"GREEN" Profit Margins...?

[emil35]

Hello all,

Currently I own a small lawncare business, but I'd like to go "Green" with it and offer only organic services that would be good for the environment rather than hurting it. First off, any advice on services to offer and prices? Second, have many of you found a move like this to be more profitable? Thanks in advance!

[Neal Wolbert]

Probably a dumb question, but how were you hurting the environment before?
Neal

[emil35]

Oh not a dumb question...I was thinking of "Green" as more organic fertilizers vs. man made, and so forth...things like that.

[Neal Wolbert]

It would really be a good idea for you to learn as much as you can about "man made" fertilizers and their properties if you haven't already. If you are basing your decision to go "green" solely on the information of the critics of synthetic fertilizers you will get a scewed view of reality in my opinion and your business will be fear driven. If you learn about fertilizers in general and make your decision based on knowledge you will be able to communicate your decision to use organic products because of the benefits you discover, not the fear mongering so prevelant on the "green" side. Confidence comes from knowledge and experience and there is no short cut for either one.
Neal

[YardPro]

you can be a "green friendly" contractor just by becoming knowledgeable about the materials you are working with and using them in a responsible way.

without knowledge you can do as much or more dammage with "organic" products than synthetics.

If you want to become a truly "green friendly" company here's a list on how to start.

convert all equipment to propane fuel, use all 4 stroke weedeaters, etc....
either convert vehicles to propane, or buy hybrids. Another option for vehicles is to use compact trucks that are more efficent.... make sure all equipment is clean inspect for leaking fluids......( large source of polluiton)

Use Proper ammounts of nitrogen for the materials you are growing. Be extra careful on slopes. Use iron substitution for at least a few nitrogen applications....

make sure the micro nutrients and pH are in the correct parameters so you are not having to use excessive nitrogen as a baind aid for poor soil conditions.....


things like the ones above will go further to make you a "green" company than just using organic products...don't buy into the hysteria that some of the "organic" people are promoting.....

[emil35]

Thanks for all the advice. Would running diesel engines with biodiesel work too? I need the power of my bigger trucks, but I'm looking into moving out the older ones and getting smaller trucks for the more run around stuff. I'll be researching quite a bit over the winter. I just want to do something to help with the pollution issues and also help my business stand out. We have a business thats local that makes itself known for the organic stuff, and from their site they sure make alot! But they use mixes and blends of organic and synthetic as well. Also, I think I need to raise my prices. Anymore advice would be great! thanks

[Neal Wolbert]

I'm not a diesel guy, I like clean smells personally...especially when I'm parked at a customers home and in their environment. Relating to your service offerings, I would suggest you look for a wrinkle that would set you apart rather than copy what your successful competion is doing. You are the only one who knows your costs and margin of profit you need. Price yourself to make money...that's what you are working for really. Take a look at our programs at www.wolberts.com and notice what sets us apart. You should be able to pick several things out that are a bit unique.
Neal

[YardPro]

i like the biodiesel idea...
yes, diesel smells, but the exhuast is not deadly.

[Neal Wolbert]

Very good point! Are there any biological downsides to bio-diesel? Are there quality checks in place to prevent contaminents from being burned with the fuel and becoming airborne? I see folks advertising they use french fry oil and the like to fuel their old smoke belchers with. Does the particulate matter influence air quality? What happens to it when it reaches earth eventually? I'm pretty ignorant regarding the subject.

Neal

[Norm Al]

the spray side of the green industry is the most profitable return on investment as far as i am concerned.

just watch your numbers adjust your prices accordingly and have fun jumping off your stack of money! :O)

[YardPro]

neal,
check out this web sit about biodiesel

http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/biodiesel_basics/default.shtm

[Neal Wolbert]

Thanks for the link. How does bio-diesel compare in performance and cost to diesel? With limited availability now it might create a hardship and cost more in time to fill up. Do you know if there are any special restrictions on onsite storage in your area? Our city transit buses have been converted to bio-diesel, but I don't see it for sale anywhere here yet. What is your experience regarding the odor?
N

[cedarcroft]

Bio Diesel is better than regular diesel, in that it is reducing dependence on fossil fuels and is a form of recycling. that being said, most biodeisel is 80% regular diesel anyway. biodiesel doesn't mean you are burning french fry oil in your trucks. that can be done also, but it is a big process and costs alot to purify it to an acceptable level for serious use. any form of diesel fuel is gonna burn "dirty" because that is how the engines are designed. no spark means lots of compression needed, which means lots of excess fuel that is not burned which becomes exhaust. If you really want to burn clean and efficent fuel with low emmisions, you would have to go to CNG or propane. most municipalities have switched to that and it is much cleaner and quieter. alot of cars have CNG kits on them now for use as fleet vehicles etc. I know from one of my hobbies that it is not very difficult to convert a gas engine to propane. I will search for the link on propane conversion and post it here. a friend of a friend did it last year.

[timturf]

Just because it's an sythetic, or made made doesn't mean it's bad!!

Alot of the problem with most sythetics is in the application, and this can also be a problem with organic's.

Their are numerous sythetics which are very friendly to the evironment and soil microbes, just as friendly as organic's.

Remember, could the problem be with the program, not the material?

[Norm Al]

profits taste like organic chicken?