Going Green?

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Permalink Reply by Gary Roberts on November 19, 2008 at 1:41pm

I think Green can pay off for landscapers IF, and that is a big "if", IF they are willing to make a paradigm shift in their overall business, and even their personal life. To really have Green pay off, landscapers, in my opinion, have to LIVE Green in their entire business, as well as their personal life. This may be daunting for some, maybe many. But Green consumers are wary of Green Pretenders. The do not want Green Posers who are only trying to make a buck on something that is passionate to them, and not walking the walk themselves.
The Green landscaper will have to be knowledgable enough to know more than their Green client, and many Green clients are very kowledgable. The Green trend would not benefit landscaper's whose client base is commercial, as for that customer base... the bottom line is the bottom line, not the environment, as a general rule, not without exceptions.
This trend has come along before in names such as Xeriscape and Florida Yards and Neighbors and has faded. Our industry has promoted it both times and has sat on the sideline while the current Green movement's torch was picked up by others outside of our industry and promoted past previous levels. Because our industry was not as pro-active and involved as we could have been, premier programs, like LEEDS, does not have the significant landscape component it could and should for our industry to reap the benefits we could, while at the same time not "Posing", as we are the original GREEN people.
I prefer to compare any such Green movements to what I call Common Sense Landscape, or Horse Sense Landscape if you will, like our pioneIt costs more to be Green and customers must be more tolerant in things like total and immediate pest control that tradition organophosphates have given over the years. And in the current economy it may be a harder sell. I have not heard any movement towards "organic" growing of ornamental plants for the Green customer, but that may be coming soon too. er forefathers utilized prior to air conditioning, when one HAD to use common sense when selecting and building for survival sake. It was not a warm and fuzzy choice, but a nessesity.
Well as you can see you hit on a subject that has been passionate to me for many years. Remember, when I was the FNGLA president I was called the Environmental President due to my commitment to trying to make our industry be and represent being the best stewards of the environment as we can be. Changing the term Ornamental Horticulture to Environment Horticulture within our industry and the Land Grant education system was one of my proudest achievements, but many said that me and my concepts were ahead of the times. Maybe the time is now. I hope so, and I hope this reply was worth the time spent to read it.
Yours;
Gary Roberts

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Permalink Reply by Paul Rusnak on December 8, 2008 at 1:59pm

Your passion on the subject is quite evident from your response, Gary. There's got to be others out there that feel the same way.
I have to agree with you. The time is now for landscape professionals to take advantage of what the sustainability movement is offering other segments of the "green" industry.

Gary Roberts said:

I think Green can pay off for landscapers IF, and that is a big "if", IF they are willing to make a paradigm shift in their overall business, and even their personal life. To really have Green pay off, landscapers, in my opinion, have to LIVE Green in their entire business, as well as their personal life. This may be daunting for some, maybe many. But Green consumers are wary of Green Pretenders. The do not want Green Posers who are only trying to make a buck on something that is passionate to them, and not walking the walk themselves.
The Green landscaper will have to be knowledgable enough to know more than their Green client, and many Green clients are very kowledgable. The Green trend would not benefit landscaper's whose client base is commercial, as for that customer base... the bottom line is the bottom line, not the environment, as a general rule, not without exceptions.
This trend has come along before in names such as Xeriscape and Florida Yards and Neighbors and has faded. Our industry has promoted it both times and has sat on the sideline while the current Green movement's torch was picked up by others outside of our industry and promoted past previous levels. Because our industry was not as pro-active and involved as we could have been, premier programs, like LEEDS, does not have the significant landscape component it could and should for our industry to reap the benefits we could, while at the same time not "Posing", as we are the original GREEN people.
I prefer to compare any such Green movements to what I call Common Sense Landscape, or Horse Sense Landscape if you will, like our pioneIt costs more to be Green and customers must be more tolerant in things like total and immediate pest control that tradition organophosphates have given over the years. And in the current economy it may be a harder sell. I have not heard any movement towards "organic" growing of ornamental plants for the Green customer, but that may be coming soon too. er forefathers utilized prior to air conditioning, when one HAD to use common sense when selecting and building for survival sake. It was not a warm and fuzzy choice, but a nessesity.
Well as you can see you hit on a subject that has been passionate to me for many years. Remember, when I was the FNGLA president I was called the Environmental President due to my commitment to trying to make our industry be and represent being the best stewards of the environment as we can be. Changing the term Ornamental Horticulture to Environment Horticulture within our industry and the Land Grant education system was one of my proudest achievements, but many said that me and my concepts were ahead of the times. Maybe the time is now. I hope so, and I hope this reply was worth the time spent to read it.
Yours;
Gary Roberts

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Permalink Reply by BrawnyDawg on December 17, 2008 at 8:34pm

Awesom response! I hope others will continue to share. You are right that you have to adpt it while heartedly and know more than your potential clients. Last you we went all organic on our fertilizers using ESPOMA produsct and saw IMMDIATE results over petroleum based products. I also think that many don't embrace it because the "are no direction"! Too much researching!

I just complted a green remodel and addition to my residnce in Mississippi. It was tough getting product and contractors!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Tom Broome on March 8, 2009 at 8:51am

I don't know if I am making extra money directly, but I do know that the people I work for have less insects and their plants DO look better from going green and using organic materials that naturally kill insect pests. Now that they don't have to worry about pests like the Asian scale and mealy bugs on their cycads, they are now using more cycads for their gardens and that DOES make me more money. Also, in the nursery, I haven't had to use a pesticide (besides Talstar that is required for fire ant certification and sending plants to places like Texas, Arizona, and Hawaii) in 2 1/2 years. Not only am I helping my environment, but I have saved a lot of money on pesticides that I no longer have to spend money on. (now I can use that money to buy more cycads, because you never have too many cycads! Right?)

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