It began with Bradley Blaeser’s desire to move his office out of his home and maximize resources by sharing a business space with a like-minded colleague.%uFFFD The Green Team, an ecologically-minded lawn mowing and property management business found a collaborative partner in Earthcare Natural Lawn and Landscapes, an all-organic lawn care company which had also outgrown its neighborhood beginnings.%uFFFD Darrell Smith, the owner of Earthcare suggested a third party, John LaPointe of Greener Roofs and Gardens, LLC, who focuses on ecological water management, signature spaces and natural child play spaces.%uFFFD The three have forged an informal, yet effective, sustainable landscape consortium that benefits the community with a full range of services.
“In the beginning,” says Smith “we had to answer a basic question of whether we were better off collaborating or competing. Although we had some overlap in services and could theoretically compete in some areas, it was clear that we each brought different gifts and unique services to the table.”%uFFFD Blaeser’s Green Team offers earth-friendly landscape maintenance techniques that include solar and waste vegetable oil-powered mowers as well as seasonally appropriate mowing heights that improve water infiltration, soil and turf quality.%uFFFD Smith’s Earthcare uses all organic methods for fertilizing turf and preventing weeds including a special compost tea brewing process.%uFFFD LaPointe’s Greener Roofs and Gardens has found a need for creative and effective water management as well as natural child play spaces and high quality outdoor spaces.%uFFFD Each company offers its own unique approach to garden design and installations with a constant focus on sustainable solutions with creativity and beauty.
These three young entrepreneurs have found that collaboration has yielded great benefits.%uFFFD “When one of us is stretched in terms of capacity, or needing expertise that another company offers, we can refer clients to a trusted colleague that we work well with,” explains Blaeser.%uFFFD “While sharing space can bring up challenges for three separate entities, we also save on costs and get energized by each other when the hours are long” adds LaPointe.%uFFFD The collaboration is a natural fit. Together they serve residential, commercial, and municipal clients across the greater Metro Milwaukee area and all three of the businesses have seen growth in the current economic climate. %uFFFDSays LaPointe, “We’ve benefited by working together and it means that the community is well served as we are jointly able to pursue our missions as sustainability-minded individuals.” So the next time you see a rain garden being installed, or notice a lawn being mowed by an electric mower or fertilized organically, take a closer look.%uFFFD You may run into one of these businesses that has found strength and common vision in partnership.
Join the consortium for an afternoon at their new headquarters at 5402 W. State St. on May 1st from 1:00 – 4:00 pm.%uFFFD They will be showcasing a compost tea brewing operation, organic lawn care products, alternative-fuel lawn mowers, and a design studio with an indoor water feature.%uFFFD
For more info:
Bradley Blaeser
The Green Team (of Wisconsin, Inc.)
414-721-1431
John LaPointe
Greener Roofs and Gardens
(262)844-2397
Darrell Smith
Earthcare Natural Lawns and Landscapes
414-333-4281
