Archive for the ‘General Lawn Topics’ Category
Treading Water in the Shark Tank
Part Two: The Game
by Andrew Humphrey
The morning of actual taping, we had to be up early and ready for the shuttle bus to Sony Picture Studios by 7am (if memory serves me). When we arrived  at the studio I totally felt like I was in a documentary about the making of a movie, with producers, go-fers, sets, cameras and gear everywhere. Seriously, everyone was riding around in golf carts just like in the movies! I was shown to my private dressing room: a 10 by 10 white closet with a couch and one black and white photo on the wall. I was hoping the “dressing room” would be more glamorous, exciting, and plush. Instead it was just an EMPTY room and would be my “holding cell” until late afternoon when I would give my pitch.
A short time before that, I was taken to make-up and given a face-powder and then it was Go-Time!
Well, actually, then I was taken to a secondary “holding cell” from which I could neither hear nor see anything that was going on ‘out there’. In fact, I didn’t get to see or hear any of the other pitches while I was there.
Finally, they released the chute and, like a dazed bull, I made my way down a long narrow passageway to my stage mark and waited for my cue.
Utter silence.
The Sharks eyeballed me and I did my best to eyeball them back. This seemed to continue for a small eternity, until someone said, “Whenever you’re ready Andy.”
- – - – - -
When it was done, it was done. There was no backstage chatter. No second chances for explanation, and definitely no after-glow parties. When you are done, you go home.
So, how did it go?
Stay tuned and find out!
VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 5.8/10 (12 votes cast) 
Part One: Pre-Game Jitters
by Andrew Humphrey
 Sitting here on the eve of Shark Tank and my Network TV debut — feeling a bit nervous, but super excited. I haven’t the slightest idea how they will edit this thing to make me look, but I made it on the show, so one can only assume it will make good TV either way.
I went to Hollywood to pitch The EcoMower on ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’ many weeks ago and, frankly, much of it is a blur now. Like after a high-octane job interview, I’ve been running it through my mind ever since, remembering little snippets and thinking, ‘Did I say that right?’, ‘Did I nail it?’, ‘Did I have food on my shirt?’, etc.
It’s a cliche, but it’s true: sitting on the sofa at home watching, you have no idea. No idea how nervous everyone really is, how bright the lights are, how many cameras there are, and how exposed you feel. It was shot in High Definition! I remember thinking, “If I missed any spots while shaving, it will be amplified by a thousand on national television!”
So I don’t know what it’s going to look like, but I hope everyone watches, and I’m just glad I got picked to be on. I will be back to update you all after the broadcast!
Thanks!
PHOTO: In the ‘Green Room’ before taping
VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 6.2/10 (10 votes cast)
 - The NASA Sustainability Base, one of the greenest federal buildings ever constructed, opens this spring at the Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif. It’s slated to earn the top or platinum rating from the U.S. Green Building Council.
The nation’s capital isn’t just the epicenter of the U.S. government, it also leads U.S. cities and states in green building, new data show.
The Obama administration requires new federal buildings meet higher energy-efficiency standards, and one result is that Washington now has far more green-building space per capita — 25 square feet — than any of the 50 states, according to the private U.S. Green Building Council. The 2010 data refer to commercial and institutional space (not residential) certified by its LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program.
So far, among states, California, Texas, and New York have the highest number of LEED-certified buildings, but none of them made the top 10 list based on certifications per capita. Which ones do?
Nevada takes that top spot, with nearly 11 square feet per capita of LEED-certified space. It’s followed by New Mexico (6.35 square feet) New Hampshire (4.49 sf) Oregon (4.07 sf) South Carolina (3.19 sf), Washington (3.16 sf) Illinois (3.09 sf) Arkansas (2.9 sf) Colorado (2.85 sf) and Minnesota (2.77 sf.)
“Using per capita, versus the more traditional numbers of projects, or pure square footage, is a reminder to all of us that the people who live and work, learn and play in buildings should be what we care about most,” Scott Horst, LEED’s senior vice president said in announcing the finding.
Other data from his group show the nation’s capital also has more LEED projects (799 registered and certified as of Jan. 11) than any other U.S. city, although New York is a close second with 792. They’re followed by Chicago (739); Houston (518); San Francisco (497); Seattle (415); Atlanta (408); Los Angeles (401); San Diego (329) and Portland (310.)
The U.S. Green Building Council says there are many notable newly-certified projects in 2010 such as the Frito Lay manufacturing site in Jonesboro, Ark., Wells Fargo Center in Denver, Colo. and the two renovated International Monetary Fund headquarter buildings in Washington, D.C.
Its data come as other research indicates that despite an overall weak construction sector, green building is projected to continue its growth. Another green-building program, run by the National Association of Home Builders, announced last week that it just certified its 2,000th project – a 42-site residential development in Cecil, Md.
LEED, which also rates commercial, educational and other institutional facilities, is a much bigger program. More than 40,000 such projects and nearly 45,000 homes have registered for its certification.
Via: USA Today
VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 4.0/10 (6 votes cast)
The lawn care industr y is undergoing a revolution. People who are concerned with the safety of their children and pets, as well as concern for the environment, are increasingly turning to organic lawn care practices. Many municipalities are mandating the use of non-toxic, natural fertilizers and soil conditioners on their soccer and baseball fields.
Instead of using toxic chemical pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, the use of Compost Tea on lawns is becoming increasingly popular. As seen on “This Old House,” Harvard University has been using Compost Tea on Harvard Yard instead of chemical fertilizers and has much healthier and better quality turf as a result.
What is Compost Tea?
Compost Tea is a liquid containing the micro biology that your lawn needs to thrive. That micro biology is extracted from suspended compost in large water drums, while adding oxygen and nutrients to grow huge numbers of beneficial bacteria, fungi, and protozoa. The addition of Compost Tea to your soil improves tillage and soil structure. Compost Tea adds the necessary biology to build soil structure.
Chemical based pesticides, herbicides and fertilizers negatively impact beneficial microorganisms in the ecosystem. Compost Tea improves plant nutrition by increasing nutrient availability in the root system. Microbial interactions increase plant available nutrients in exactly the right place, time and amounts that the plant needs.
Properly conditioned, your lawn will develop a stronger, deeper root system. As a result, your turf will be more drought and heat resistant, and better able to pull nutrients and oxygen from the soil. This stimulates lateral growth, creating a thicker lawn that is better able to crowd out weeds, and needs less frequent mowing.
Naturally maintained lawns:
*Need less frequent watering
*Need cutting less often
*Grow thicker, crowding out weeds
*Are pest resistant
Which adds up to savings for you, and a safe and healthy lawn for your children and pets!
From: SanFranciscoBayAreaToday.org
VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 3.3/10 (4 votes cast)
Today is Earth Day – be kind to your “weeds”
 Dandelions Are Healthy For Your Body Ok – everyone enjoys a lush, well kept, perfectly green lawn – at least most everyone….but, did you know that Dandelions are considered a valuable herb with many culinary and medicinal uses?
According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) is a rich source of vitamins A, B complex, C, and D, as well as minerals such as iron, potassium, and zinc. Its leaves are often used to add flavor to salads, sandwiches, and teas. The roots can be found in some coffee substitutes, and the flowers are used to make certain wines. The article goes on the say that dandelion roots are mainly used today as an appetite stimulant, digestive aid, and for liver and gallbladder function. Dandelion leaves are even used as a diuretic to stimulate the excretion of urine.
Take a few minutes are learn more about the important nutritional value of Dandelions!
Learn more about the medicinal value of Dandelions:
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/dandelion-000236.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taraxacum_officinale
http://www.theherbprof.com/hrbDandelion.htm
VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 6.2/10 (5 votes cast)
Oh, this is good…a recent Google search revealed that Ace Hardware has picked up the line of Brill Razorbut reel mowers – yes, Razorbut mowers. We’ve added a screen shot for your viewing pleasures. April fools day has past and this is clearly a simple type-o, however, the ‘c’ and ‘b’ keys are not even next to one another on the keyboard…
For the web savvy out there, we also point out that this error is not simply a product name type-o. The misspelling also appears in the Meta Title, Meta Description, and Meta Keywords. Obviously and automated error – but how funny!
 ACE Hardware Brill Razorbut VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 7.0/10 (3 votes cast)
Get a reel mower! I have a Reel Mower! These mowers Reely work! Reel men push mow!
The list is long for these clever and popular puns. Huh? What is a “reel” mower anyway? For many green industry “professionals”, namely landscape contractors, golf course superintendents, turfgrass managers, etc., the term “reel mower” is common. But your average everyday American has absolutely no idea.
Let me explain (in brief):
 Reel Mower Concept Reel mowers have curved blades that produce a cutting action alongside a stationary steel plate (like a can of Pringles chips rolling across a table). The blades form a spiral around the reel axis, and as they spin, the spiral of blades forces grass past the stationary plate. Reel mowers leave behind clean-cut grass, as if the grass had been cut with sharp scissors.
New reel mower technology has advanced since the days of Grandpa’s old clunker. Unlike the cutting action of scissors, it is not necessary for the blades of the spinning reel to contact the stationary plate. A clean cut is possible if the gap between the blades and the plate is less than the thickness of the grass. This modern reel mower technology is referred to as “contact-free”, “non-contact”, “silent-cut”, and many other terms. The benefit is a mower that is easier to push, and a mower that does not require sharpening. What, no sharpening? Nope. Think about it, there is no metal-on-metal contact to cause the reel blades to become dull. The blades only come in contact with grass, wood, and the occasional pebble or two – non of which will cause the blades to lose its edge.
There is a ton to talk about so feel free search around our learning center and read more more about reel mower technology, and how your lawn may benefit by using a reel mower.
VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 8.5/10 (16 votes cast)
 single trunk girdle Ok, we know how fun it is when you get a new toy – especially a new lawn and garden tool like a cordless electric string trimmer. Because we are now on the verge of spring we are reminded to use such tools with caution and care. Eye protection, ear plugs, blah, blah, blah you’ve heard this a million times right? What about the safety of your trees and shrubs?
It is important to be cautious with your plant material and not get carried away in the sunshine of a new spring day. Caution should be used when trimming around the base of plants – string trimmers can girdle young trees without you even realizing the damage because the grass and weeds returns upright after being cut and hides the damage to the bark. Use a trimmer guard or protective sleeve around the trunk to reduce this type of injury.
 Earthwise Cordless Electic String Trimmer Scientifically speaking (okay I’m a geek and I have horticulture degree) the cambium layer is active in the spring and early summer and impact to the bark can cause slipping and the bark can loosen or be torn off.
So get out your electric string trimmer and tear up those weeds and edges – but don’t touch those trees!
 Tree Girdle VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 8.6/10 (5 votes cast)
 Firebelly Organics We recently read in a SafeLawns.org blog post about the 2010 launch of Firebelly Organics. Tom Kelly of Milford, N.H., a former pesticide applicator has much of New England buzzing over his revolutionary, easy-to-use lawn care program made from 100 percent organic ingredients.
After a few phone and email conversations with both Tom Kelly and his wife Debra (Sales & Marketing), we are impressed and excited to share their company and their story with the ecomowers.com community. Signing up for their monthly lawn care program might just be the perfect complement with your ecomower.
About Firebelly Organics:
Fire Belly Organic Lawn Care honestly believes we can make the world a much better place by simply changing the way we treat our lawns. When we eliminate the overuse of dangerous pesticides and chemical fertilizers we are taking a step towards saving the environment and creating a healthier world for our children, pets and families.
Located in New Hampshire, Fire Belly provides a seasonal, do it yourself, six step organic lawn care program to customers all over The United States and Canada. We are also a leading provider of organic lawn care products to the organic lawn care applicator industry. By simplifying process in which you can treat your lawn organically Fire Belly leads the way in converting turf care programs from a dangerous chemical process to a safe natural approach.
 Firebelly Organics Fire Belly is dedicated to providing effective environmentally responsible products that address soil biology. Our horticultural products feed the soil through the introduction of select beneficial microbial species allowing them to facilitate the natural processes inherent to healthy plant growth. We blend a diverse array of beneficial soil microorganisms with natural plant extracts and organic nutrients to create microbial systems. These natural systems simultaneously feed the soil and the plant, which allows plants to grow to their full genetic potential
We not only want to provide you with the proper products to treat your lawn but we also want to help you with any and all concerns when it comes to the care of turf. When you sign up for the Fire Belly program you are getting many years of agronomic experience that we hope you will put to use by constantly asking questions. When outstanding products come together with outstanding education and information you can have an outstanding lawn…naturally.
VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 8.3/10 (3 votes cast)
 Fiskars Momentum The new Fiskars Momentum reel mowers are now ready for your purchasing pleasure. We are gearing up for the summer 2010 mowing season, which means our stocking supply of momentum mowers will be here in just few weeks. We have partnered with Fiskars to make online ordering easy – you can even order your mower before our supply arrives!
The new Momentum mower has similar characteristics to the Scotts, Brill, Sunlawn, and EASUN mowers – however, it aims to target these reel mower ‘pain’ points, mainly bogging down in tall grass and clogging on small twigs. The Momentum® Reel Mower combines patent-pending technologies and Fiskars expertise in ergonomics to dramatically improve ease-of-use and cutting performance.
These new technologies include:
- InertiaDrive™ Technology: A large diameter cutting reel and heavy blades store energy much like a flywheel, so the Momentum® delivers twice the power to cut through small twigs, weeds or dense grass that clog other reel mowers. The mower also requires 30 percent less push force than standard reel mowers when cutting long grass.
- StaySharp™ Cutting System: Precision engineering allows grass to be cut without the blades touching – greatly reducing friction & blade wear. By eliminating the steel-on-steel contact that dulls standard reel mowers, peak performance can be maintained without annual sharpening.
- VersaCut™ Design: The Momentum® delivers the greatest cut range of any reel mower with cut height settings ranging from 1 to 4 inches. In addition, it edges three times closer than other reel mowers, and never leaves uncut strips under the wheels.
- Fiskars Ergonomics: The Momentum® incorporates a number of best in class convenience features to enhance the mowing experience – including an ergonomic height adjustable handle with a padded grip, a quick and easy one-touch cut height adjustment system, and a grass discharge chute that directs messy clippings forward, away from the user’s feet.
The Momentum® comes with a 4-year warranty – the longest available warranty for any reel mower on the market.
Why not put this new reel mower to the test today!
VN:F [1.3.4_676] Rating: 6.0/10 (63 votes cast)
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at the studio I totally felt like I was in a documentary about the making of a movie, with producers, go-fers, sets, cameras and gear everywhere. Seriously, everyone was riding around in golf carts just like in the movies! I was shown to my private dressing room: a 10 by 10 white closet with a couch and one black and white photo on the wall. I was hoping the “dressing room” would be more glamorous, exciting, and plush. Instead it was just an EMPTY room and would be my “holding cell” until late afternoon when I would give my pitch.
