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www.clcaslo.org

Volume 27, Issue 6June 2017

Board Meetings

Chapter Board Meetings are typically held on the third Wednesday of the month at 5 p.m. at Ewing Irrigation, 1175 Prospect St., San Luis Obispo. Upcoming meetings:

• June 23

• July 19

• August 23

In This Issue:

• President's Message• Combating a Leaking

Pressure Vacuum Breaker•Sponsor Spotlight: Bayer• Member Benefit: Peer

Consulting• CLCA Annual Convention

in Scottsdale, AZ

Join us for the

Beautification Awards Program

Friday, June 23, 20175:30 p.m.Ventana Grill2575 Price StreetPismo Beach

Summer is almost here and our chapter’s 2017 Beautification Awards event is fast approaching. This event is an opportunity for you to showcase your best projects and enter in a competition of the finest landscapes here on our Central Coast. Judging will take place June 2 and 3, and we hope you will join us for the awards ceremony on Friday, June 23, at 5:30 p.m. at a new venue on the beach, Ventana Grill in Pismo Beach.

As an "award winning landscape contractor" you can show your company pro-vides top of the line, professional services. No matter the size of your company or your projects, your work is important and deserves to be recognized! The awards are also great for employee morale and provide an incentive for your employees to do their best.

Join us at the Awards Banquet on Friday, June 23 at Ventana Grill, 2575 Price Street, Pismo Beach. A cocktail reception begins at 5:30 p.m. Dinner and the pre-sentation of awards to follow. Please visit our website at http://clcaslo.org/j_ip/ to RSVP and register for the event by Friday, June 16, 2017. Cash, check or credit card will be accepted at the door. Or contact Levi Marks with your RSVP at levimarks@ewingirrigation.com. The cost is $55.00 per person. A table of eight for the same company is $385.00.

2 s l o x p r e s s J u n e 2 0 1 7

2017 San Luis Obispo Chapter OfficersPresident ................................Evan Moffitt, KD Janni Landscaping, Inc. ..... evanmoffitt@kdjanni.com ..............805-748-8931Immediate Past President ....Mike Kneeskern, Central Coast Landscape Products ................. michael@cclandscapeproducts.com 805-595-3478VP, Membership / PR ..........Taylor Boyle ........................................................ taylor@purlieulandscapes.com......805-709-6319VP Programs .........................Levi Marks, Ewing Irrigation .......................... levimarks@ewingirrigation.com .. 805-598-7291Secretary ................................Brandon Delon, Left Side Landscape .............. leftsidelandscape@gmail.com....... 805-440-7051Treasurer ................................TBDAssociate Member Rep ........Gary Abney ........................................................ gabney@airvolblock.com ................805-543-1314Board Member ......................Pat Connelly, St. Francis Landscape................ stflandscape@gmail.com ................805-235-1859Editor ...................................... Jerrie Beard, Beard & Associates ..................... info@beardassociates.com .............. 530-621-1701

Birch Equipment Finance ................................................... 7Coastline Equipment ........................................................... 6Ewing Irrigation ................................................................... 4Farm Supply ......................................................................... 3Greenfields Turf ................................................................... 8Gro-Power, Inc. .................................................................... 2Growing Grounds Farm (TMHA) ..................................... 3Landscape Contractors Insurance Services, Inc. ............ 8Olson Irrigation Systems .................................................... 3Quinn Company ................................................................... 5Rossi Transport Services .................................................... 8San Marcos Growers ........................................................... 8 West Coast Turf ..................................................................... 7

Please support our advertisers by remembering them first when making your next purchase. Let them know you saw their ad in the SLO Xpress!

Thank you to all of the companies that generously support our chapter newsletter by placing an advertisement.

CLCA Board of DirectorsPresident .........................Tim Hendricks ....... (925) 957-8831President-Elect ...............Aaron Huxley ........ (415) 256-1711Past President .................Steve Jacobs ............(760) 945-4321Secretary/Treasurer ......Andrew Simpson ...(916) 721-1635Executive Director .........Sandra Giarde ........ (916) 830-2780DIRECTORSCommunications ...........Jerrie Beard .............(530) 621-1701Legislation ......................Michael Martin ......(805) 644-7188Events ..............................Elizabeth Burns ......(310) 831-6132

SLO CLCA Past Presidents2014-15

Mike KneeskernCentral Coast

Landscape Products2012-13

David BrownMari Landscaping

2011Aaron Huxley

Hunter Industries

2009-10 Erik Wolting

All Seasons Gardening & Landscaping

2007–08Jim Trask

California Water Shapes

2005-06Erik Wolting

All Seasons Gardening & Landscaping

2004John Doyle

J Doyle Landscaping2002–03

Pat ConnellySt. Francis Landscape

1998–2001Bruce Courter

Day Star Enterprises, Inc.1996–98

Lloyd GraceyPacific Coast Landscapes

1995Danté D’Alfonso

D’Alfonso’s Landscape

Guide to Advertisers

Education ........................Mike Salceanu ....... (619) 322-2664 Membership ...................Peter Rosen ............ (510) 697-2460Resource Mngmnt .........Ed Wallace .............. (562) 755-9914Associate Member .........Andrew Baker ....... (714) 432-7205Co-Director Chapter Pres. Council Regan Barry ........... (831) 438-4747Co-Director Chapter Pres. Council Paul Henderson ..... (714) 235-1427

1994Duane Morris

Duane Morris LandscapeDesigner/Contractor

1993John Ruggiero

Arcadian Gardens1991-92

Bruce CourterDay Star Enterprises

J u n e 2 0 1 7 s l o x p r e s s 3

Serving your irrigation needs since 1950

EH-12 EMITTERA BETTER IDEA BY DESIGN

A logical idea - Drip irrigation in a head -

twelve individual pressure compensating

outlets. The patented filter is built right into

the unit, and good filtration is what makes

drip work.

Drip irrigation designed for landscape

- not adapted to it. Call or write for more

information.

10910 Wheatlands Ave.Santee, CA 92071619 562-3100, 800 77OLSONFAX: 619 562-2724

Evan Moffitt, CLCA–SLO PresidentKD Janni Landscaping Inc.

president’s message

Our chapter beautification awards pro-gram will be here shortly, and I can't wait to see all the incredible landscapes our members have entered. Let me be the first to congratulate you for entering and for hopefully receiving an award at the June 23 banquet.

The quality of work entered was simply astounding! Our chapter members cer-tainly are rocking the landscape business in our area. A list of the winners, along with photos of the winning projects will be in next month's issue and on our chap-

ter website at www.clcaslo.org. Again, congratulations to all, and keep up the great work!

Plans are under way for the 16th Annual Golf Tournament on Friday, October 6. I know this seems early to start promoting this, but you know how summers always go.... quickly. It will be fall before you know it, so register early for this fun event. It's a great excuse to get out of the office, or away from the job, and network with your peers—get the inside scoop on a new product from a supplier, share your experiences on a challeng-ing project, get some free advice from a competitor—or just enjoy a day of golf. We are also looking for sponsors to help support the event and support students at Cal Poly. Watch for entry and sponsor information coming soon.

The CLCA Annual Convention will be held in Scottsdale, Arizona this year. I en-courage all of you to put it on your calen-dar (November 15-18) and make an effort to attend some of the educational ses-sions as well as the General Membership meeting. Not only will you learn a thing or two, but you'll get to see how the state organization functions and be part of the decision making process. Oh, and there's

Enjoy Benefits of MembershipFrom the insurance, to the educational programs, to the networking opportu-nities, CLCA members will tell you that their involvement with the association is invaluable. For more information about CLCA or to join, visit www.clca.org or call 800-448-2522.

also a golf tournament. Visit www.clca.org/convention for more information and to register. Southwest Airlines is having some good sales right now, so make plans early and save!

You may have noticed ads promoting the CLCA Advantage in the past few newsletters. CLCA has some great and beneficial programs that can help your business be more profitable. I encourage you to take advantage of them.

I hope you are all enjoying the summer, spending time with family and friends, and staying cool! If you are interested in getting more involved with your chapter or have ideas on how we can better serve your needs, please let me know. You are always welcome to attend our board meet-ings, held on the third Wednesday of the month at Ewing Irrigation in SLO. I hope to see you soon.

4 s l o x p r e s s J u n e 2 0 1 7

It’s like clockwork. At the end of winter, contractors turn on water at the main valve and experience problems with water gushing out of breaker valves. The culprit is often a leaking pressure vacuum break-er (PVB).

Local building codes, established for safety measures, require backflow devices be used on all watering systems.

“Local codes should always be fol-lowed,” said Robert Manko, an 11 year Ewing Service Professional.

Because there’s usually only one water system at a property—for purposes of consumption, household use and irriga-tion use—the risk of cross-connection contamination is high. Protecting against the backflow of water, a PVB’s purpose is to prevent non-potable water from en-tering into the water supply through the irrigation system’s outlets.

Damage to a PVB’s internal components may occur from either the normal use of pressure over time, debris working its way under the canopy, or freezing condi-tions. Leaks are detected from underneath

the bonnet assembly of the valve.If the source of the leaking PVB is a

faulty poppet seal, then 15 minutes is ap-proximately the time needed to repair it. Manko suggested allowing for an hour’s worth of time if the entire body needs to be replaced.

While installing a whole new valve is an option, there’s another way to fix the leak. Rebuild kits—individual repair parts for the valve—are available at Ewing and are specific to each PVB model.

First, begin by removing the canopy by unthreading the three screws that hold the canopy in place. When the bonnet is unscrewed from the body, remove the poppet assembly. Now the poppet assem-ble is ready to be rebuilt.

You’ll want to then remove the nut from the poppet guide, as well as the washer and seal. Remove the check spring after you reassemble the poppet assembly. Once the spring is out, remove the spider assembly and replace the seal. Check for wear or cracking along the valve seat. If there are any problems with the body

Combating a Leaking Pressure Vacuum BreakerBy Mark Heaps, marketing communications coordinator for Ewing Irrigation

or the seat, the whole unit should be replaced, according to Manko. Finally, reassemble in reverse order.

To save time on the job site, be proactive and use preventative measures. Blow out the underground sprinkler lines right before winter. To do this, shut off the irri-gation isolation valve and use compressed air to blow out the water in the lines.

“An air valve—or Shrader valve—can be plumbed in using a tee fitting, which is placed between the isolation valve and the PVB,” Manko said.

By doing this, compressed air is blown into the lines through the PVB and out the heads.

J u n e 2 0 1 7 s l o x p r e s s 5

Bayer is the only global company simul-taneously researching improvements in human, animal and plant health. Systematic and intensive collaboration among researchers beyond their original specialization is providing new impetus. From world-renowned pharmaceutical products to high-tech platforms, from innovative diagnostics technologies to veterinary medicines – Bayer lives an innovation culture across national borders and areas of research.

Bayer is a Life Science company with a more than 150-year history and core com-petencies in the areas of health care and agriculture. With their innovations, they

are contributing to finding solutions to some of the major challenges of our time.

Bayer's agricultural initiatives and products are aimed at making a contribu-tion to one of society’s greatest challenges - food security. Every second, the world’s population increases by another three people. By the year 2050, there will be almost 10 billion humans on this planet. Bayer wants to help ensure a safe supply of food, now and in the future.

Bayer's Crop Science’s product portfolio focuses on: •high-value seeds • innovative chemical and biological

pest management solutions including

Chapter Sponsor Spotlight: Bayer fungicides, herbicides, and insecticides • extensive customer service for modern

and sustainable agricultureThe growing resistance of weeds to some herbicides is making it more difficult for farmers to manage their fields profitably. Bayer is exploring new directions in its search for new herbicides with alternative mechanisms of action and collaborating with the start-up company Targenomix.

Before crop protection products and technologies can be introduced to the market, they must demonstrate that they are harmless to people and animals and can be used without causing unjustifiable burden on the environment. For this they require official authorization, which is regulated by numerous international and national laws and provisions. Bayer satis-fies all the regulatory requirements of the countries in which their products are sold to protect crops.

It takes roughly 10 years for a crop pro-tection product or technology to complete the entire development process including all studies and be launched onto the mar-ket. Bayer also observes the International Code of Conduct on Pesticide Management of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

6 s l o x p r e s s J u n e 2 0 1 7

One of the most valuable aspects of membership in the California Landscape Contractors Association is access to pertinent information.

• What do I have to do to find and retain good employees?• How do I bid on a public works project?• How can I better market the fact that I have practiced

Feng Shui for a dozen years?For the answers to these questions and more, CLCA mem-bers can turn to the association’s Peer Consulting Service. This valuable service links members with experts in des-ignated areas and facilitates a sharing of information and insights about the challenges and problems we all face.

CLCA’s Peer Consultants are experienced contractors who have “been there, done that,” and they offer practical, com-mon sense advice to help you develop a solution. Depending on the complexity of your situation, you may want to sup-plement their input by consulting with a certified financial professional or attorney.The CLCA Member AdvantageCLCA membership comes with a wide range of advantages that can help you gain a competitive edge. Visit our web-site at http://clca.org/member/member_home.php to find out how you can benefit from our HR Hotline, Flyer's Fuel Program, Legal Contracts Online, Lien Paperwork, and more!

CLCA's Peer Consulting ServiceMEMBERCLCA

There may be an easier way.

clca.org/peer-consulting

Do you have questions about green industry topics, but are not quite sure who to ask? If so, check out the California Landscape Contractors Association’s Peer Consulting Service.

Participants have agreed to share their knowledge and experience with fellow members in specific subject areas. They may have an answer or solution you can apply to your own situation.

Also, if you would like to be a Peer Consultant, please email johnsassaman@clca.org.

J u n e 2 0 1 7 s l o x p r e s s 7

Thank you to your 2017 sponsorsThank you to the following companies for their generous support of the CLCA San Luis Obispo Chapter. Please support the firms who support our chapter.

Annual ConventionPlan to join friends and colleagues in Scottsdale, Arizona November 15-18 for the CLCA 2017 Annual Convention.

Scottsdale is the perfect setting for networking with friends and colleagues while relaxing in a beautiful desert setting. The remarkable clarity of light, exotic cactus blossoms and lush desert landscape create an environment that will leave you inspired.

Our host hotel is the Scott Resort & Spa. CLCA members will enjoy the lush, se-cluded grounds that showcase colorfully landscaped gardens, a tropical courtyard, a sandy-beach pool and a pool lagoon.

ReservationsTo make your room reservation:

• Call their Central Reservations Line at (866) 267-1321

•Hotel Direct Line: (480) 945-7666

Room rate: $175 single or double room/$15 resort fee*

8 s l o x p r e s s J u n e 2 0 1 7

WHOLESALEREDWOOD • FIR • CEDAR

BARK • SOIL AMENDMENTSERRO-CONTROL STRAW

PLAYGROUND FIBER

STEVEN L. ROSSIVICE PRESIDENTRES. (805) 466-6195

PHONE (805) 434-2884(800) 321-3092 • FAX (805) 434-0877

P.O. BOX 120 • ROSSI ROADTEMPLETON, CA 93465

June 17Watershed Approach to Landscape Design 9 am. - 5 p.m.

Santa Maria Library Shepard Hall, 421 S. McClelland Street in Santa Maria.For info, email mritchie@cityofsantamaria.org or call at 805-925-0951 ext. 7235.

June 23Chapter Awards Banquet - 5:30 p.m.

NEW Venue! Ventana Grill, 2575 Price StreetPismo Beach. 5:30 p.m. cocktail hour, dinner and awards to follow. Judging to take place June 2 and 3.

June 29 and 30Watershed Wise Landscape Professional Training - 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

This certification is designed to train profes-sionals and their clients on the benefits of building healthy living soil and managing rainwater to reduce irrigation. If interested register online at GreenGardensGroup.com/events.

July 19Chapter Board Meeting - 5 p.m.

Ewing Irrigation, 1175 Prospect St., San Luis Obispo.

August 23Chapter Board Meeting - 5 p.m.

Ewing Irrigation, 1175 Prospect St., San Luis Obispo.

Calendar of Events

Peggy Koegler

Sales Manager

Phone: (805) 683-1561Fax: (805) 964-1329peggy@smgrowers.comhttp://www.smgrowers.com

125 S. San Marcos RdP.O. Box 6827Santa Barbara, CA93160-6827

August 23General Meeting and BBQ - 6 p.m.

AirVol Block, 1 Suburban Rd, San Luis Obispo.

September 20Chapter Board Meeting - 5 p.m.

Ewing Irrigation, 1175 Prospect St., San Luis Obispo.

October 6Chapter Golf Tournament

Details TBA

October 18Chapter Board Meeting/General Meeting/Elections - 5 p.m.

Details TBA

November 15-18CLCA Annual Convention

The Scott Resort & Spa, Scottsdale, AZ.

November 16Chapter Board Meeting - 5 p.m.

Ewing Irrigation, 1175 Prospect St., San Luis Obispo.

Associate your company with our brand through the Landscape Cetified Technician Test to set yourself apart in today’s competitive green industry. Upcoming test dates are:

Individual Benefits Of Certification• Validate your landscape skills, profes-

sionalism and commitment to safety.• Stand out from others in the company

and in the industry, and create opportu-nities for career advancement.

• Ability to meet minimum job requirements.

• Persons passing a Certification Test will receive a certificate, identification card, logo items and recognition on NALP's Honor Wall.

Employer Benefits of Certification• Give your company a competitive edge

and the opportunity to sell more services by advertising that you have certified employees on staff.

• Show professionalism and expertise when you display credentials in your marketing efforts with logos/decals/certificates.

• Meet minimum job requirements in bids and RFPs that require a certified

The San Luis Obispo SLO Xpress is published eleven times a year for the San Luis Obispo Chapter of the California Landscape Contractors Association (SLO CLCA).

Contact us at: SLO Xpress, C/O Jerrie Beard & Associates, PO Box 7, Pollock Pines, CA 95726. Phone: 800-605-1701. News releases, public service announcements, photos and other correspondence may be directed to the above address or sent via e-mail to info@beardassociates.com.

• Copy and advertising deadlines are on the 15th of the month pre-ceding publication.

• For information about advertising opportunities and rates, contact Jerrie Beard at 800.605.1701.

The opinions expressed in byline articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the San Luis Obispo Chapter or the publisher.