If you've been to a Grunder Landscaping Co. Field Trip in the past, you've probably heard me talk about recycling as part of our facility tour. We're passionate about it because we believe that we should do our part to take care of Mother Earth.

We recycle and reuse whatever we can at GLC and have dipped our toes into a few other sustainable choices - equipping a couple of maintenance crews with battery-powered handheld equipment and exploring some of the new technology coming on the market. 

But I would not say that we're anywhere near the gold standard on doing this. That title goes to the folks at Sebert Landscape in Chicago, IL. 

They have made sustainability core to their unique value proposition; it's been a huge driver of business for them and a key reason why clients choose to do business with them. Sustainability is central to everything they do and they're all-in. 

One of the many ways they're all-in on sustainability is in their sales efforts, and I love this because it presents the opportunity for their sales team to present options that are truly a win-win-win to their clients. Salespeople choosing plants, both native and non-native, that are well adapted to their region and making suggestions that can reduce the need for supplemental watering are choices that are good for clients, good for the team, and good for the planet. This makes the solution even easier to sell, too. 

When we tour Sebert's facility as part of our Field Trip with NALP on September 18-19, we'll see more of their focus on sustainability as a differentiator and how it's central to their entire business. And as a bit of a horticulture junkie myself, what I'm possibly most excited about is the chance we have to visit and explore a property where Sebert has done a lot of work during our after-hours event at the Morten Arboretum. I can't wait to wander their gardens for more ideas on how we could make the properties we care for even more beautiful.

So what do you think, will you join me in Chicago in September? Come spend a day with us, I promise you we'll find ways you and your team can make more money (and it'll be fun, too)!

Marty Grunder
Founder & CEO
The Grow Group & Grunder Landscaping Co.