Alternative fuels for the landscape crew

Isn't there a better way to maintain a lawn than with emissions-spewing gasoline leaf blowers and lawn mowers? One landscape contractor, Eric Hansen of Competitive Lawn Service in Downers Grove, is equipping an entire landscape crew with propane power--including the 1-ton truck. Propane is a fossil fuel, but it burns much hotter and therefore much more efficiently than gasoline, resulting in fewer emissions. Eric will be on Mike Nowak's radio show tomorrow morning from 8 to 10 a.m. on WCPT-AM, 820 in Chicago, to talk about the effort.

Eric is a member of the Midwest Ecological Landscaping Association, a trade group that is trying to encourage horticulture and landscape businesses in the Chicago area to adopt greener practices. Mike is the founder of the group, and I'm also a member and a contractor for MELA.

Got a garden question? I recommend you call or e-mail the Plant Clinic of The Morton Arboretum in Lisle, the Master Gardeners of the University of Illinois Extension or the Plant Information Service of the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe .

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