HOLIDAY WISHES FROM THE URBAN FARMER STORE
While 2020 brought many challenges, it made us appreciate most the hard work of our team members and the loyalty of customers like you.

When the going got tough this year (and there were plenty of frustrating times!), your patience and perseverance made a big difference.

We sincerely appreciate your support and loyalty during these unprecedented times.

We wish you happy holidays and a healthy, prosperous New Year.

The Urban Farmer Store
TAKE NOTE OF SPECIAL EVENTS IN DECEMBER

We will be closed on Saturday, December 12th for Inventory

We will also be closed Thursday December 24-Saturday December 26 for the Christmas holiday, and December 30-January 1 for the New Year holiday.

Please let us know of any special material needs you have during these dates, so we can make an advance plan to meet your requirements.
REGISTER NOW: FAST SOLUTIONS TO COMMON DRAINAGE PROBLEMS IN YOUR CUSTOMERS' LANDSCAPES
Learn how to identify and solve common landscape drainage problems in our free on-line seminar. Discover answers to these and other drainage questions:

  • What are the most common drainage issues your customers report?
  • How can these be solved easily with labor-saving NDS solutions?
  • How can you sell these solutions individually for existing landscapes or include drainage with new installations to prevent problems?
 
Tuesday, December 8 at 4pm via Zoom
Fast Solutions to Common Drainage Problems in Your Customers' Landscapes
CALIFORNIA SPRAY SPRINKLER REQUIREMENT REMINDER
Have you made the change? California law requires sale of only pressure-regulated spray bodies.

Put simply: you must install the PR product, as the non-PR versions cannot be sold in the state.

This change to a more water-efficient product will phase in water savings of up to 25% on spray zones. New installations will be more efficient. Existing systems can be upgraded for lower water bills.

Advise clients to update their systems. Many systems have sprays that are well-beyond their useful life and that are set at an incorrect grade for efficient operation. Encourage your customers to update all spray bodies when making repairs to enjoy immediate water savings. Remember: riser-mounted sprays need to be updated too. (It is often better to convert to drip irrigation in planting beds)

Efficient use of our statewide water resources will ensure the future health of our landscape industry.
URBAN FARMER'S DOUG ANTHONY JOINS CLCA EAST BAY BOARD
Congratulations to Doug Anthony on joining the leadership of the CLCA's East Bay Chapter. Doug is looking forward to helping with their many important initiatives.

As a reminder, Doug is a key resource for your large bids, complex projects, and everyday needs. Reach out to Doug for staff training, delivery, and any other questions: [email protected], 415-710-7707
PROTECT AGAINST EROSION & AVOID COSTLY FINES
With the rainy season coming soon, it's time to protect job sites from the perils of soil erosion, debris flows, and mudslides. 

The Urban Farmer Store offers a full line of erosion control products - and convenient delivery to your site.

We offer professional-grade erosion control mats, straw wattle, silt fence, jute netting & sand bags. We also carry stakes, staples and accessories needed for professional installation too.

Avoid costly problems, fines from not meeting government requirements and get a head start on the re-vegetation and regrowth of disturbed areas.    

Now is the time to make sure your job sites are compliant with storm water runoff regulations.  
MAKE A PLAN FOR 2021
2020 brought us a big windfall from the residential “forced staycation”. 

It also brought a lot of pain in impatient consumers, product shortages, awkward meetings and ongoing labor challenges. Planning got thrown out the window as everyone struggled to keep up.

Power up! No question that every company is ending the year with plenty of fatigue. It’s time to regroup and make a plan for the coming year.
 
Make a list of 2020s biggest issues – and fix them! Find out what keeps your team from being more productive. Eliminate persistent roadblocks.
 
Invest in your crew. Bring your leaders together and re-commit to your company values. Complete performance reviews for every employee on your team. Really take time to ask for and listen to suggestions for improvement.
 
Go for the “green light” projects. What makes your company unique? What can your team do better than any other firm in your market? There’s plenty of competition out there (and more entering every day). Maximize your success by using your strengths to your advantage. Stop saying “yes” to work that doesn’t fit. Understand what types of customers and projects you want to take.
 
Get your team to buy-into selling upgrades and add-ons.  This is the easiest way to grow your bottom line, but often fails from lack of effort. If the market softens a little, you’ll be glad you have something to fall back on. Is your team equipped to sell add-ons effortlessly?
SPOTLIGHT ON RESCAPE CALIFORNIA
Our friends at ReScape California continue to expand their useful tools and resources will help you plan, design and create beautiful sustainable landscapes and gardens. Recently, they offered a workshop on the Model Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance (MWELO) and the New Normal for California Landscaping.

Take time during the off-season to review all of the resources they've made available to help you improve your proposals and practices to deliver sustainable solutions to your customers.