The Leaflet Fall 2006

“MNLA” Means You

By Robin Childers, CAE, MNLA Executive Director

Among businesses that provide goods and services to any industry, Associations are particularly unique (and wonderful) in that the products and services they provide are developed by those who use them. Associations themselves are directed by the people they serve. When any of us talk about the Montana Nursery & Landscape Association, its accomplishments (or failings), its mission, its future, we’re talking about you, its members.

Like any other professional or trade association, the Montana Nursery & Landscape Association (MNLA) is a combination of benefits and services its members want and those they are willing to “pay” for through dues and

volunteer labor. Unlike many products that you buy, where you simply lay cash down on the counter and take the item home, plug it in, or turn it on, what you get out of your Association membership depends largely upon what you put into it. It’s a little like high-end computer

Associations are particularly unique (and wonderful) in that the products and services they provide are developed by those who use them.

software; highly customizable and incredibly powerful, you can’t do much with it until you take the time to go through the tutorial or crack open the manual.

As someone who has worked with associations for nearly two decades, it gets harder and harder to hide the disappointment I feel when a former member tells me she dropped her membership because she just couldn’t see any benefit in it. It always seems like these are folks who never attend Association-sponsored education or networking events, don’t use Association resources like the listserv or website, and have never called the office with a question or request. “Of course,” I want to say, “Nobody benefits from a resource they never use.”

I’ve decided to take a preventative approach to the above encounter, rather than wallow in my disappointment, by offering MNLA members some tips on how to get the most out of your membership:

Ask.

If you’re nagged by an industry-related question, call the MNLA office. I certainly don’t have the answer to everything. . . in fact, I don’t have the answer to many things. . . but I may have knowledge of or access to industry resources you’re not familiar with. Two heads are often better than one.

Continued on Page 3

“Immigration Reform Must Be Comprehensive,” Leading Grower Tells Congress.

The 2005 National Gardening Survey Finds Home Gardening is More Popular than Ever.

Good,Better,Best:How to Improve Gas Mileage.

Mailing Address

Ph:(406) 251-5232

251-5270

www.plantingmontana.com

Disclaimer:

The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, directors or staff and do not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services. Likewise, the appearance of advertisements, or their identification as members of the MNLA does not constitute an endorsement of the products or featured services.

Reprint Permission:

Reprints of original articles may be granted upon request. Contact Robin Childers, robin@plantingmontana.com, with requests.

Advertising & News Deadlines:

The Leaflet is published in March, June, August, and November. All advertising and news copy is due to MNLA by the following deadlines preceding the month of publication: February 15, May 15, July 15, October 15.

Participate (read • listen • attend).

I know, this is a challenge for all of us, myself included. We don’t allow ourselves enough time to read our trade publications, electronic newsletters, membership benefit booklets; we don’t attend enough educational programs; we don’t take advantage of networking opportunities with our peers and so on. How can we expect to reach any goal without participating? (No matter what the goal is — a closer family, a more successful business, a comfortable retirement, a fulfilling life. . .) The answer isn’t consoling. (If you are hoping that a supportive crowd is going to carry you across the finish line, you’re likely to be disappointed.) Take a baby step today; commit to reading one article in The Leaflet today. Look, you’ve come six paragraphs already!

Suggest.

If you aren’t finding what you are looking for from MNLA resources or you have an idea about a membership benefit that might be helpful, suggest it. Call the MNLA office or talk to a Board member.

And for those who want to get the very most from their Association: Volunteer. No one gets more out of their Association than members who volunteer. Volunteers have the most opportunities to learn the industry, its players and resources, and best of all, they help to give the industry the shape they believe it should take. ■

Pest of Pine Trees

Found in Trap near Kalispell

A destructive pest of Christmas trees and nursery plants has been found in a monitoring trap in the Kalispell area, the Montana Department of Agriculture reported. The European pine shoot moth affects all species of pines. Spray treatments are available, although careful timing is required to control the tiny insect. Additional

pheromone-scented traps will be placed in the Kalispell area to determine if an infestation exists or if only a few adult moths might have arrived on evergreen trees brought into Montana, said Patricia Denke, entomologist with the department.

The pest is widespread in the northern United States and is a major problem in landscape pines and Christmas trees. Infestations exist in British Columbia, Idaho, North Dakota and Washington. Larvae measure up to one centimeter in length and feed on needle buds, frequently destroying the growing tip and causing misshaped trees, Denke said.

The pest affects primarily pine species and should not be confused with the western spruce budworm that is damaging evergreens in Montana and other western states, she said. The European pine shoot moth is smaller and adults are distinctly orange and silver.

The Montana Department of Agriculture regularly monitors for the European pine shoot moth and requires certification that imported trees and pine shrubs do not carry the pest, according to Kimberly Merenz, pest management program manager at the department. She said landowners and businesses in the area where the two adult males were found may be contacted by the department. Additional traps are being placed in the area to help in determining what action to take. ■

For more information on the European pine shoot moth and on quarantine pests, contact Kimberly Merenz at the Montana Department of Agriculture at (406) 444-3730 or by email at agr@mt.gov.

We All Make Mistakes

By Jim Paluch

Doesn’t it feel great to be right? To have ideas that make a difference and actions that get results. We all love to make wise decisions, smart moves, and positive progress in our work and personal relationships. Nothing, in fact, builds confidence more than knowing we have made the right choice and maybe helped someone else do the same.

What happens, however, when we simply mess up? How do we handle it when we are facing a big, ugly mistake? What happens when our judgment was in error or a lack of discipline allowed circumstance to rule? How do we deal with the inevitable in ourselves and others . . . imperfection, error, misjudgment, carelessness? When mistakes happen, and they will, BIG and small . . . what is our next move, how will we react, what action will be taken to move us in the right direction?

It is no revelation to state that we all make mistakes. Because we are human, we will always be surrounded by “human error.” The way we learn to manage mistakes,

however, determines their positive or negative impact on us and the value we’ll place on experiencing them, as well as their frequency and our ability to minimize them in the future.

Mistakes come in every size and magnitude, and although they may be predictable at times, by watching choices leading up to them, they also hold a huge element of surprise that keeps us fresh and creative in learning how to deal with each. Some are small and inconsequential, silly, lazy, irritating and possibly even amusing. Some are simply inconvenient and waste valuable time while others have far-reaching effects to us and others. Some mistakes are innocent and easily corrected, while others just can’t be fixed . . . life-changing, irrevocable blunders that we just need to face and move on.

Below are two scenarios to consider while thinking about how Mistakes are closely woven into life. Have fun as you consider your personal role on both sides of any mistake and make a conscious strategy for your responses in the future.

Mistake’s on Me

It is usually easier to deal with a mistake that has been made by someone else. When we see an action independent of us, then objectivity is more easily accessed and called upon. Very often however we are faced with the clear fact that the “Mistake is on me this time!” Here are a few things to do then . . .

Recognize It – Sometimes a big, ugly mistake is staring you in the face and you know that you put it there. Other

Continued on Page 6

times however, the biggest challenge is to recognize that you have made a mistake. Be honest with yourself and recognize the reality.

Own It – Ownership actually gives you power over the situation. We can expend tremendous energy denying our mistake or step up and face the mistake head on with renewed belief in ourselves with positive expectations. There is power in the simple statement, “I was wrong . . .”

Correct It – Be objective, evaluate the situation and then see what you can do to improve it. Most mistakes can be corrected or improved upon and it is our job to make sure that happens. Personal responsibility leads to change and positive action revitalizes your confidence.

Accept It – We have all made mistakes that can never be completely corrected or forgotten. Learn to accept the things you cannot change and allow the experience to make you a stronger, wiser person in the future.

Forgive It – Forgiving yourself and the variety of mistakes that come with being “you” is one of the most difficult disciplines of all. Remember, what’s done is done and remind yourself on the tough days, “I am not my mistakes. I am a ‘human becoming’!”

Learn from It – Where would we be without all the little (and big) goof ups along the way? Who we are is a combination of all the choices we have made throughout our lifetime and how we have learned from each experience to become better. The greatest thing to learn from making mistakes is to LEARN FROM MAKING MISTAKES!

Move Past It – No matter what mistake threatens to discourage, dishearten, or paralyze your ability to move past it, know one thing . . . this too shall pass and you will move beyond it. Every time you recognize, own, analyze, accept, forgive and learn from any mistake you have made, you become a greater person far beyond what you would have been without the journey of that mistake.

Mistake’s on You

As a parent, leader, spouse or friend we also get to experience the learning process that comes with watching others make mistakes. Our role in dealing with error from someone else in any of these relationships can become both the most challenging and the most rewarding of times. When we learn to take the following steps after someone else makes a mistake, we can not only help them benefit and grow but also learn a lot about ourselves in the process. Nothing is more frustrating than watching a child or an employee make a choice that is obviously a mistake in our eyes. When we can allow them to work though the previous steps mentioned while supporting their efforts with the four steps below, the future will be created again as everyone continues to learn from mistakes and make great choices as a result.

Objectively Analyze It – Take time to think before you react. In fact, don’t react; respond in a way that helps the other person see their responsibility today and in the future. Be realistic and honest as you help others face

mistakes by first considering how their actions affect them, their future, the family, the company, your relationship, etc.

Learn from It – Without taking the responsibility upon yourself, you can still consider how you might have contributed or possibly detracted from this mistake. What can you learn from the experience in addition to what the other person should be learning from their mistake?

Forgive It – No one benefits from an unforgiving attitude. Even if it comes to the point of taking a hard stand for the best of that person and others, it is still better to forgive the past before you move on.

Move Past It - Be willing to let others prove they can move beyond their mistakes and then be willing to move on yourself. Even when poor choices may continue to happen, you can take what you’ve learned from these experiences and ultimately help yourself and others in the future. ■

Quotes

“MISTAKES ARE NEVER FINAL AND THE RESULTS NEVER FATAL AS LONG AS WE LEARN TO FAIL FORWARD AND LEARN.”

- JIM PALUCH

“Success does not consist in never making mistakes but in never making the same one a second time.”

- George Bernard Shaw

“The greatest right in the world is the right to be wrong.”

- William Randolph

“Mistakes are painful when they happen,but years later a collection of mistakes is what is called experience.”

- Denis Waitley

“Once we realize that imperfect understanding is the human condition, there is no shame in being wrong, only in failing to correct our mistakes.”

- George Soros

“The difference between greatness and mediocrity is often how an individual views a mistake.”

- Nelson Boswell

If you want to learn more about the power of PEOPLE SOLUTIONS THAT DRIVE BUSINESS PERFORMANCE, contact:

JP Horizons Inc. P. O. Box 2039

Painesville, OH 44077

Phone: (440) 352-8211

Fax: (800) 715-8326

e-mail: jim@jphorizons.com web site: www.jphorizons.com

Best of Montana Landscape Competition

By William S. Pond, MLA, ASLA, MNLA 3rd Vice President

This is the time of year when we are in full swing of landscape construction, sales and material delivery. Unfortunately, our relationships with the site, construction phase and finished work are often short lived. Periodically we need a reminder that it is important to take time to photograph our projects. Obviously, snapshots of your better jobs are valued for advertisement. You also can share your photos with employees, designers and clients to clearly express landscape ideas and demonstrate plants, landscape material and construction applications. Record your accomplishments on film while you have a chance.

Now you have more justification to invest a little time into photographing landscape work. Please read the attached announcement presenting the MNLA 2006-Best of Montana Landscape Competition. The official submittal instructions will be sent out the later part of July. In the mean time, consider the following opportunity for your company. The success of this project is dependent on having a sufficient quantity of contestants. We need your participation to make this a special program. If you have any questions, please free feel free to contact me. If you are interested in participating, I would really appreciate it if you could respond to me by email as soon as possible.

MNLA 2006-Best of Montana Landscape Competition

Attention MNLA Members:

Do you have a favorite project that you and your company supplied materials for, designed or constructed?

Celebrate your work and share it with your MNLA colleagues. Support this event and register.

Registration

How do I or my company enter the competition?

Contestants register by mail no later than August 14th. Each contestant pays a $25.00 entry fee and sends in a completed application form identifying the project name and category.

Eligibility & Project Categories

What kind of landscape work is appropriate for this competition and who can enter? Any current member of MNLA is an entitled contestant. Present projects that you have participated in that you consider special work. This year we hope to receive projects for review from four different categories of landscape contracting.

• Landscape Maintenance • Commercial & public Space

• Residential • Restoration, Reclamation & Erosion control

Continued on Page 8

If a company or individual has supplied plant and landscape material for, or provided design or contracting services toward a special Montana landscape project, they are encouraged to register such work for the competition.

Awards and Benefits

What are the prizes?

* Entry fee proceeds shall be awarded to winning applicants as follows:

60 % of collected entry fees1st place winner

25 % “ “ “2nd place winner

15% “ “ “ 3rd place winner

*Winning contestants work shall be put on display at the Annual MNLA meeting in Billings.

Four reasons why you should enter:

1. To promote professionalism of the Montana landscape industry.

2. To create a sense of pride within your company.

3. To educate the public, students and members about current industrial trends.

4. To gain an advertising opportunity for your company.

Winner Selection Process

Who will be judging the work? A group of five individuals will be invited to review your work. The selected panel of judges may include individuals who are landscape architects, Montana homeowners, members of garden clubs, park & recreation landscape professionals, professors and students of landscape design.

The competition - step by step outline

1. Judges will be provided general criteria in writing for their use reviewing applicants’ work.

2. Invitation and instructions are written for applicants.

3. Invitations are mailed.

4. Contestants register, send in fee, specify name of project and category.

5. Contestants photograph work, prepare drawings, Power Point Program etc.

6. Work is submitted for review includes 20 images of the project (prints & Powerpoint Presentation).

7. Judges review and choose three best projects.

8. Prize money and results are sent out.

9. MSU-Bozeman prepares display for annual meeting.

10, Winning contestants work goes on display at the annual meeting.

What is the contest schedule?

July 7 Advertisement for entries

August 14Registration

Oct 2`Submittal deadline

Nov 17 Announcement of winners

Photography Assistance

Do you need a help with your photography? No time for photography? If you would like to enter but are hesitant because you don’t own a good camera, are too busy or for other reasons, you may request a photo session with Assistant Professor Bill Pond, MSU-Bozeman. He needs photos for class material for class lectures and is interested in studying your work. Call or email him at MSU 406-994-5048, wpond@montana.edu ■

Top-Ten Reasons Why People Quit Their Jobs

By Gregory P. Smith

There are many reasons why good employees quit, most are preventable. From my years of experience as a consultant, I’ve identified a “Top Ten” list of reasons why people leave jobs:

1. Management demands that one person do the jobs of two or more people, resulting in longer days and weekend work.

2. Management cuts back on administrative help, forcing professional workers to use their time copying, stapling, collating, filing and other clerical duties.

3. Management puts a freeze on raises and promotions, when an employee can easily find a job earning 20-30 percent more somewhere else.

4. Management doesn’t allow the rank and file to make decisions or allow them pride of ownership. A visitor to my website E-mailed me a message that said, “Forget about the “professional” decisions—how about when you can’t even select the company’s holiday card without the President rejecting it for one of his own taste?”

5. Management constantly reorganizes, shuffles people around, and changes direction constantly.

6. Management doesn’t have or take the time to clarify goals and decisions. Therefore, it rejects work after it was completed, damaging the morale and esteem of those who prepared it.

7. Management shows favoritism and gives some workers better offices, trips to conferences, etc.

8. Management relocates the offices to another location, forcing employees to quit or double their commute.

9. Management promotes someone who lacks training and/or necessary experience to supervisor, alienating staff and driving away good employees.

10. Management creates a rigid structure and then allows departments to compete against each other while at the same time preaching teamwork and cooperation. Interesting, isn’t it — that all ten factors begin with the phrase “Management. . .” Interesting, too, just how many of these high-turnover factors are preventable? My retention survey confirmed the truth of the saying, “Employees

don’t quit their companies, they quit their bosses.” Thirty five percent of the respondents answered yes to the question, Was the attitude of your direct supervisor/manager the primary factor in your quitting a previous job?

Soft management skills—people skills—are the critical element in battling high turnover and creating a highretention workforce or what I call, “retentionship.”

Excerpt from the book, Here Today, Here Tomorrow: Transforming Your Workforce from High Turnover to High Retention by Chart Your Course International

Free newsletter: If you would like more employee retention tips, advice and a free subscription to the Navigator newsletter please send an e-mail message to navigator@chartcourse.com.

Gregory P. Smith shows businesses how to build productive and profitable work environments that attract, keep and motivate their workforce. He is the author of the book, Here Today Here Tomorrow: Transforming Your Workforce from High-Turnover to High-Retention. He speaks at conferences, conducts management training and is the President of a management consulting firm called Chart Your Course International located in Conyers, Georgia. Phone him at 770-860-9464. To check out his website that is packed with information you need to grow your business, I highly recommend visiting his website at http://www.chartcourse.com ■

“Immigration Reform Must Be Comprehensive,” Leading Grower Tells Congress

“What happened to me will happen to growers and producers all over the country, except they won’t have the resources to survive it,” southern California tomato grower

Luawanna Hallstrom told Congress at a hearing held today by the House Education and Workforce Committee. Hallstrom, the nation’s largest producer of vine-ripe tomatoes, farms on a military reservation. After September 11, 2001, her company’s workforce was subjected to electronic verification of identity and work eligibility, and the company lost 75% of its labor force overnight.

Extensive advertising found virtually no American workers available and willing to work the harvest, so Hallstrom’s company was forced to enter into the decades-old H-2A guest worker program. By the time the first workers arrived, over $2.5 million worth of crop had rotted in the fields. Asked whether American workers might be found, Hallstrom said “Americans do not raise their children to be farm workers but aspire for higher education and upward mobility.” She went on to describe an ambitious effort to recruit domestic workers to fill seasonal agricultural jobs in eight rural counties compromising the San Joaquin Valley of California in the late 1990’s. At that time, agricultural organizations sought the assistance of state and county Social Services departments to recruit persons to work in agriculture. The effort was encouraged by Senator Dianne Feinstein and was overseen by State agencies, working in cooperation with the growers. Of the 137,000 able-bodied candidates identified by the welfare agencies in the San

Joaquin Valley, only 503 applied for work and only 3 actually showed up to work.

The Education and Workforce Committee hearing offered an opportunity for witnesses and testimony

to cover a broader range of views than featured in many other recent House hearings. “We are grateful that Chairman McKeon selected a farmer with a wealth of experience and insight to share her story, and the realities confronting agriculture” said Tom Nassif, president of Western Growers Association.

“What happened to me will happen to growers and producers all over the country, except they won’t have the resources to survive it,” southern California tomato grower Luawanna Hallstrom told Congress at a hearing held by the House Education and Workforce Committee. Hallstrom, the nation’s largest producer of vine-ripe tomatoes, farms on a military reservation. After September 11, 2001, her company’s workforce was subjected to electronic verification of identity and work eligibility, and the company lost 75% of its labor force overnight.

Hallstrom’s testimony painted a picture of an industry deeply at risk if Congress fails to approach immigration reform in a comprehensive way. She spoke of labor shortages that are already occurring nationwide, from the California and Arizona border, through California’s Central Valley, to Michigan and Florida, and urged Congress to move to the negotiating table to produce a good final immigration reform package. Hallstrom said, “Agriculture has been actively encouraging Congress for the past ten years to fix the broken immigration system and provide our vital industry a means to obtain a legal workforce. We cannot wait another year.”

The Agriculture Coalition for Immigration Reform (ACIR) is the broad national coalition representing all sectors of laborintensive agriculture. ACIR is comprised of over 150 national, regional, and state organizations representing producers of fruit and vegetable, dairy, poultry, livestock, nursery, greenhouse, and Christmas tree crops and products.

Agriculture is at Risk, Producers Tell Ag Secretary

United States Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns met with more than 40 leading growers, producer associations, and local politicians at a June 8 immigration roundtable in Fresno, California. It was the first of two stops in the state. Johanns opened the meeting by noting that “California is a state where immigration can be highlighted because of its need for a workforce. One-fourth of farm labor payroll of the nation is here in California.”

Farmers who attended the event expressed their anger with Congress’ failure to address immigration reform in a thoughtful and forward-looking way. The lack of action has led to a worsening reality in the fields, with an estimated 70 percent of the labor force estimated as lacking proper legal status, and growing labor shortages being reported across the country. “This issue has been around for a long time. It has been the can kicked down the street for too long. The President knows that we need a comprehensive solution to solve it,” responded Johanns.

Comprehensive and bipartisan agricultural immigration reforms have been negotiated over a six year period by leading agricultural and farmworker representatives. Those reforms are a prominent feature of the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act of 2006 passed by the U.S. Senate on May 25. By contrast, a bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives last December focuses on enforcement only, jeopardizing the stability of America’s domesticallygrown food supply.

Fruit and vegetable, dairy and livestock, nursery and greenhouse, and other sectors rely heavily on immigrant labor. Few American workers remain in agriculture, with most drawn to less demanding and year-round jobs in other sectors. Yet, the

viability of agricultural production in California and across the country has a major impact on American jobs. “For every ag job we lose, we also lose three to four other related jobs,” noted Johanns. “Many individuals like those who are involved in the packaging, transportation and marketing of the agricultural products depend on agriculture for a living.”

Farmers now wonder whether the House and Senate can reconcile the differences in their respective bills. Though the House has largely focused on enforcement, Johanns saw linkages between enforcement, border security, and a temporary worker program. Johanns also highlighted that “tighter border control will work better with a temporary worker program. Only a comprehensive solution will fix our immigration problem.”

That view is supported by a 2004 study by the National Foundation for American Policy, which found that the 1950’s era agricultural worker program led to a 95% decrease in apprehensions of illegal border crossers. When the program was terminated, illegal entry rose 1000-fold over a ten year period.

Attendees expressed thanks and support for Secretary Johanns in his efforts to champion a comprehensive immigration bill, which, like the recently passed Senate bill, includes agriculture in the solution. “The Secretary was focused and sincere, and there was an enthusiasm in the room in the discussion that followed,” said Jon Reelhorn of Belmont Nursery, who represents California in the American Nursery & Landscape Association’s leadership. ■

For Information: Craig Regelbrugge, American Nursery & Landscape Assn., 202/789-2900. www.anla.org

The 2005 National Gardening Survey Finds Home Gardening

is More Popular than Ever

In its 35th annual survey of lawn and garden market ends, the National Gardening Association (NGA) reports 91 million (83%) American households participated in some kind of do-it-yourself indoor and outdoor lawn and garden activities in 2005. “This sets a new record, and an increase of 11 percent over the 2004 - that’s 9 million households, and the greatest single-year rise reported in the last five years,” says Bruce Butterfield, NGA’s Research Director. “This makes sense given the high rate of home sales over the last few years.”

The 2006 National Gardening Survey, conducted for NGA by Harris Interactive Inc., cites retail sales increases in nine of the 16 lawn and garden categories, including:

• Lawn care, up 9%, from $8.887 billion to $9.657 billion

• Flower gardening, up 10%, from $2.735 billion to $3.003 billion

• Vegetable gardening, up 9%, from $1.058 billion in 2004 to $1.154 billion in 2005

• Container gardening, up 8%, from $1.196 billion in 2004 to $1.295 billion last year

Despite these growth indicators, the average amount spent per household on lawn and garden products and

services decreased, resulting in a small decline in total lawn and garden sales ($35.208 billion) in 2005 - five percent less than the five-year average, and four percent less than in 2004 ($36.778 in sales). Total lawn and garden sales have not seen a significant increase in the last three years, and over the past five years, total lawn and garden retail sales have ranged from a low of $33.404 billion in 2000 to a high of $39.635 billion in 2002, and averaged $36.885 billion.

Butterfield doesn’t see this as an anomaly. “Our research indicates that new lawn and garden participants tend to spend far less the first year. As their interest and expertise in these activities grow, so does their spending.”

Households that spent the most on their lawns and gardens in 2005 included those with no children at home, married households, college graduates, two-person households, those in the South, those with annual incomes over $75,000, and among people 45 years of age and older.

Butterfield says, “The challenge now is to get 18-34 year-olds into the garden. They’re now the largest segment of the U.S. household population, but as a group they participate less in lawn and garden activities than others, and those who do spend less money. They’ve also been brought up in a tech-focused age, and if it doesn’t have a keyboard or a remote control, it’s hard to reach them. We have to find a way to get them involved.”

Mike Metallo, president of NGA, sees this as an opportunity. “The Survey indicates that a growing majority of Americans are interested in some relationship with plants and stewardship of their landscapes. As a strategic partner, NGA can help introduce the young adult market to gardening by reaching their children through garden-based education. After all, kids thrive academically and socially in learning gardens, and they also offer a path to improved nutrition and health. It’s a win-win-win proposition!”

For more information about the 2005 National Gardening Survey or to purchase a copy please visit: www.gardenresearch.com.

The National Gardening Association (NGA), founded in 1972, is a national nonprofit leader in plant-based education. NGA’s mission is to promote school, community, and home gardening as a means to renew and sustain the essential connection between people, plants, and the environment. To fulfill this mission NGA offers publications and programs focused on five core areas: plant-based education, health and wellness, environmental stewardship, community development, and responsible home gardening. For more information, visit www.garden.org. ■

Good, Better, Best: How to Improve Gas Mileage

Whether you are shopping for a new car or just trying to maintain the one you have, you can take some steps to get the best mileage out of your gas purchases. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, offers these tips to use fuel efficiently:

On the Road: Drive More Efficiently

• Stay within posted speed limits. Gas mileage decreases rapidly at speeds above 60 miles per hour.

• Stop aggressive driving. You can improve your gas mileage up to five percent around town if you avoid “jackrabbit” starts and stops by anticipating traffic conditions and driving gently.

• Avoid unnecessary idling. It wastes fuel, costs you money, and pollutes the air. Turn off the engine if you anticipate a wait.

• Combine errands. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as one trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.

• Use overdrive gears and cruise control when appropriate. They improve the fuel economy of your car when you’re driving on a highway.

• Remove excess weight from the trunk. An extra 100 pounds in the trunk can reduce a typical car’s fuel economy by up to two percent.

• Avoid packing items on top of your car. A loaded roof rack or carrier creates wind resistance and can decrease fuel economy by five percent.

At the Garage: Maintain Your Car

• Keep your engine tuned. Tuning your engine according to your owner’s manual can increase gas mileage by an average of four percent. Increases vary depending on a car’s condition.

• Keep your tires properly inflated and aligned. It can increase gas mileage up to three percent.

• Change your oil. According to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), you can improve your gas mileage by using the manufacturer’s recommended grade of motor oil. Motor oil that says “Energy Conserving” on the performance symbol of the American Petroleum Institute contains friction-reducing additives that can improve fuel economy.

Continued on Page 14

• Check and replace air filters regularly. Replacing clogged filters can increase gas mileage up to ten percent.

At the Pump: Use the Octane Level You Need

• Your owner’s manual recommends the most effective octane level for your car. For most cars, the recommended gasoline is regular octane. In most cases, using a higher octane gas than the manufacturer recommends offers no benefit. Unless your engine is knocking, buying higher octane gasoline is a waste of money.

In Advertising: Check Out Claims About “Gas-Saving” Gadgets

• Be skeptical of claims for devices that will “boost your mileage by an extra 6 miles per gallon,” “improve your fuel economy up to 26 percent,” or the like. EPA has tested over 100 supposed gas-saving devices — including mixture “enhancers” and fuel line magnets — and found that very few provide any fuel economy benefits. The devices that work provide only marginal improvements. Some “gas-saving” devices may damage a car’s engine or increase exhaust emissions. For more information and a full list of tested products, check www.epa.gov/otaq/consumer.htm.

In the Showroom: Consider the Alternatives

• Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) operate on alternative fuels, such as methanol, ethanol, compressed natural gas, liquefied petroleum gas, electricity, and others designated by the DOE. Using these alternative fuels in vehicles may reduce harmful pollutants and exhaust emissions. FTC Rules require labels on all new AFVs to give the vehicle’s estimated cruising range and general descriptive information. Find out how many miles a new AFV travels on a tank or supply of fuel because, gallon for gallon, some don’t travel as far as gasoline-powered vehicles.

• Hybrid Electric Vehicles offer another option for car buyers. According to DOE and EPA, these vehicles combine the benefits of gasoline engines and electric motors and can be configured to achieve different objectives, such as improved fuel economy and increased power. ■

For more information on alternative fuel vehicles, call the DOE’s toll-free National Alternative Fuels Hotline, 1-800-423-1DOE, or visit DOE’s Alternative Fuels Data Center website at www.afdc.doe.gov. More information about both hybrid-electric and alternative fuel vehicles is at www.fueleconomy.gov/.

For more energy saving tips for cars, visit the DOE’s website. Information in this article was provided courtesy of a Consumer Alert published in September of 2005 by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. For more information, visit www.ftc.gov.

Calendar of Events

ANLA Landscape Operations Tour

August 16-20, 2006, Louisville and Lexington, KY. For more information: http://www.anla.org/

PLANET 2006 Summer Leadership Meeting

August 16-20, 2006. Isle of Palms, South Carolina. For more information: http://www.landcarenetwork.org/do/eventList

Farwest Show

August 24-26, 2006, Portland, Oregon

Sponsored by the Oregon Association of Nurseries. More information is available from: www.farwest.com

MNLA Fall Tour

September 8-9, 2006, Plains, Montana

Details on the Fall Tour schedule and registration will be mailed to MNLA members sometime in July. The next CPP exam will be either late afternoon or early evening on Thursday, September 7th.

Garden Market Expo

September 20-21, 2006, Las Vegas, Nevada. Trade show and seminars at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, sponsored by the California Association of Nurseries & Garden Centers.

Colorado Green Industry Golf Tournament

October 2, 2006, Arvada, Colorado

The golf tournament at West Woods Golf Course will benefit the Colorado Nursery & Greenhouse Association’s Research & Education Foundation. For more information or to participate, contact CNGA at 303-758-6672; www.coloradonga.org.

Montana Annual Meeting & Trade Show

January 10-12, 2007, Holiday Inn Montana Grand, Billings

For more information: www.plantingmontana.com or 888-220-1569

Upcoming MNLA Deadlines

September 15Advertisements for the convention program

October 15Articles and advertisements for the next Leaflet newsletter and the convention folder

New MNLA T-Shirt!

These sharp, 100% cotton, pigment-dyed, pre-shrunk, tees feature the new two-color MNLA logo. The logo is silk-screened in a small version on the front left chest and in a large version on the shirt back. Supplies are limited, so order today!

Shipping Information: Contact Person Firm Name

Shipping Address: City, State, Zip code Daytime Phone (in case we have questions)

You must be a current member of the Montana Nursery & Landscape Association to order. Prices include postage and all orders are shipped USPS Priority. Please allow 5-7 days delivery. All orders must be prepaid. Check out full color photos of the new tee on the “Products” page of the MNLA website: www.plantingmontana.com Mail

P.O.Box 4553 • Missoula,MT 59806-4553

888-220-1569 or 406-251-5232 www.plantingmontana.com