The Urban Farmer Store


In This Issue
Upgrade lawn sprinkler nozzles & adjust controllers regularly for HUGE water savings!
Smart Irrigation Month: Get Ready!
Smart Irrigation Month: Get Ready!
Positive Word of Mouth Gets You Referral Business
Start Rainwater Harvesting with a 20% Discount on Bushman Tanks
Make a Switch to a Better Backflow
Marin Master Gardeners Lecture: June 5
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Greetings!

Welcome to summer!


Efficient time management will help you make the most of your opportunities in the weeks ahead.  Take advantage of our time-saving services to maximize your day:
  • Call ahead so products can be ready for pickup, no waiting.
  • One-stop shopping for all of your project needs.
  • Let us know if you would like us to deliver your large jobs.

Thank you for being our customer!
Upgrade lawn sprinkler nozzles & adjust controllers regularly for HUGE water savings!
Help your customers save water with efficiency upgrades

In challenging times, you can prosper by finding new ways to create revenue.

With increasing focus on water conservation and efficient irrigation practices come opportunities to upgrade new projects or retrofit aging irrigation systems.  

Hunter MP Rotator

Replacing existing spray nozzles with rotary nozzles, such as MP Rotators, or incorporating them into a new system design provides greater water savings and drastically increased efficiency.  Due to lower water requirements of the nozzles, more area can be irrigated with fewer zones, reducing system costs with fewer valves, smaller controller sizes, less pipe, wire, fittings, and labor.

Toro Precision Nozzles

With Toro's Precision Spray Nozzles you'll get increased efficiency and lower water bills.  They lower application rates, which conserves water and reduces water costs.

The patented Toro H2O Chip Technology - Hyper-streams of oscillating water, moving at Hyper-frequencies (200 cycles per second) deliver a low, but effective precipitation rate of one inch per hour.   The oscillating pattern, invisible to the naked eye and only seen by strobe light illumination, delivers lower flow rates than competitive spray nozzles with better overall irrigation efficiency, reduced misting, and superior edge definition. They can apply water precisely to irrigation zones with reduced risk of saturation or run-off.

It's no wonder they were named "New Product of the Year for Landscape" at the Irrigation Association's Show in Anaheim, CA.

Hunter Solar Sync

On the high end of control upgrades are "smart" irrigation controllers, like the Hunter Solar Sync, that automatically adjust irrigation schedules on a daily basis depending on weather conditions.

Studies have shown smart controllers that self-adjust can save up to 30% of water use. 

Use SolarSync to bring "weather-based" control to new or existing systems.  The unit is especially effective at retrofitting to existing Hunter systems, so its an upgrade you can sell as part of your regular service visits.  Once installed, homeowners will never need to worry about daily controller adjustments again.

Upgrading any existing Pro-C or ICC controller, the Solar Sync works through the SmartPort and Seasonal Adjustment features on the controller.  Utilizing a unique solar/temperature sensor design, the sensor gathers on-site weather data, which is sent to a small module connected to the controller. 

The Bottom Line

Implementing these technologies will help your company gain a competitive edge on new projects, increase profitability, and create opportunity to contact past customers with older irrigation systems.

Download San Francisco Watering Guide (Free PDF)



Smart Irrigation Month: Get Ready!
Let customers know you support Smart Irrigation Month 

Explore how Smart Irrigation Month can help you create customer awareness of new technology and services that can save water.

The Irrigation Association has developed a variety of resources to assist your promotional efforts. Public service announcements, press release templates, proclamations, logos and other tools are available at www.smartirrigationmonth.org. Working together as an industry, we can increase the demand for efficient irrigation products, and demonstrate the benefits of making every month a Smart Irrigation Month.


FREE Water Wise Workshop
Celebrate Smart Irrigation Month with Smart Advice & Offers


Join us Thursday July 22, 2010 5-9 PM at Mill Valley Community Center 180 Camino Alto, Mill Valley for talks, demonstrations and free information.

Stop by anytime between 5 & 9 to join in on the short talks, hands-on demonstrations and get great information. Learn how rainwater harvesting, efficient irrigation, plant selection, and soil amendments and mulch can improve the health of the landscape while lowering water bills.

Register now!

Positive Word of Mouth Gets You Referral Business
Grow your sales with effective marketing efforts

Question: What's the most frequent way contractors get more business?

Answer: Referrals.

So does your company have a plan in place to encourage more referrals?

Don't just wait for the phone to ring, stay in front of your customers to generate positive word-of-mouth.  Here are some easy ways to get customers talking:

  • Start an e-mail newsletter like this one to share tips, photos of current projects and more with your clients.   Avoid the typical excuse of "we don't have our customers e-mail addresses" by starting to collect them today.
  • Send direct mail postcards to your clients to showcase new products and services.  Not only will these help you sell new items, but also they will generate more calls and more referrals for existing services as well.
  • Build alliances with other partner companies in your community that offer similar services or that have similar customers.  An example is the clever contractor that set up a landscape lighting display at a local garden center.
  • Use "social media" sites like Facebook and LinkedIn to stay connected with your best clients.

Start Rainwater Harvesting with a 20% Discount on a Bushman Tank
Capture rainwater for landscape use while increasing the profit on your first job!

Rain BirdThe Urban Farmer Store specializes in above ground rainwater harvesting tank systems from Bushman.  

Our solutions range from a basic harvesting system to complete systems that include a "First Flush" connection kit, filtering accessories, city water backup, and external pressure pumps with smart pump technology. 

Systems can be custom-tailored to your installation location and specific needs, above ground packages are available in Slimline, Round and Low Profile configurations.  Our systems are aesthetically pleasing with color options that match your setting. Bushman Tanks can be installed near a building or tucked away inconspicuously.

Special Offer:  20% off list price with this coupon
(click to download) valid at any location.  Limit one per company, offer valid unitl July 31, 2010.


Make a Switch to a Better Backflow:  Wilkins 375-XL-2 (Lead Free)
Check out the well-engineered benefits of Wilkins

It's no wonder why Urban Farmer customers are making the switch to the Wilkins 375.  It's got the latest features and benefits to make backflow installation and service a breeze.   

It offers unsurpassed serviceability and performance in a smaller, shorter package. 

Plus it meets all California Lead Free codes.

Designed to provide top access to test cocks, shutoff valves and the check assembly, winterizing, cleaning and repair are a snap.   By removing the entire composite housing between the shutoff valves, you're able to reduce the time it takes to service.

In short, there's never been a backflow preventer so easy to service, to upgrade, or to fit in tight spaces.    Ask to see the display unit on your next visit!

Download the complete details.


Marin Master Gardeners Lecture: June 5
Get advice and ideas from the horticultural experts


When:  Saturday June 5th 11:00 to 12:00

Where:  Novato Public Library, 1720 Novato Blvd, Novato


Speaker:  Marin Master Gardener Chris Borjian

Admission is free
 
The need for water conservation is still very important in Marin. Marin Master Gardener and Water Conservationist, Chris Borjian will discuss water conservation and basic irrigation topics (types of irrigation and basic trouble shooting).

Chris will then present the many wonderful and varied water wise plants that will thrive in your garden in Marin. Your garden will be beautiful and you'll be saving money on your water bills as well.
 
For more information contact Sherry Rogers 415-454-7234


Volunteer for Native Planting Day at Sunset Circle!
Help green San Francisco's urban watersheds

Join the SFPUC Urban Watershed Team on Sunday, June 20th, for our second Low Impact Design (LID) Volunteer Event at the Sunset Circle, SFPUC's first LID demonstration project.

  • Help install native plants in the project's swales and infiltration basins
  • Enjoy views of Lake Merced, meet other great people, and help green San Francisco's urban watersheds!!
  • Pick up a FREE Creek & Watershed Map of San Francisco!!

To RSVP, please email Paul Cheng at pycheng@sfwater.org.

Event Information

Location:  Parking lot at the intersection of Sunset Blvd. and Lake Merced Blvd

Date:  Sunday, June 20th, 2010

Time:  9 AM - 12 PM

Notes:  Tools, work gloves, water, and snacks will be provided

Check out the SFPUC's Stormwater Management website at http://stormwater.sfwater.org.


Our Store Locations:

San Francisco:
  2833 Vicente Street
   San Francisco, CA 94116
   Phone: (415) 661-2204
   Fax: (415) 661-7826

Marin:
   653 East Blithedale
   Mill Valley, CA 94941
   Phone: (415) 380-3840
   Fax: (415) 380-3848

Richmond:
   2121 San Joaquin Street
   Richmond, CA 94804
   Phone: (510) 524-1604
   Fax: (510) 524-9797