[Hamons]

This forum is by far the strongest in its membership compared to all other green forums. It has enough strong members to keep things moving and has history of intelligent professional discussions. This seems to have some repelling forces to those who are either just looking for freebies and handouts or are looking to cause trouble.

I was wondering though how many turf guys are really here. Looking back through the archives there are a handful of turf guys:

GLAN, JWHolden, NC Lawnscapes,,P-Traina nd a few others.

I think if we actively recruited a few from other sites then we could beef up that part of this site and make good even better -- what do you think?

[Nebraska]

Turf is a good portion of our business too... What kind of a screening process do you suggest ?

[Hamons]

I htink looking atheir history and reputation on other boards is all we need.

Sorry I should not have left you of the list -- I guess that the inherent tdanger with listing peopel -- someone gets left off.

Would making a list of people we wanted to recriut be too tacky? Then if no one spoke up then they were someone to pursue?

[Hamons]

Obviously typing should not be a disqualifying factor -- the above post by me is atrocious!

[Green4Me]

what exactly do you mean by turf guys, installation, maintenance both?

I too am interested in this discussion.

[Hamons]

Turf guy is everyone involved with complete care turf. -- not *just* mowing it.

[Mac]

why not leave that portion of the "market" to the other boards. this site is really something special and there is no reason to change what they have. this site diferentiated itself and it will reap the rewards without trying to skim their market.

[Stonehenge]

Hamons - First, I'd like to thank you for the note. There are some truly amazing folks here, without a doubt.

I'd love to see this section of the site get more traffic, and like you, I'd want the growth to continue in our tradition of extremely smart, professional discussion.

I think recruiting would be wonderful, so long as that recruiting doesn't get us into trouble with any other websites out there. So I guess what I'm saying is, if you know a few people that you respect in your field, that you correspond with via email, or talk to on the phone or in person, invite them over here. I can set up a guest account for them to try out the site, and if they decide to stay, they can create their own account.

You might even try stand-outs in the field that you don't know. Maybe someone you've read about in Pro or some other publication. They might be flattered that you'd send them a note inviting them here.

I'm interested to see where this goes, and other ideas generated.

[GLAN]

I think I know what Hamons is intending.....


I have written something and deleted it 4x now........

[Nebraska]

I htink looking atheir history and reputation on other boards is all we need.

Aren't you a teacher? Good thing my wife and I homeschool Just messing with you!

Turf as most of us here will agree is an integral portion of the landscape that can not be ignored.

IMO what I noticed on the "other" boards is that guys come in completely 'green' and are sponging for information regarding the daily operation of mowing. Information that can be gained rather quickly but the sharpness of your mowing blade and the stripes your mower puts down do not really grow a business. A lot of what was left behind with the creation of this board was a ton of the "pettiness" and the irrelevant issues that have no bearing upon if your business is moving in a direction that can be considered successful. By no means am I implying that there are not successful business owners posting invaluable information at other places...I am merely saying what I think others have said in one way or another that over here the information provided and shared can be found without having to wade through a lot of irrelevant information. I'll say it a second time: There are a lot of individuals that are providing extremely valuable and relevant information at the other boards. There just seems to be more here.?

None of the actual work that our business's perform is rocket science. Although some of the landscape designs and work by the folks that post here sometimes is mind boggling!

The challenges that many of us here now face are challenges universal not just to lawn care or landscaping but universal to all businesses.

We're here looking for a sounding board to bounce around business percentages to somewhat gage where we are at as compared to others. We're here to vent our frustrations that seem all to common regardless of our location. We're here to find better and more efficient ways to run our endeavors.

In a way this board has evolved from purely a landscape industry forum or a lawn care forum into a business development forum covering a multitude of aspects relating to a successful operating business with the similarity being the green industry. The green industry and desire for profitable and efficient operations being the overwhelming "bonds" we all have.
The spectrum of experience within this industry from new horticulture graduates, retired landscape company owners, new business owners, 1 - 30+ year experience in the industry, landscape architects, designers, nursery owners, equipment suppliers, and more all in one place sharing their unique experiences from their unique vantage. Many times I've read and heard others say, "If only these tools were around 20 years ago...."

I say lets get some folks over here and get on with some serious talk regarding serious turf maintenance issues.

[strickdad]

I'm new to this site, and turf is probably our forte.. i came here to learn more about hardscapes etc.

[Stonehenge]

Well you've certainly come to the right place to learn about hardscapes - you won't find a collection of more accomplished hardscapers anywhere. Period.

Since maintenance is your strength, I would ask that as you gain knowledge about hardscaping from the site, you return some knowledge in the form of posts in this forum. Doing so will only make the whole site stronger and more valuable to everyone that visits, which in turn will come back to help you, as the site will continue to grow as a resource.

[GLAN]

Stone

That was very well said.....What you are describing what is here today at GTX.

For what you have said is why I am frequenting here more. After all the years I have been in this game....I come here, I am once again inspired and motivated......The 2 things that are so vital for me that I was lacking at other "mega" sites.

I may not do the scope of work that some of you do.........the big wall projects....pavers and such or many entire new home landscapes. I am proud of any of the work I do......

I come here to GTX I am in company of people that inspire me to think bigger, push a little more. And I am in the company of professionals that leave egos and nonsense at the door before entering.

I also sense that what I feel about being inspired and motivated is some how what drives this site among all of you. It is this feeling that I embrace and hope others do as well. Most certainly hope not to lose.

[scl]

Okay, devils advocate time.

I believe that Jeff does a good job of recruiting , he's just selective. I also believe that I've seen mentions to this site in several of the better turf periodicals, such as Turf, Pro, etc..

That said , the word is "selective" and thats the way that it seems to keep this forum on track. I, too, came from some of the other ones and got tired of wading through the umpteen posts about nothing to get to something of relevance. Not so here, as It gets read every day, and probably checked at least twice. I like the experience and small community feel of this site, and could see where bringing in some more could help, but lets not get carried away. Don't want to sound elitest, but oh well!

As far as turf goes, I think ther's alot of experience and turf guys here, but what most of us do seems to leave that in the dust a little, not meaning its not the largest segment of our industry, just the one many of us have went beyond. Personally, my company doesn't mow, not yet anyway, and we have looked at it to expand our cust. base, it just hasn't pencilled out yet. We do lawn trearments and are licensed for such, trim bushes for current customers and do many many lawn installs every year. I would consider myself a 'turf guy' as I believe many of my cust. do. That said, there's still about a library of congress amount of info I'd like to know, and welcome folks with that info along. But,I still pay my bills and hang my hat on hardscapes.

[Hamons]

I agree -- what I am talking about is selectively talking to other people. What brought this up is when talking to a very active member on another board -- he didn't even know this site existed.

I see this board similar to a good bag of seed. There may be several different varieties all thrown together BUT their is very little "other crop" or "noxious weeds" included.

We would not be taking away business from any of the other sites. They have their niche and this site has its. I just want to include more turf talk within the boundaries of this "niche.

Iagree completely too with selective growth. I have seen other boards with avery short life span. They went from good to bad in a short amount of time.

Lets all try to invite two or three strong people, that we either know online or not, and make sure they know about this board. Lets get a few good Lawn Maintenence disussions started. I've got several people in mind that I wuill contact tonight.