a cross-linked polymer granule capable of retaining up to 400 times its weight in water,” De Lany tells. “We used a belly-grind fertilizer spreader to apply the sponge-like granules, hand raked them into the soil, and then applied the sod on top.”
These newly installed lawns required about 50% less water, according to De Lany, but were also knitting much better than lawns where the polymer granules weren’t utilized. “The benefits were clear,” De Lany says.
The only problem was that, due to economic conditions, ACLS was not installing many new lawns in 2010-2011. Thus, De Lany wanted to figure out a way to utilize these water-absorbing polymers in existing lawns. That would mean finding a way to inject them deep into the soil below the plant roots.
Polymer-Injecting Process is the Key“I had one of those middle-of-the-night ideas,” De Lany relates.
He contacted Andros Engineering, a well-known manufacturer of harvesting and irriga-tion equipment for the ag industry, based in Paso Robles, CA. “The first thing we came up with was basically a pressure washer with a single probe,” De Lany says. The probe had four orifices on the tip. “You cranked your foot on the machine’s pedal to manually inject the granules into the ground. We used this for field tests at Fresno State. Results showed
38% water savings. So we knew we were onto something.”
De Lany and his co-inventors at Andros Engineering also knew they had to make improvements in the way of productivity. Now onto the fourth generation of the machine, they definitely have.
Water Conservation
Continued on Page 12
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10 August 2012 SFV CLCA Valleyscape
It’s the Law!State CLCA News
Last CLT Test Set for October 5–6 in Petaluma• Deadline to Register is August 31
• Benefits of Certification Told
CLCA is announcing its last CLT Test dates for the year. The upcoming Landscape Industry Certified Technician written and
hands-on test dates for the rest of 2012 in the Petaluma area on Friday and Saturday, October 5-6 at Buckeye Ranch, 2425 Old Adobe Road, Petaluma, CA.
This test will be the last opportunity for landscape contractors to complete the hands-on and written test to become certified in 2012 in California. The deadline to register for the October test is August 31, 2012.
Landscape Industry Certified is an international designation of excellence for those who have taken their experience to the next level by studying, testing and passing requirements to become certified. Individuals who have become Landscape Industry Certified have proven they have the skills and experience needed to meet minimum job requirements and set themselves apart in the landscape industry. Landscape Industry Certified shows a commit-
ment to best practices by both the landscape contractor and the company that hires him/her.
Certification applicants must pass both written exams and hands-on tests in order to become certified. For the hands-on test, the applicant rotates through timed hands-on problems, which are supervised by one or more judges. To pass the hands-on test, applicants are required to install or maintain sample landscape projects, which must meet required quality and safety standards. Also, after becoming certified, contractors are required to maintain certification by completing 24 continuing education units every two years.
There are a number of benefits for both the individual to become certified and for an employer to hire certified individuals. Certification creates career advancement opportunities, increases industry professionalism, and confirms an individual’s professional skills. It also benefits the employer by allowing companies to meet city and municipal mandates. Certification is a requirement for some employers and for some public works projects in California.
According to Dave Iribarne, Water Conservation Coordinator for the City of Petaluma and Landscape Industry Certified Technician, “Certification is a confirmation that a contractor has the skills to do the job. Hiring a company with certified contrac-tors on our job, means our jobsite is going to be safer and our contractor will have the knowledge and skills to do a quality job. Certification is also a sign the company cares about its employees and the quality of the work it provides. For many of our industry RFPs and bids, Landscape Industry Certified is a requirement.”
The Landscape Industry Certified Technician program is conducted through PLANET and the hands-on exams are admin-istered by state/regional/provincial association licensees and are offered once or twice a year. PLANET, the Professional Landcare Network, is an international association serving lawn care profes-sionals, exterior maintenance contractors, installation/design/build professionals, and interiorscapers.
The California Landscape Contractors Association is helping to provide training and advancement opportunities for today’s Green Industry workforce including ongoing CEU workshops and webinars, CLCA’s Water Management Certification program and multiple training sessions at CLCA’s Landscape Industry Show (LIS). The next LIS show takes place February 13–14, 2013 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Landscape Industry Certification tests are given in both northern and southern California and additional certification training opportunities are given regularly throughout the state.
For more information about a test, training or a site tour, please contact Stephanie King at (916) 830-2780. For essential skills training opportunities, please contact Barbara Landrith, CLCA Outreach Specialist California, also at CLCA HQ (916) 830-2780.
2012 CLCA State Board of DirectorsPRESIDENT – Eric Watanabe (818) 993-0200
Signature Pools and Landscape, [email protected]
PRESIDENT-ELECT – Frank Niccoli cwm (650) 592-9440 The Village Gardener, Inc., [email protected]
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT – Robert Wade clp, clia (949) 494-2130 Wade Landscape, [email protected]
SECRETARY-TREASURER – Ted Sandrowski (530) 345-6101 Sandrowski Landscaping, Inc., [email protected]
DIR. OF CHAPTER SERVICES/EVENTS – Shari Collins (805) 517-1971 Gardens 4 the Soul, [email protected]
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS – Chuck Carr (805) 732-3705 ValleyCrest Landscape Maintenance, [email protected]
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION – Steve Jacobs clt, cwm, clp (760) 945-4321 Nature Designs Landscaping, [email protected]
DIRECTOR OF LEGISLATION – Pete Dufau clt (805) 642-1239 Dufau Landscape, Inc., [email protected]
DIRECTOR OF MEMBERSHIP – Javier Lesaca (661) 836-0229 Lesaca Landscape Co., [email protected]
DIR. OF RESOURCE MGMT. – Tom Noonan, cid, clia (916) 812-5034 Ewing Irrigation Products, [email protected]
ASSOCIATE MEMBER DIR. – Rick Zinn (925) 864-1088 Horizon, [email protected]
CO-DIRECTOR OF CHAPTER PRESIDENTS COUNCIL (North)Aaron Huxley (408) 824-011
Hunter Industries/FX Luminaire, [email protected]
CO-DIRECTOR OF CHAPTER PRESIDENTS COUNCIL (South)Rene Emeterio clt, cwm, clia (805) 823-5603
Specialized Landcape Management Service, [email protected]
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – Sharon McGuire (916) 830-2780 [email protected]
SFV CLCA Valleyscape August 2012 11
An Ounce of Prevention…
Well-Conditioned Backs Can Prevent Injuries Submitted by Nelson Colvin for Landscape Contractors Insurance Services
Exercise is an important part of back safety. Even moderate amounts of exercise can help prevent painful back injuries at the
workplace and at home.
When you think about back safety, think about back conditioning. Back conditioning is easy to do and will help to strengthen employees’ backs as well as improve flexibility. Strength and flex-ibility are key elements to preventing back injuries on and off the job.
Back conditioning does not have to be complicated or expensive. By doing a few simple things, employees can improve the overall health of their backs and associated muscle groups. Here are some key elements of a well conditioned back:
• Physical Conditioning. Physical conditioning of the back means not only improving the health of back muscles but also related muscles such as the ones in the stomach and thighs. Regular exercise should help keep the back strong, maintain your flexibility, and prevent strains and sprains.
• Flexibility. Staying flexible and limber is also important. A back exercise program should emphasize flexibility so workers can bend, turn and twist their backs without injury.
• Healthy Weight. Carrying extra weight, especially in the belly, puts a lot of extra strain on back muscles and is a frequently cited cause of back stress and pain.
While employees can certainly join a fitness club to get their exercise, they don’t have to. Some of the very best exercises for the back can be done in just a few minutes a day without any special equipment or expense. Among the best exercises workers can do to help improve the overall health of their backs and spines are the following:
• Walking. A program of walking for 30 minutes a day will help strengthen muscles and prevent weight gain. Those new to walking as an exercise should start out slowly and work their way up. Remind workers not to try to do too much too soon with any new exercise program.
• Stretching and Bending. A daily program of stretching exercises will help improve flexibility and keep the back in good condition. Stretching exercises might include bending backwards or sideways, rotating the hips, or twisting gently from side to side.
• Sit-Ups. Sit-ups help strengthen stomach muscles, which in turn help support the back.
• Leg Lifts. Leg lifts help strengthen the muscles in hips and buttocks. Leg lifts can be done while standing or while lying on the floor.
• Squats. Squats strengthen the back, stomach, and leg muscles, and also help practice good lifting techniques.
WWW.NETAFIMUSA.COM
BUIldINg My rEpUTATION WITh NETAFIM“With water rates rising, clients are looking for new solutions. We recently converted ¼ acre of turf from overhead sprinklers to Netafim dripline. The client saw nearly 40% savings in water costs per month. We’re installing Netafim in lawns, landscapes and large commercial sites. It’s the fastest-growing segment of our business.”
Expand Your Business With Netafim: Reliable, Water Efficient, Easy to Install
Wayne NolanNolan plumbing and IrrigationJacksonville, Florida
Wayne Nolan, Contractor
CLCA_SanFernando.V.indd 1 6/20/12 9:24 AM
12 August 2012 SFV CLCA Valleyscape
Water Conservation
This latest machine is computer-driven, features four probes with eight orifices each, and injects at 3,000 pounds of pressure as compared to the first model’s 1,000. That leads to a consistent dispersion of polymer material roughly two to six inches below grade. “That’s important because you want to get an inch or more below the root zone in order to develop roots and get them down to the water bar,” he said.
How the Aqua Cents Machine WorksTom Klippenstein of Andros Engineering is one of the co-inven-tors of the Aqua Cents machine. He provides a quick rundown of how the machine works:
• The polymer granule/water slurry is stored in a large tank that stays with the transport vehicle.
• A “nurse” pump located at the tank pushes the polymer through a hose to the polymer-injector machine at low pressure.
• The polymer injector machine then pressurizes the slurry to extremely high pressure and sprays it out of probes below the turf laterally.
• The operator sets the injection depth and can run the machine manually or in automatic mode.
• The operator then selects spacing between injections and drive speed.
• A 20-hp engine powers the high-pressure polymer pump.• Drive system and probes are hydraulically powered.• Weight is similar to a commercial riding mower.
The first-generation Aqua Cents injector machine allowed a single operator to take care of an average-sized residential lawn in about a day. Today’s machine only takes about an hour.
Results have improved as well. “Trials are now showing water savings up to 60%, with the average being 40-50%,” De Lany says. “We’re looking at root systems that are three or four times more fibrous than they were nine months earlier.”
For now, ACLS Inc. will continue offering Aqua Cents as a service to its own customer base. But De Lany sees it as a service just about any landscape contractor could offer – especially those with customers who are concerned about rapidly climbing water rates.
According to De Lany, closing sales comes down to explaining the numbers. “For the average homeowner, it’s a 5:1 ROI over a five-year period,” De Lany says. “One injection costs $1,000 and lasts about five years – but you could end up saving $5,000 on your water bills during that time.”
• Approval in as little as 24 hours
• Fast turn around – no waiting for loan committee approvals
• Over 90% of Applications Approved
• Competitive Interest Rates
• Your personal credit score will determine your rate
• We finance new and used equipment
• Loan refinancing available
• No prepayment penalties
• Flexible acceptance policy
• On equipment with a long lifespan, we can carry your loan for five or six years
For more information call Nelson Colvin at 800-959-3701
or visit our website birchfinancial.net and download the credit check authorization and application.
www.westcoastturf.com888/893-8873
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ask us about kikuyu and st. augustine, too!
Polymer-Injecting Process Cuts Water Use in Turf, continued from page 9
SFV CLCA Valleyscape August 2012 13
Call Our Advertisers First!
19055 Abdera Street / Rowland Heights, CA 91748tel 626.965.5015 / cell 626.715.1757 / fax 866.591.5093
JOHN R. HERNANDEZPublisher / CEO
14 August 2012 SFV CLCA Valleyscape
Call Our Advertisers First!A-G Sod Farms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Automatic Sprinkler Controls, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Best/Simplot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Birch Equipment Finance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12Coastline Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Back CoverDIG Irrigation Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9El Dorado Communications, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Ewing Irrigation Products . . . . . . . . . . . . 9, Inside Back CoverGreen Thumb Super Garden Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5Gro-Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5John Deere Landscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Kangen Water® . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Landscape Contractors Insurance Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Landscape Expo (Long Beach) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . InsertNetafim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11RainBird . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Smith Pipe & Supply, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Southland Sod . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14Southwest Boulder & Stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8Village Nurseries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4Vista Professional Outdoor Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8West Coast Turf . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
2012 ADVERTISING RATESAd Agencies: These Rates Are NET and PRORATED for the calendar year.
Ad Size Yearly (12x) Business Card $425 1/4 Page black & white $1,0751/4 Page full color $1,345 1/3 Page black & white $1,500 1/3 Page full color $1,850 1/2 Page black & white $1,800 1/2 Page full color $2,200 Full Page (inside black & white) $3,400 Full Page (inside full color) $4,000 Full Page (back cover full color) $4,500 81⁄2 x11 Insert 1 mo. $325 $3,250(single or double sided, advertiser provided) 2 months free!
11x17 Insert 1 mo. $425 $4,250 (folded, advertiser provided) 2 months free!
NO LOCAL EMPLOYMENT ADS Ad Dimensions – Width x Height
Business Card 3 5/8” x 2”1/4 Page 3 5/8” x 4 5/8”1/3 Pg. vert. 3 5/8” x 6 5/8”1/2 Pg. horiz. 7 1/2” x 4 5/8”
1/2 Pg. vert. 3 5/8” x 9 1/2”Full Page 8 1/2” x 11” + 1/8” bleed all around
Advertiser Index
Each of us has things we enjoy, things we are good at, hobbies that are fun and please us. Each of us has talents and strengths – some obvious, some subtle. Some of these abilities might include profit motives; others might cost money with no chance of financial return. As you are reading this, ideas are popping into your mind; write them down, ponder them and ultimately pick one to master. Choose one you really enjoy and want to improve; maybe your choice is something you already do quite well.
I know what you’re thinking, I had the same thoughts: I can’t really do that; the hill is too steep; the effort too great; the gap is too large; I don’t have the time or money or resources. Let me take you back to that young college kid who changed the world with his signature. The power of that change was not in the cheesy little arrow loop he added to finish his name; the power was in the three word phrase he attached to it: “Onward and upward!”
Be Your Best…and join me in changing the world, one tiny, little step at a time.
Phil Lundy has been involved in the Green Industry as a profes-sional and leader most of his life, operating a nursery in Oregon and managing wildly successful branch and region operations for TruGreen LandCare. He is a SFBA/E CLCA member, and as Head Coach of Organic Consulting, works with owners and executives to enhance their company performance and leadership development. To contact him: [email protected] or visit the website: www.organic-consulting.com.
Good…Better…Best, from page 8
SFV CLCA Valleyscape August 2012 15
FIND US: TALK TO US: www.ewing1.com 800.343.9464
THE REAL DEAL.We’re more than a product source, we’re your business resource.Customers not only get a wide variety of top product choices in irrigation, hardscape, water features, lighting, landscape and turf, but also have access to business and credit resources, education services, product training, online ordering and more. Stop by your local branch or go online to see how we can help grow your business and provide more value for your buck.
IRRIGATION | TURF PRODUCTS | LANDSCAPE LIGHTING | EROSION CONTROL | WATER FEATURES | HARDSCAPE
Check out our partner program and take advantage of money-saving offers!
FIND US: TALK TO US: www.ewing1.com 800.343.9464
THE REAL DEAL.We’re more than a product source, we’re your business resource.Customers not only get a wide variety of top product choices in irrigation, hardscape, water features, lighting, landscape and turf, but also have access to business and credit resources, education services, product training, online ordering and more. Stop by your local branch or go online to see how we can help grow your business and provide more value for your buck.
IRRIGATION | TURF PRODUCTS | LANDSCAPE LIGHTING | EROSION CONTROL | WATER FEATURES | HARDSCAPE
Check out our partner program and take advantage of money-saving offers!
CELEBRATING 90 YEARS OF PARTNERSHIPS
Ewing Irrigation3441 E. Harbour Dr.Phoenix, Arizona 85034
August 2012
Dear Valued Customer,
We’ve known each other for quite some time now, 90 years to be exact. We’ve both had our ups and downs, but we’ve managed to stick together through it all. Our relationship has grown over the years and we really just wanted to say Thank You, and, well...we love you!
We love how you walk in the door in the morning, grab a cup of coffee, and know full well your order is being taken care of while you wait. We love the fact you order online when you are too busy to stop by for a handful of peanuts. We appreciate that you bring your friends and family in to meet and share in our relationship (bbq or otherwise). It’s proof you still trust us to help build and support your business. Believe it or not, we even look forward to tidying up every night.
Without this relationship, Ewing would be nothing. We hope you feel the same about us.
See you soon real soon.Sincerely,
PS. It’s our 90th anniversary this year. Thank you!!
www.ewing1.com
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Good…Better…Best, from page 8
