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Don’s Lawn Care Service , 18 years in Gaylord owner/operator., originally uploaded by Don Campbell Models.
Don’s Lawn Care Of Gaylord – I often get E-mails from new visitors asking what else I do for a living other than making toys part time.
I have owned and operated a small lawn care business for mom and pop accounts in Gaylord for the last 18 years along with my small snowplowing business. Even though I have a very small lawn care business, I managed to outlast all but one lawn service that has lasted over 18 years in this town. All the others have closed down over the years and dozens of new ones have started.
I always thought ( less is more ) and that included my lawn care business. Because I got to know every one of my customers personally and I did 100% of the work myself , I kept 99% of the same customers all those years. My equipment even lasted twice as long with me the only one using it . And I made a decent living over the years , always having a few extra dollars after expenses .
Every spring I see about five new guys pulling a new trailer around town starting new lawn care service. They go to Home Depot and buy the cheapest equipment and off they go .
Mowing commercially takes a better mower than they sell at Home Depot and they soon find that out as it dies on them the very first season.
These two small 24 hp Diesel Lawn tractors in todays picture are now 10 years old but they both look like new . I have taken very good care of them and I know I will get top dollar if I ever decide to sell them. The tractor with the three bag vacuum system is all wheel steer and I love mowing with it. In fact I have never mowed a single blade of grass with the other one, it has always been used strictly for sweeping lawns. I also had a front mout mower at one time that John Deere made, but I was unhappy with it and sold it after two seasons. It just did not cut grass good.
This year I have cut back on my summer accounts even more as each winter my longtime elderly customers move into
old folk homes or pass away. I have not taken a new customer in many years and decided when all my customers are done, I will be done in the lawn care business too.
I have always enjoyed it , but all the dust and dirt from spring and fall cleanups is starting to get to me.
I will still keep all three tractors around to do work at a few of the neighbors lawns and my lawn .
Yesterday I got my lawn and the neighbors lawn all swept and vacuumed. It seems so good to have a nice clean lawn again and not a pile of snow in the front yard (:>).
Deb might be expecting another baby ? Well, we are not sure , but this morning Deb told me there might possibly be another baby in our near future ?
Actually she had a interview with a mom and dad this morning for her daycare who have a 12 month old baby boy. Deb will be losing one little boy this fall to kindergarden so she is lining up a replacement for his spot. They were very interested but weren’t sure if they could work around Deb’s summer schedule of four day weekends. (:>). Plus our summer vacations camping . So Deb told them if it would work better in the fall that would also be fine.
I tell you ! , after sitting around for the last six months !!, we are not going to be sitting around all summer!!, ha,ha. Deb’s work summer schedule is Tues. through Thurs. No Mondays and No Fridays with kids. (:>).
Deb has all teachers kids again this summer for the second year so it works out great in the summers .
LIEBHERR R9800 TRACK PROGRESS- I am busy cutting out the parts for the rear sprocket/drive wheel assemblies
RAIN SNOW MIX – We got cold air and a rain snow mix heading our way this weekend. But today it may hit 60 degrees !!, YIPPEE
We usually get 4 inches of snow in May.
I may get to open the windows in the workshop today, (:>)
HAVE A GREAT THURS. !! SPRING ! Remember Jesus is the Reason For ALL The Seasons ! (:>).
