Traverse City

[MILSINC]

anyone From T.c.?

[MILSINC]

Beuller? Anyone? I suppose we must be too far north here for most people to have an internet connection yet.. some day, maybe when the snow thaws, we can get more of that type of service.. I just heard that we might get cell phone towers here soon too. Well, I better get the sheep out of the barn and cleaned up- we might be "mowing" within the next couple of months.
I need spring.

[Tscape]

I grew up in Acme. That was years ago.

[Leisure Time Lawn Care]

I have a house in Frederic

[MILSINC]

I've done a bit of work in Acme.. Acme Turfcare. That job was veeery interesting, since the owner couldn't go a morning without a joint and a cocktail. I lasted a couple of weeks there before I realized that he couldn't afford me with all of his habits..

[MILSINC]

honestly, there must be other northerners out there looking at lawnsite for some ideas

[MILSINC]

The thunderstorms this evening are making the sheep restless.. at least there's a good chance that the snow will melt off and there will be some grass for them to start mowing.

[MILSINC]

in all honesty... i don't have any sheep.. I have mowers, the same as the rest of you.
Winter has really gotten to me and I am feeling quite restless for spring. Now it's upon us, and the residual craziness is still in effect. I might just start using this thread to talk to myself.
At least that way, I can track my sanity on a day to day basis and see how it improves as the season goes on.
sounds good to me. how about you? good.

[matt spinniken]

Hey, Im from Traverse.

My routes are from Suttons Bay to the north side of T.C.

Whats your companies name?

[Tscape]

I wish I could move back up there. Are there any fertilizer companies that thrive? What about snowplowing. What do subs make on an hourly basis?

[MILSINC]

Suttons bay to north t.c..... that's a nice route to work on! some huge homes in that stretch!
My business is Michigan Landscaping Systems, Inc.
I'm out of frankfort and mostly work benzie county, but I'll be popping in and out of traverse city and leelanau throughout the summer.

[MILSINC]

to turfscape:
there aren't many companies in the area that focus on chemicals.. truegreen does well, and a handful of copycats.. but the market for chemicals here is very good. I get away with charging some VERY high prices per bag, and i will continue to do so!
As far as plowing, I don't have much of a clue what guys are getting for that.. I don't plow in the winter, but there are a ton of guys doing it. The general consensus that I hear from them is that they are basically spinning money around, not making it during the winter.

[matt spinniken]

Have you guys started yet, Im hoping to start this week.

[MILSINC]

i'll be starting toward the end of this week. yesterday i prepped all the equipment and did one small cleanup, but I am going to be doing alot of installs right off the bat.

[puddin' pie]

I know a guy from up around manistee. Talks to him every night great guy. he does like this place.....

[MILSINC]

spinniken- i checked out your site- nice stripes.
I noticed you sub your chem out.. if you ever need a licensed co. in benzie county, let me know.

[MILSINC]

hey, do you know of anyone in our area that sells sod? I heard that zimmerman's does, but they haven't returned my calls yet.

[matt spinniken]

I'm not exactly sure where to buy sod around here, I know you can get it shipped in. I know a guy that does a lot of sod work if i see him ill ask for you. Hopefully, things are going well for you. Its supposed to snow next week.:hammerhead:

[MILSINC]

I'll just pretend that it isn't going to get cold again and keep going about my business

[greff]

We did a job in TC a couple of years ago. Might be up there full time shortly. That would be in Yuba though, not TC.. We have cottage there and it was nice sitting on the porch after laying pavers all day. I bet the plowing would overwhelm most of us from down state.

[MILSINC]

Yuba.. silly name.. pretty cool little spot. The winter really wasn't too bad this year... not all that much snow to speak of

[Tscape]

Yuba, great beach in the state park. Not far from where I grew up in Acme.

[MILSINC]

well, this snow really puts a damper on things.. I was in the middle of an irrigation job... looks like i'll wait a few to finish up.. It's a bit nice though because i still have to finish tinkering with the trucks and trailers before i'm truly ready for the year.

[greff]

Looks like you're getting some pretty good snow up there tonight. We might get a dusting. I hope no more than that. We're still working on equipment also. At my age, it is not as much fun anymore as it was 20 years ago. I was at a mower dealer this afternoon, and talked to a friend of mine who is the manager of the store, and he said how it's looking fairly good for them for business this season as alot of GM's buyout people are taking their lump sum money and buying a mower and going into business. He did say how it will screw up the whole situation here in the Flint area. I'll be in a better mood once everything gets rolling.

[MILSINC]

Yeah, it looks like it is going to stick around up here through sunday.. just a little bit more, and we're all full swing.. as far as the gm guys, go, I have a feeling they will weed themselves out in no time.
good luck this spring!

[matt spinniken]

This snow is killing me! There are some 3 foot drifts out there. I was already backed up with work, if anyone knows of some experienced laborers or potential crew leaders around Traverse or Suttons Bay let me know.

[MILSINC]

Ya, this is a bit discouraging, especially when everyone was knocking down our doors when the weather broke, and now this!! It's going to be difficult to get caught up again. Spinniken, I will keep my ear to the ground for you on a good employee.. or, you might just go park in front of cottage care and wait for him to run his guys out of there.. they are always chasing off good labor!

[Runner]

Looks like you're getting some pretty good snow up there tonight. We might get a dusting. I hope no more than that. We're still working on equipment also. At my age, it is not as much fun anymore as it was 20 years ago. I was at a mower dealer this afternoon, and talked to a friend of mine who is the manager of the store, and he said how it's looking fairly good for them for business this season as alot of GM's buyout people are taking their lump sum money and buying a mower and going into business. He did say how it will screw up the whole situation here in the Flint area. I'll be in a better mood once everything gets rolling.

It's only going to get worse.:rolleyes:

[MILSINC]

Well it must be bad down there.. I think I may be a bit too far north to feel any of the effects from that..but we have more than our share of lowballers, uninsured, and the like.

[MILSINC]

bump.. i hate page 2