B . C . L a n d s c a p e & N u r s e r y A s s o c i a t i o n P u bl i c a t i o n • s e p t e m b e r 2 0 1 0
Government announces funding Member awards need nominees Last chance to register for CanWest clinics
Free training resumes in fall
CanWest Hort Show September 29-30
HortWest
september 2010
MANAGING EDITOR Renata Triveri ADVERTISING Cheryl Lee Tel: (604) 574-7772 ext 110 Fax: (604) 574-7773 Iotron Technologies
2/17/05
7:57 AM
HortWest is the newsletter of the BC Landscape & Nursery Association. For further information, contact us at: Suite 102, 5783-176A Street Surrey, BC, Canada V3S 6S6 Tel: (604) 574-7772 Fax: (604) 574-7773
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HortWest is owned by the BC Landscape & Nursery Association, and is published 10 times a year. Views expressed inside do not necessarily reflect the attitudes of the Association, but are those of the writer concerned. Material may not be reprinted from this magazine without consent of the publisher. All advertising and editorial material are to be received one month in advance of mail out date. HortWest is mailed under Canadian Publications Mail Product Sales Agreement N. 0288608. This magazine is printed in Canada by Globe Printers.
Sanitize with certainty Sanitization can be very costly if not done effectively. • Iotron takes sanitization to a new level, offering Nursery Growers unparalleled results. • Iotron utilizes irradiation technology to eliminate Pathogens, fungi and molds on pots, trays, and styroblocks. • Iotron's sanitization method fully penetrates materials like an X-ray, effectively sterilizing the material.
Field trials have proven that the sanitization level of pots prior to planting can affect plant yields.
Money does grow on trees! Be confident that your pots, trays or styroblocks are the cleanest they can be from the start. A disease free environment creates disease free plants.
BCLNA DIRECTORY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR Lesley Tannen ext 106 CANWEST / MARKETING MANAGER Karen De Jong ext 112 CANWEST ASSISTANT MANAGER/EVENTS Barb Nelson ext 115 EXHIBITOR RELATIONS / SPECIAL EVENTS Barb Nelson ext 115 GROWER ISSUES Hedy Dyck ext 105 CLEAN PLANTS Christine Rainer ext 102 LANDSCAPE RETAIL ISSUES Krista Manton ext 104 HORT BASICS TRAINING Ann Marie Walsh ext 108 HORT BASICS ASSISTANT Joy DeMelo ext 101 SALES MANAGER Cheryl Lee ext 110 PROJECTS ASSISTANT Terri MacDonald ext 100 FINANCE MANAGER Marvyn Brown ext 107 ACCOUNTING / ADMIN Heidi Henderson ext 109
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If your sanitization method leaves you uncertain, then it's definitely time to make a change. For For more more information information please please contact contact Iotron Iotron Technologies Technologies Corp. Corp. 1425 1425 Kebet Kebet Way, Way, Port Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, BC BC V3C V3C 6L3 6L3 Ph. Ph. (604)945-8838 (604)945-8838 Fax. Fax. (604)945-8827 (604)945-8827 Website Website www.Iotron.com www.Iotron.com Email: Email: rkhansen@Iotron.com rkhansen@Iotron.com HortWest September 2010
On the cover: CanWest’s exhibitors are known for their innovative products and outstanding displays, like this Olympic themed one created by Paridon Horticultural Ltd. Get inspired, September 29 and 30, at this year’s tradeshow. Now at the new Vancouver Convention Centre, under the green roof.
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Message from the President
Prioritizing to further the horticultural cause Business, and life in general, are about how we spend our time to best advantage. We constantly prioritize how many hours to devote to our business, how and where to spend our leisure time, and what is worthy of our volunteer time. There never seems to be enough time for all we have or want to do. We are jugglers. Meanwhile, we are bombarded with all the things we absolutely must do to
remain healthy while we juggle, only to find out that what we have been doing in good faith might not really work. We should try something else; hopefully, no harm done. So it is with BCLNA’s juggling to decide what priorities are on the top of the list, and what serves the membership best to further the horticultural cause. We are now armed with our latest strategic plan: the road map created by members who volunteered their individual time for the betterment of the industry as a whole. This document directs how the association will set its priorities, and spend its time over the next few challenging years.
Your board of directors, and staff, are ever diligent in ensuring that the map is followed, and that not too many detours are required. We are determined to operate within a realistic budget while still moving forward for the benefit of members. We thank you for your confidence in the association to fulfill your strategic plan, your patience with any diversions that may arise, and the volunteer hours you give.
Ruth Olde, President, B.C. Landscape & Nursery Association
Board Synopsis
Monday, July 19, 2010 CanWest has confirmed a terrific program with several new features. The ever-popular Urban Forestry Symposium will be held in conjunction with the show for the first time. An after-party (preregistration required, $50) will be held at Steamworks Pub. The seminar and clinic program is outstanding. Find all the details at www.CanWestHortShow.com. Exhibitors will be pleased to note that we have secured the holding lot rental for the duration of the show to accommodate transport vehicles; exhibitors may park in the holding lot for the three days at a rate of $75.
Certification test day was held on July 16 and 17. BCLNA thanks Kwantlen Polytechnic University for the use of their facilities, the volunteers and sponsors who provided generous support. For details, see page 13. Growers thank Michael Kato for spearheading a change in legislation that enables SAWP workers throughout all sectors of the agriculture industry to drive on their country of origin’s license for the duration of their work permits. FARSHA has agreed to become a
Certifying Partner that provides “Certificates of Recognition” (COR) to agricultural businesses. After passing an audit, employers receive their COR to become eligible to receive a rebate on WorkSafeBC premiums. This is not an immediate benefit, but is designed to decrease fees over time.
The Urban Forest Council has created a task force to deal with WorkSafeBC issues, including standards for drivenfeed chippers, and faller regulations that currently require anyone falling trees greater than 6” in diameter to be certified. The task force includes members of the Arborist Apprenticeship committee to assure fluid communication between all parties. HortWest September 2010
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BCLNA News Bulletins
Government of Canada invests in hort sector IAF Chair, Stuart Wilson and BCLNA president, Ruth Olde (both pictured at right) attended the CAAP funding announcement made by MP Andrew Saxton (centre). Michelle Nakano (left), project researcher at Kwantlen Polytechnic University, and Maureen Connelly, Director of Centre for Architectural Ecology at BCIT are the Green Roof project’s lead researchers.
Andrew Saxton, Parliamentary Secretary to the President of the Treasury Board, announced an investment of $273,000 in the BCLNA to lead two projects that will help the ornamental nursery industry capitalize on opportunities and stay competitive and profitable into the future. The announcement, made on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, was made public on July 23 at BCIT’s Great Northern Way campus in Vancouver. “Through their hard work and high quality products, our growers, retailers and landscapers are building a healthy environment and a healthy economy,” said Saxton. “The Government of Canada is proud to invest in new ways to grow flowers and shrubs while reducing energy costs because this will help growers keep more dollars in their pockets and continue to provide customers with their high quality products.” The investment is going towards two projects. The Clean Plants Nursery Certification program ensures that participating nurseries will be the front line of defense against incoming pests, whether insect or disease; $165,391 will help growers implement its requirements. A further $108,172 will help evaluate green roof methods, and technologies that support vegetation growth on rooftops, to improve air and water quality, and reduce energy costs. Research carried out collaboratively between BCIT and Kwantlen Polytechnic HortWest September 2010
University will help the sector gain access to this quickly expanding market. “Our industry is proactive in adapting to new technologies and anticipating the effect a changing global marketplace will have on the ornamental horticulture industry,” said Ruth Olde, President of the BCLNA. “The excellent support we receive from the Government of Canada through the CAAP program, as well as the Investment Agriculture Foundation, enables us to grasp new ideas and set them in motion quickly. Funding from IAF for strategic plan development has provided further encouragement and direction for future challenges ahead.” In her presentation, Olde emphasized that
BCLNA members are already a significant
contributor to the greening of the province, “but we are always looking for a new place to plant plants. The Green Roofs project enables us to add a new dimension and a direction—planting straight up and sideways—to create even more environmental benefits.
“This project investigates new technologies to mitigate the effects of greenhouse gases and noise pollution by planting plants on roofs,” she said. “It represents a collaboration between educators, researchers, industry members, wrapped up nicely with matched CAAP funding from Agriculture and Agri-food Canada
through the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC.” “These investments will help our nurseries adapt to emerging issues and seize new market opportunities,” commented Stuart Wilson, chair of the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC. Funding for these projects is being provided by the Government of Canada’s $163million national Canadian Agricultural Adaptation Program. Eligible CAAP projects could be in areas of traceability, environment, climate change, capacity development, pests and diseases, and more. For more information on CAAP, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/caap. To learn more about the IAF, please visit www.iafbc.com.
AGM to be held in Victoria This year’s Annual General Meeting and President’s Banquet will be held on November 4 and 5 at the Westin Bear Mountain Resort in Victoria. All members are encouraged to attend the AGM in order to elect a new president and to thank Ruth Olde for her work, which went well beyond the typical duties of the role during this transitionary year. Several board members’ positions are also up for election; those who wish to have a candidate considered are asked to communicate those details to Past President Fred Giesbrecht, or to Lesley Tannen. The BCLNA Executive will put forward a slate of candidates; additional nominees may be made from the floor. A valuable business program, designed for owners and upper management, has been assembled, and the banquet is an opportunity for your whole team to network and laud the season’s volunteers and outstanding landscapes. Look for all the details on
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www.bclna.com, and watch the mail for your complete AGM package and registration kit. To book your hotel room, go to www. starwoodmeeting.com/Book/bclna. Rates range from $115 for a room with two queen beds, to $165 for a king bed.
Member award nominations If you haven’t nominated deserving volunteers for this year’s BCLNA member awards, it’s not too late! Nominations will be accepted online. Visit www.bclna.com to ensure all who have contributed to the strength and well-being of our association and our industry are duly recognized. Just click the link to complete the online nomination form before September 30.
Update your Buyers Guide listing The 2011 BCLNA BuyersGuide is now in production, and all members are reminded to double check their existing listings to ensure all contact information is complete and correct. This is also your last chance to place an advertisement in this annual publication, which is proven to have an enduring shelf-life and is guaranteed to keep your company at the forefront of your market. The BuyersGuide is extremely well used and distributed, through British Columbia and beyond; an “e-zine” version is now published to www.bclna.com for global access. To purchase an ad, contact Cheryl Lee: clee@bclna.com or (604) 574-7772 ext 110. To update your contact information, contact Heidi Henderson: hhenderson@ bclna.com or (604) 574-7772 ext 109.
New
BCLNA Members
ERNI HAS IT ALL!
Final Approval The BCLNA welcomes the following new members as of the summer board meetings: Candocla Growers Ltd., Candus McLellan & Lee Lindwall, Victoria, Active Grower (Interim) Charles Equipment Ltd., Derek Charles, Aldergrove, Associate (Interim) Greenheart Tree & Garden Services,
Inderpal Randhawa, Abbotsford, Active Landscaper Maple Ridge Chrysler, Ian Speckman & Dan Aubrey, Maple Ridge, Associate SunnySide Greenhouses Ltd., Warren Jensen, Calgary, Out of Province Tentative Approval The following companies will become
BCLNA members at the next board
meeting unless a member provides a valid reason for not accepting the application:
We Offer Full Plant Service Send us your wish list or job and we will send you a quote – phone, fax or email
Canadian Lawn Care Services Ltd.,
Len Lauriente & Athena MacInnis, Surrey, Active Landscaper Devan Greenhouses Ltd., Pieter & Anita deBruin, Abbotsford, Active Retailer HisTREE.net, Art Maat & Shaun Dyck, Edmonton, Out of Province Lotus International Inc., Chen Shue & Carolyn Day, Athens, Out of Province Rich Earth Garden Centre, Richard Heaven, Mission, Active Landscaper Transform Plant Products, Inc. DBA Transform Compost Products, John Paul & Ted Venema, Abbotsford, Active Retailer Triple Five Quality Wood Inc.,
Raymond Basran, Langley, Associate Lynda Hearns, Surrey, Student
...Look for our
BIG RED BARN!
EAST RICHMOND NURSERIES INC. 18431 Westminster Hwy., Richmond, B.C. V6V 1B1 Ph. 604 278-0976 Fax 604 244-2924 e-mail askus@erniplants.com
www.erniplants.com HortWest September 2010
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In Memoriam
Richard J. Desmarteau March 9, 1950 – August 1, 2010
It is with sadness that we announce the sudden passing of Richard Desmarteau, a long-time BCLNA member whose passion for the industry was reflected in his many years of involvement and activism with the industry, as well as through his work with Fairfield Tree Nurseries Inc., Liard Horticultural Enterprises, and most recently BTN Nurseries Pacific Inc. He served the association in several capacities, and at various points during his time on the BCLNA board, Richard was the Growers’ Commodity Chair, Industry Development Council Chair, and Safety Director. He held the BC Shows portfolio, and represented the BCLNA on both the Greater Vancouver Regional District’s and Fraser Valley Regional District’s respective agriculture committees. Upon retirement from the board, he continued working on behalf of
lively ideas and tireless championing of worthwhile causes.
his colleagues as the BCLNA representative to the FVRD Water Committee. Richard’s dedication to the BCLNA and to horticulture was expressed through his fresh,
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A friend and colleague related, “He is the reason I finished my degree in agriculture. He was a fourth-year student in the Plant Science Department at UBC, where I was a secretary and single mother and he’d come into the office and say, ‘What are you doing here? You should be back in school. Finish your degree!’. He had convinced the University of Saskatchewan to allow him to complete his last year at UBC since his wife moved back to BC. The entire faculty didn’t know what to do with him since he wasn’t graduating from UBC and they had no history with him. I was so impressed. What a coup!” Richard is survived by Lindsay, his beloved wife of 30 years. He was cremated without ceremony; a celebration of his life was held in August.
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Industry Bits
Vrijmoed announces retirement Paulus Vrijmoed, who founded Linnaea Nurseries Ltd. with partners John Folkerts and Nirmal Grewal, announced his retirement this summer. Patrick Wilson, with whom Paulus has been working for the past few years, will assume Linnaea’s propagation activities. Vrijmoed has been a long-time supporter of
BCLNA’s Environmental Stewardship Award,
and he represents the association on the Invasive Plant Council of BC. In a message to colleagues, Vrijmoed thanked the many people he has worked with over the years for their confidence and support, adding, “I have many good memories of my well over 30 years in the nursery business. My interest in the environment and the outdoors, among other things, will continue to occupy much of my time and energy.”
Georgia on Nicholls’ mind Former research scientist at the UBC Botanical Garden and director of the Memorial University of Newfoundland Botanical Garden, Wilf Nicholls has been named director of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia at the University of Georgia effective September 15. Among Nicholls’ varied experiences are the breeding and release of Lonicera ‘Mandarin’ and Philadelphus ‘Starbright’; service as the principal investigator of the Plant Atlantic program for ornamental plant research and development; management of the commercialization of plants and maintenance of a royalty stream to the MUN Botanical Garden; and doubling of the MUN Botanical Garden’s
budget through research funding and revenue generation, including a 60 per cent increase in visitor numbers. Nicholls says his interest in joining the University of Georgia stems from the garden’s emphasis on plant conservation and education. He believes the State Botanical Garden of Georgia offers a unique opportunity to foster education about plants while promoting conservation and the disciplines of taxonomy and identification; “In a world where biodiversity is declining at an alarming rate, a knowledge gap is growing, and this represents a huge opportunity and responsibility for botanical gardens to engage current and future students in learning the importance of plants, their habitats, and their interactions.”
Rainer joins BCLNA Christine Rainer, owner of Gardenmakers Horticultural Consulting & Design Inc. and 18-year member of the BCLNA, has been hired to fill the role of Nursery Certification Advisor, in order to manage aspects of the Clean Plants Program. Rainer replaces Trina Tang, who left the association on maternity leave, just prior to the birth of her second child.
Rainer comes to BCLNA with a diploma in horticulture from Niagara Parks College, and a BA in English. She has worked at Vineland Station in both the Heritage Gardens and experimental greenhouses, and has managed greenhouse vegetable, floral and foliage crops. She has further experience in woodlot surveying, human resources, and various aspects of landscape design, installation, and Integrated Pest Management. HortWest September 2010
CanWest Hort Show CanWest Clinic Series CanWest’s clinic series has been expanded! These are full-day intensive programs designed to give your business a fresh outlook using tools you can apply immediately. Lunch is included; all rates are subject to 12% HST. A New Marketing Era with John Stanley
$400
How to Sell Contracting Services Successfully with Kevin Kehoe $350 Not for you? Check out the full range of clinics, seminars, solution centres, tours, and trade show activities at www.CanWestHortShow.com, and find out how you can send eligible staff for FREE!
n Ten steps to more sales n John Stanley of John Stanley Associates, Australia
Every re tailer m ust atte A New M nd: arketing Era with Jo Tuesdayhn Stanley , Septem 9:00 ber Sponsoream to 5:00 pm28 d by Vall Gardens eybrook Ltd.
The garden industry around the world is going through some major changes. More retailers are discovering that this is an attractive retail category to be in and are looking for a part of the action. What does the independent garden retailer do to grow sales in an increasingly competitive market? Firstly, the independents must realize that they have the opportunity to own the market in their respective territories and therefore the marketing should be based on owning the high ground. 8
HortWest September 2010
The following ten steps can help you grow sales: 1. Don’t fall into the discount trap. The box stores realize gardening weather is an opportunity. Home Depot has already announced that gardening will be one of its main focuses and that the company will be presenting specials in the garden department to help drive the business. It is easy to follow the “big” stores and do the same in an independent garden centre. This is the wrong message to be giving out to the consumer if you’re an independent retailer. Hold your nerve, do not discount, and take a different journey to the “box” stores. 2. Sell knowledge as a benefit. Through research, we discovered that 60% of consumers do not have confidence in the technical knowledge of salespeople. This research was not specific to garden retailers, but it sends a strong message that you could promote your place as a place of knowledge. Inform the customer about your training program and make you team technical heroes in front of the customer. You have to be confident they are knowledgeable, but use it as a promotional tool. 3. Create WOW displays. Have promotions that make the customer go WOW. You can promote the plants on price, but you do not have to discount. Change these weekly and tell the customer that they are changing weekly. Announce what promotions are coming up. Create some excitement in the garden centre around specific products. 4. Plants are drivers. Use plants to drive promotions and emphasize that you are the plant expert. Over the last few years we have seen gifts, coffee shops, and other categories become drivers. I am not saying these are losing importance—just that plants are a driver again and this is where we can own the high ground.
5. Involve the community. Become the centre for learning. In my community the “Grow it Your Own” group has grown to 60 members in its first two months. They are linking it into the farmers market, but why not link in groups like this to your garden centre? You will have ready customers who will spread the messages by word of mouth. 6. Create customer service heroes. Research shows that customer service is on a rapid decline in customers’ eyes. This means that they believe we are doing a worse job than in the past. If we are or are not is not the issue: the perception is that customer service is declining, and that is an opportunity. Be a real centre of customer service excellence 7. Sell the package. Not the product. Tell customers through display what plants look great next to other plants. Sell them the plant associations; this is something that the supermarkets and hardware stores will find difficult to introduce. 8. Simple sells. Keep it simple for the customer. Do not put too much information on signs. If you need to provide extra information, put it on a leaflet and hand it to the customer. 9. Offer associated services. You are more than a retailer. The customer is looking for a centre of excellence to create and manage their garden. This is an opportunity to grow the services side of your business. 10. Keep up to date. Be a leader in the customer’s eyes. Promote plants and products that have been promoted elsewhere during the previous week. This shows that you are in tune with the consumer and the marketplace.
Sneak Preview n Managing your salespeople n Kevin Kehoe of Kehoe & Co., California
w: crew no ur sales Services o y p u ng Sign ontracti ith Sell C How to Successfully w e eho 28 K in v e K ber , Septem Tuesdayam to 5:00 pm 9:00
Developing a sales machine is the most important investment a landscape contractor can make. Given pricing conditions and the negative impact this is exacting on gross profit, generating increased revenue is necessary to achieve net profit dollar goals. At the heart of this revenue generation effort is the salesperson. They have never been more important and the management of the sales force never more critical. Since the sales game is a tough one and lack of success can cause even the best to get in a slump, keeping your sales staff motivated is essential. The primary motivators are a need for achievement, a desire to get better, and the opportunity to make money. To produce these motivators, a sales manager should employ the classic carrot and stick approach. Carrot: Goals and commission programs provide the carrot. Goals should be set weekly for number of sales calls, monthly for the dollar value of bids required, and quarterly for closed revenue volume. Software such as Excel spreadsheets, SalesForce, Method, ACT and others can be deployed to manage this process. In my experience most managers set goals too low. Low goals provide little pressure, and most sales people are motivated by pressure.
Commission plans are essential. A successful salesperson should be the second or third highest paid employee in the company. I prefer a first year 60/40 base/commission structure graduating it by the third year to a 40/60 with unlimited upside for the salesperson. In addition I like contests where there are non-cash rewards. One company, short on revenue through August, challenged the salesperson to get the company back on budget. He did and the company rewarded him with a big screen TV. It was a one-time event. Salespeople are motivated when there is something at risk. When pay is guaranteed, I don’t think they run as hard. Stick: Dashboards and coaching provide the stick. Most contractors do a good job managing production. Yet they don’t apply this same principle to the sales. Salespeople perform better when they are focused on high return activities. The dashboard is the pipeline report and it is a necessary stick because too many sales people spend too much time selling to people they know and too little to those they don’t, and working on prospects that ultimately have little chance of closing. For example, I reviewed one salesperson’s pipeline recently. He had 243 prospects and appeared to have enough leads to make his number. Upon closer review, it became clear that only 10 to 12 of these would likely close. He needed to spend more time developing new leads to get back on track. Salespeople need feedback. Every good salesperson has had the experience of wishing they had been quicker or smarter at some point during a call. Making joint calls and engaging in post call “curbside chats” applies the stick gently and motivates them to become better. In working with salespeople I have discovered some typical bad habits that can be easily addressed by this
method. These include talking too much, not asking the right questions, arguing with the customer, and failing to ask for the business and get a signature. No salesperson is immune to these behaviors. Some years ago in an important sales presentation, a customer actually said to me more than once, “Kevin, ask me if I want to sign this contract.” Apparently I did not hear this and proceeded to provide him with proof and testimonial to my wonderfulness until he finally became adamant. He said. “Ask me!” At this point I said, “Would you want to sign this contract?” He said, “Yes. Now let’s talk schedule. When can you start?” I was so busy talking and avoiding the potential rejection that comes with “NO” that I never asked the closing question. It is a lesson I have never forgotten. Salespeople require the coaching stick. The best salespeople, in my experience, are hard-wired for the job. This is not say that someone cannot be taught to sell, but all the training in the world does not replace a natural predisposition to the task. Salespeople at their best are capitalist athletes. They like to win. At their worst, when they are not winning, they are high maintenance time wasters. HortWest September 2010
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Training Pays
Limited time remains for Horticulture Basics
ÂŽ
The Horticulture Basics Training Program assists small business with classes geared to educating entry-level and low-skilled workers with foundational and industry specific knowledge. Now is the time to help enhance the skill, competence and confidence of your staff! Please contact the BCLNA to obtain a Schedule of Training and Events calendar. Or go to http://www.bclna.com/horticulture basics.htm to find out more about the program’s purpose and to view the latest information on training sessions at the BCLNA Google Calendar. Giving your staff the opportunity to learn new skills is a positive experience that increases their competence and confidence. Knowledgeable employees achieve higher standards, productivity and
HortWest September 2010
have stronger work ethics that enhance the professionalism of your business. Ask about customized training to fit your specific needs in all horticulture industry sectors.
Contact Ann Marie Walsh, Industry Skills Training Coordinator at (604) 574-7772 ext. 108 or awalsh@bclna.com to find out more about eligibility requirements.
Fall courses planned to date: Sept 14 Sept 14 Sept 16 Sept 16 Sept 21 Sept 23 Sept 29-30 Oct 1 Oct 7 Oct 12 Oct 19 Oct 21 Oct 28
Surrey Victoria Surrey Surrey Surrey Surrey Vancouver Vancouver Surrey Surrey Surrey Surrey Surrey
Note: Course schedule subject to change.
Introduction to BC Landscape Standards Introduction to IPM Communications the Basics Botany Sustainability within the Industry Landscape Plants CanWest Seminars & Tradeshow CanWest Industry Sampler Tour Conflict Resolution Skills Plant Diseases Plant ID 1: Perennials Working with Others Plant ID 2: Deciduous
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Get the most out of your BCLNA membership It’s money in your pocket:
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Buy a vehicle. Fill it with gas. The CNLA’s GM fleet program can save you enough cash to pay your membership for years to come! The rebate on a pick-up can net you five to 18 years’ worth of membership, and landscape professionals say that taking advantage of the three gas card options can cover the whole year’s dues in fuel savings.
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Get help in times of crisis Been hit by P. ramorum? Nurseries and retailers that have faced losses up to December 31 are eligible for compensation, thanks to the work of your colleagues and staff at the BCLNA and CNLA . More than $20 million has been paid out, saving numerous businesses from disaster. This is just one example of the many advocacy efforts undertaken to strengthen our industry.
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Take advantage of free* and low-cost training There are only a few weeks left to access the Horticulture Basics program, free for eligible participants. BCLNA offers numerous additional programs to boost your team’s skills and grow a stronger industry. Exhibit or attend at the CanWest Show Access your entire local market in one room. Buy and sell at the show. Source workers at the job board. Improve your business. Learn about new industry trends by attending workshops and tours. Nonmembers can participate, but members receive deep discounts on all associated registration fees.
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Do business with your peers Accelerate your business connections by taking part in BCLNA’s many networking events. From commodity meetings, to golf tournaments, auctions, AGM and
more, BCLNA helps you keep in touch with all the players in your industry.
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Reduce core-staff turnover BCLNA’s benefits program, complete with health, insurance, and a variety of other savings options, Wholesale clients use the Buyers Guide--make sure you get noticed by advertising. Subscribe to the Landscape Services Finder to get job prospects sent to your inbox, and use Plant Sourcer to make the work of shopping availability lists quick and easy! competitive employer and gives you more tools for retaining valuable staff.
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Let BCLNA drive business to you Wholesale clients use the Buyers Guide-make sure you get noticed by advertising. Subscribe to the Landscape Services Finder to get job prospects sent to your inbox, and use Plant Sourcer to make the work of shopping availability lists quick and easy!
HortWest September 2010 Harnois.indd 1
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BCLNA Office: 604-574-7772; 800-421-7963
Help Wanted
events
Industry
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR AN EXCITING CAREER? Bylands Garden Centre is recruiting for an Assistant Manager. The successful candidate will work with the General Manager / CEO in managing all phases of this successful garden centre.
The successful candidate will have experience in retail management. Horticultural knowledge is an asset but is not essential. There is an excellent possibility for further advancement.
Bylands Garden Centre is a destination garden centre that sells a full range of plants and garden supplies along with great selection of home décor items. It operates from a 4 acre retail area with 20,000 sq. ft. of covered space. Centrally located in West Kelowna Bylands Garden Centre has been serving the central Okanagan for more than 50 years and continues to be the premium garden centre in B.C.
Additional information about Bylands Garden Centre can be found at www. bylandsgardencentre.com.
and programs
September 16 Growers’ Equipment Day Cannor Nursery, Chilliwack www.bclna.com 28 CanWest Day-Long Clinics Vancouver Convention Centre Now under the Green Roof! www.canwesthortshow.com 29-30 CanWest Hort Show Vancouver Convention Centre Now under the Green Roof! www.canwesthortshow.com
Please mail your resumes to Colin Cruickshank, Bylands Garden Centre, 1600 Byland Road, West Kelowna, B.C. V1Z 1H6 or e-mail them to colinc@bylands.com.
October
Call us for all your native and ornamental plant needs
LINNAEA NURSERIES LTD. Tel: 604-533-8281 Fax: 604-533-8246 1-888-327-7705 email: linnaea@telus.net
Toll Free: 1-800-498-7403 • Tel: 604-946-5641 • Email: info@crofton.ca www.crofton.ca or www.jvk.net
3666 - 224th Street, Langley, BC V2Z 2G7 Canada
Linnaea Nursery.indd 1
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Advertise
in Marketplace by contacting Cheryl Lee at BCLNA 604-574-7772 or clee@bclna.com
Call for all wholesale ornamentals, native plants and ferns. a 900 Bowman Road, Abbotsford, BC V3G 1T1 P.O. Box 2157, Abbotsford, BC V2T 3X8 Phone: 604-854-6986 Fax: 604-854-6982 canamnurseries@canamnurseries.com
www.canamnurseries.com HortWest September 2010
1 CanWest Hort Tours Departing from Vancouver Convention Centre, West building lobby www.canwesthortshow.com 10-15 International Garden Centre Association Congress Tokyo / Kyoto, Japan www.igcacongress.com 13 BCLNA Landscape Commodity Meeting Inline Nurseries, Chilliwack www.bclna.com 18 Garden Centre Symposium Growing Forward: Coaching from International Retail Experts Toronto Congress Centre www.gardenexpo.ca 19-20 Landscape Ontario’s Expo Toronto Congress Centre www.gardenexpo.ca 22-23 Certification Exams Kwantlen Polytechnic University, Langley www.bclna.com 27-30 PLANET Green Industry Conference + GIE Louisville, KY www.landcarenetwork.org/cms/gic.html
November 4-5 BCLNA Annual General Meeting & Convention Westin Bear Mountain Resort, Victoria www.bclna.com 8-9 Atlantic Green Forum Sustainable Design and Landscaping: Towards The New Reality St. John’s, NL www.landscapenl.org 18-19 Green Industry Show & Conference Edmonton Expo Centre www.greenindustryshow.com
December 9 Landscape Christmas Party Delta Burnaby Hotel & Conference Centre. For info contact Krista: kmanton@bclna.com
13
Landscape Clippings
BCLNA models certification for Washington
Now entering its second year as a rebranded and internationally-recognized program, Landscape Industry Certification continues to gain speed. Pam Wolfe, the new certification administrator for the Washington Association of Landscape Professionals (WALP), visited BC to prepare herself for that state’s first test-day happening this fall. “I came with a blank slate,” said Wolfe. “All I knew about the Landscape Industry Certified Exam was what I read in the manual or heard about in a meeting. Now because of the great BCLNA staff and volunteers, I am excited, ready, and confident to administer the Washington State exam.”
A tremendous number of volunteers and certificationchallengers turned out to the annual Landscape Industry Certified test day this past July, and the Certification committee is most grateful for their support; see this issue’s Extras for a full list of this summer’s volunteers. If you missed this opportunity to participate, sign up now to “join the growing ranks” on October 22 and 23.
Softscape Installation Cable Baker, CLT RCB Garden Service Hironori Kamoshita, CLT Kamo Gardening Studio Anne Kulla, CLT Huckleberry Landscape Design Adam Panziera, CLT Sticks N’ Stones Nursery Turf Maintenance Michelle Barker, CLT Para Space Landscaping Inc. Nicholas Funke, CLT Para Space Landscaping Inc. Marie-Claude Laski, CLT Deeply Rooted Landscaping Conway Lum, CHT, CLT - GardenWorks
Wolfe praised the volunteer team as well as the 30 candidates who challenged the test. “BC has set the bar pretty high for me. It really has opened my eyes to the whole industry to see how hard everyone works and how technically specialized each person is. I saw first-hand how proud each volunteer was explaining the particular stations to me, how nervously excited the candidates were, and how supportive and generous your sponsors are. I came home energized and hopeful. Thanks for fully immersing me into the day—it was all more than I expected.”
Ornamental Maintenance Conway Lum, CHT, CLT - GardenWorks Justin Thomson, CLT City of Burnaby
By day’s end, nine candidates had earned the following Landscape Industry Certified Technician (CLT) designations:
Hardscape Installation Adam Panziera, CLT Sticks N’ Stones Nursery
BCLNA extends thanks to Certification partners who are dedicated to landscape industry standards and professionalism:
Premier Sponsors
Silver Sponsors HortEducationBC BC Safety Authority Facility Sponsor: Kwantlen Polytechnic University Equipment & Materials Sponsors Cedar Rim Nursery Creative Embroidery GardenWorks Fraser Valley Equipment Ltd. Impact Canopies Canada Inc. HortWest September 2010
14
BCMAL Report
AgriStability update Mohini Singh O.B.C., Communications Officer, AgriStability
Producers who apply for an interim benefit are required to complete and submit a final application for the 2009 program year. The AgriStability administration has started receiving final payment applications for the 2010 program year.
The first six months of this year have been extremely busy for the BC AgriStability administration. In the spring, representatives toured the province to explain the AgriStability program to producers and accountants. In response to producer demand, three additional sessions were also held. The information sessions were all well attended. In total 12 sessions were held to explain the program in detail and to let producers know how AgriStability can assist them. For most producers, summer is not vacation season; in fact it is just the opposite. Like the producers, the AgriStability administration has also been hard at work. Program administration is
living up to its commitment to deliver support in a timely manner. The 2009 interim payments are now complete. The deadline for producers to apply for an interim payment was March 31, 2010. An interim payment is approximately 50% of what a producer would expect their final benefit payment could be. The interim payment is made to assist producers when they face major cash flow problems. This year, the AgriStability administration received 199 interim applications for the 2009 program year. Verification staff have processed all the applications. This year, the program paid out $1,971,809.00 in interim payments.
For details on the program please visit our website at: www.agf.gov.bc.ca/agristability or call your regional AgriStability Representative at 1-877-343-2767.
Producers: please note the deadline to submit the 2009 AgriStability/AgriInvest Harmonized Form without penalty is September 30, 2010. If you miss the deadline to file the 2009 AgriStability/AgriInvest Harmonized form you have up to December 31, 2010 to send in your form but you face a penalty of $500.00 per month to a maximum of $1500.00. That is only if you are eligible for an AgriStability benefit. That penalty will be deducted from any AgriStability benefit you may receive.
• Raw materials purchased in advance helps to ensure product consistency and availability.
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• Multiple computers control the dosing equipment, increasing accuracy and speed. This makes it easier to offer competitively priced products. • Non-invasive mixing equipment protects the structure and consistency of the media.
HortWest September 2010 Sumas Gro-Media.indd 1
11/30/09 11:14:40 AM
15
Research Snippets Dave Woodske, Industry Specialist BCMAL
Cold Tolerance of Container-grown Green Ash Trees Is Influenced by Nitrogen Fertilizer Type and Rate (HortTechnology 20(2):292-303) –Oneyear-old bareroot green ash were grown in 7-gallon containers using a bark media supplemented with a starter charge of 11.6 g of nitrogen (N), and micro-nutrients and dolomitic lime. The trial ran from 5 May 2006 to 5 February 2007. The fertilizer treatments included: no additional N; topdressing 3 times with urea formaldehyde (UF); or topdressing once with a controlled release fertilizer (CRF) containing ammonium nitrate. Both fertilizers were applied at 16 g and 32 g rates of total N. The control trees, which received no additional N, were more cold tolerant than the UF- or CRF-treated trees. The control trees became cold tolerant earlier in the winter, developed a higher level of cold tolerance, and broke bud later in the spring relative to the UF- and CRF-treated trees. The rate of N application for the UF- and CRF-treated trees did not influence the cold tolerance of their buds or stems, with one exception. The stems of UF-treated trees were less cold tolerant in February 2007 at the 32 g relative to the 16 g rate of total N. The results also indicated that UF-treated trees may be more cold tolerant and retain cold tolerance longer in the spring than CRF-treated trees. The differences in cold tolerance between the UF and CRF treatments may be related to the effect of the fertilizer on plant growth, and on carbon and N accumulation in the new stems. On average, the CRF-treated trees accumulated 72% more biomass and N in new stems relative to the UF-treated trees. The authors concluded that “green ash trees with a similar N status can tolerate different levels of cold depending on the type of fertilizer used during production”, which is perhaps due to differences in how trees metabolize and store the different forms of N. HortWest September 2010
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