[Mac]

Jeff, is all uploaded data stored perpetually? With a wiki system, I would be concerned about someone with cruel intentions taking good content and replacing it with junk.

[Stonehenge]

The nice part about most wiki software is the ability to roll back any changes. Plus, there are ways (similar to the registration here) to prevent just anyone from posting/editing stuff.

I got the software loaded and the site is up, but I wouldn't call it running. http://www.groundtradeswiki.com

It's going to take me a little while to understand how this software works and to get it set in a way that will work for us. The level of complexity of this dwarfs that of the software GTX is run on, so I've got some learning to do.

[Stonehenge]

In fact, I believe I'm going to scrap the setup I just put up there, because the back-end interface is non-existent, and the way you accomplish various tasks using that software were not written by people concerned with usability.

So, while I'm finding a different software solution, let's get a conversation going about what general categories this project should contain. Fire away with the kinds of categories you think belong there.

[cutntrim]

I agree that the biggest stumbling block would be the sheer number/types of tasks/jobs to be covered, plus the issue of geography. McDonalds can be run using the same systems in Moscow, Russia as it could be in Moscow,Iowa but landscaping is done outdoors in different climates.

Category ideas?

Lawn Maintenance:

- Lawn Cutting & Trimming
- Spring & Fall Cleanups
- Fertilization, Weed & Insect Control
- Irrigation

Volumes of books have been written on just those tasks. Not to mention the differences between how they're done in Georgia compared to say, Ontario.

[uniscaper]

Stone,
I would certainly be willing to help out however I could. This concept is pretty exciting to me.

[Green4Me]

to get this ball rolling, here is a draft of my yard care instructions to be given to a new employee to communicate how I expect our customers to be taken care of. Comments would be welcome. Maybe this is useful to be included in the GTX database

here it is :
Yard Care How To

Our purpose in providing yard care services is to make our customers yards look beautiful.

We do this by providing the best of yard care in a timely manner that exceeds our customer’s expectations.

General Expectations

Come to work having had your breakfast and dressed in long pants and boots and bring gloves. Be ready to work, with wheels turning at 0730.
Our uniform is clean blue jeans, not ripped or torn and a company shirt or sweatshirt.
If you need to use the restroom, never, never ask the customer. We do no go into customers homes, we do not want access to customers homes, never accept keys or let the customer leave a door open for you. Stop at McDonalds or a gas station before your next stop as needed.

At the shop
Check oil and fuel in all equipment. Start up the engines and let them warm up before leaving, so when we get to the job site we pull the cord and the motors run.
Check chemical tanks and fill up as needed, Grab fertilizer, lime, casoron or iron as needed.
Load tools needed for the day. Check that tarp is in the truck.


At the customers house
Pull up to the house and get vehicle positioned for your exit, close to the driveway for equipment access and to provide clear access for the homeowner who may need to leave or arrive home.

Take a quick look around the yard to assess what is needed for each property. Look for trash, tree limbs, leaves or other things that need picking up before we work(toys, hoses, lawn chairs etc).
First edge the lawns to be mowed. Rake leaves out of beds towards lawns if needed.
Them mow, so mower can pickup trimmings
We usually cut around the perimeter of the lawn twice, then stripe the lawn carefully, usually heading the stripes toward the doorway. Try to not run in the same wheel tracks each time as it can cause ruts. Some lawns get striped in alternate directions each week.
Evaluate each lawn for problems such as water, fertilizer, broad leaf weeds, and make proper application of the proper chemical.
Finally blow off the walks and driveways, starting at the doorway and blow your way out. Be sure to blow off the back deck.

Close any gates as needed.

Back at the yard

Clean out the truck, back and front
Blow off the mowers and blow out the trailer and pickup bed.
Gas up all the equipment and get ready for the next day.
Fill out reports and time card, and turn in receipts.

[Cochran]

Here are some categories I can think of:

Hardscapes
Softscapes
Maintenance
*Each of these can be broken down into a myriad of categories. Maybe each category can have info concerning time frames, tools/equipment needed, labor, etc..

What about an areas for estimating....contracts....design requirements....plant quality....handling employees.....employee appearance.....equipment/tool maintenance/upkeep.....

These are a few I can think of, some of these will probably naturally fall into larger categories, but are issues I think everyone can benefit from.

Some items may need to be region specific, especially for time frames when work can be performed (for example it is 75 degrees here today, but the news says it's around 0 in New York....we're installing plant material....)

This is a really huge project! Should we think about the larger general categories first and then break them down into smaller categories, put folks in charge as Chairmen and then offer out positions on the "committees" so folks can choose the areas they feel most confident in?

[Stonehenge]

Yeah, this is a really big project. That’s why right now I don’t want to constrain the brainstorming of what areas belong or don’t belong – let’s just fire away with whatever ideas you have of what kinds of things would be helpful to have written procedures for.

I can think of some others: what to do when you’re in an accident, expectations for attendance (for employees) how to handle employees with poor attendance (for those in leadership positions).

I’m also going to try to shoot for a very loose hierarchy – if any of you have ever been frustrated by the slow progress of your local landscape association, this could be much slower. So the “leadership” will be kept pretty trim, and it will be up to those interested in adding content to edit and add to individual pages, just like it is at Wikipedia.

But the hope is once this thing is underway and a substantial portion is complete, if any landscaping company uses the procedures on that site, they can’t help but succeed.

[Fine Edge]

I can think of a few areas where conflicts may arise bgut with all the brainpower on this site, I know we can all reach acceptable agreements. For instance, we have been installing pavers in NC for 15 years and have had no call backs, no problems with settling but we definitely don't conform to ICPI standards. Our method works just as well if not better but it may only be a very localized region that we're lucky enough to be in.

And let's not forget a big one here: HIGHER STANDARDS!!!

I've read enough content on this site to know that many members here will not tolerate anything less that perfection and that's really the way it should be. For good reading on this matter, check out the magazine "Watershapes" and read some of David Tisherman or Brian Van Bower's articles. In fact, the whole magazine just reflects higher standards in the water projects industry.

[Stonehenge]

I think that's going to be one of the tricks - to be respectful of a few different and acceptable ways of doing things without making 27 versions of the "right way" to do a base prep.

[dan deutekom]

I am interested in this project. It would be a huge undertaking but it would be well worth it. My suggestion would be to have a few broad categories that can be broken into sub categories as content is added. I would start off with the broad categories of:

Hardscaping
Softscaping
Landscape Maintenance
Business Practices

I think everything will fit into one of these categories as a sub-heading and with the right software(?) it could automatically link to other articles that are related just like Wikipedia.

I have always felt that GTX has enough quality information on it to write a landscapers encyclopedia.

[Stonehenge]

Dan, you know who would be really good with this? He shares your name.

I bet he'd be interested to know this idea has had life breathed back into it.

[dan deutekom]

My thoughts exactly. Next time I see him I will let him know

[Prolawns]

Idea, To help with regional differences, what if we broke it out into individual zones or territories, like Northeast, Southeast Midwest, Northwest, Southwest. Then area specific data could be put into its writers territory. Universal items, safety, equipment procedures, general job descriptions/responsibilities, could make up the base. Territorial info could branch off as its contributed. Basically each territory would have its own version to contribute to and/or read, but the majority of the base material would be the same.
PS, I'm in too

[Cochran]

The regional thing is a good idea, but I always have a bit of a problem with that in that my area always seems to be cloudy between the southeast and southwest. I'm pretty much right in the middle and for the most part, info from either area really doesn't correlate with my part of that specific territory. Typically, it's either too far east if I'm "southeast" or too west if I'm labeled "southwest".

Maybe breaking the information down into Zones would be more beneficial?