Sage Johnson (TLC)Design-BuildCEO raises minimum wage to $70,000 and sparks debateSeattle entrepreneur Dan Price, CEO of Gravity Payments, announced April 13 that he was setting the company’s minimum wage at $70,000 and taking a $930,000 pay cut in order to do so. Of Gravity’s 120 employees, many earn less than $40,000. Price’s announcement means a significant increase for about 70 workers, including 30 employees whose […]April 20, 2015BusinessLos Angeles mayor credits rebate program for reduced water usagePart of California Governor Jerry Brown’s April 1 mandate for the state to reduce its water use by 25 percent was a call for the removal of 50 million square feet of lawn, or about 1,150 football fields. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said the city is well on its way to helping reach that […]April 17, 2015BusinessLandscape professionals advocate for H-2B programLandscape professionals and state and national organizations gathered on Capitol Hill April 15 to advocate for the H-2B program by talking with law makers about the importance of the immigrant workforce. The H2B program limits temporary seasonal immigrant labor by capping visas at 66,000, a limit that threatens many small businesses, including landscapers. “This issue […]April 17, 2015BusinessShindaiwa’s EB600RT backpack blower delivers quiet powerDesigned with operator comfort in mind, Shindaiwa‘s EB600RT backpack blower features a padded backrest, adjustable shoulder straps and vented back pad that circulates air in hot weather. A four-point vibration reduction system reduces operator fatigue, while a new grip design is easier on user hands during all day use. Powerful and quiet, the EB600RT backpack blower has […]April 17, 2015Landscaping equipmentBob-Cat debuts first stand-on mowerBob-Cat, a manufacturer of commercial-quality turf mowers, has introduced its first stand-on mower, the QuickCat. Featuring an ergonomic design that places the platform close to the drive axles, the QuickCat reduces vibration and rider fatigue to provide commercial operators with all-day comfort, stability and performance. Stand-on mowers are ideal for tight, smaller spaces where the […]April 16, 2015BusinessNew book explores diverse, layered landscapesFollowing his popular “Bringing Home Nature,” Douglas Tallamy has co-authored a new book with Rick Darke, “The Living Landscape: Designing for Beauty and Biodiversity in the Home Garden. Kathy Van Mullekon, who reviewed the book in the Duluth New Tribune, wrote, “’The Living Landscape” is not about native plants, although it certainly includes them. Instead, […]April 16, 2015BusinessToro to support two cities through Audubon’s Sustainable Communities ProgramThe Toro Company is supporting sustainability efforts in two communities where the company has facilities, Riverside, California, and Windom, Minnesota, through Audubon International’s Sustainable Communities Program. The community-wide improvement program engages residents, businesses, and municipal leaders in identifying low-cost strategies for practicing sustainability that safeguard quality of life. Toro’s sponsorship provides the two cities membership […]April 16, 2015BusinessLandscapers volunteer to improve grounds of local animal shelterFellow landscapers recently joined together to give the Santa Cruz Animal Shelter in Live Oak, California, a landscape makeover. Volunteers from the California Landscape Contractors Association and animal shelter upgraded the irrigation system, installed rocks and a drainage system and planted succulents, native plants and shade trees. “What they do at that shelter is incredible, […]April 15, 2015BusinessFather and son landscapers receive same award 30 years apartRich Cording Jr. has received the Grand Award for Landscaping from the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association (NJNLA) 30 years after his father received the award. Cording Jr. and Sr. are co-owners of CLC Landscape Design. The younger Cording won the NJNLA award for a poolside planting design and installation project he completed in […]April 15, 2015BusinessCalifornia landscapers help homeowners transition to drought-resistant lawnsFaced with an epic drought that is not expected to end anytime soon, Californians under mandatory water use restrictions are exploring a myriad of water-saving strategies, including removal of the lush green lawns the state has become known for. But transitioning from green grass to more a drought-tolerant landscape can be expensive. Some California landscapers […]April 14, 2015Previous PagePage 15 of 16Next PageTop StoriesHomeJCB unleashes its most powerful teleskid & compact track loader: The 4TS and 400TThe 4TS Teleskid, with 15-foot telescopic boom, and 400T CTL get 109 horsepower, 41 gallons per minute of flow and 380 foot-pounds of torque.HomeThe newest innovation in drip irrigation prevents cloggingHome“A handy, light machine” – Test run of Kubota’s SCL1000 Stand-On Mini LoaderHomeJohn Deere launches Operations Center PRO ServiceHomeBobcat donates $150,000 to local parks
