Edward Cook calls himself "the gardener." He maintains 40 properties throughout northern Connecticut with a dedication that borders on obsession. In his words, that's because he likes what he does and he plans on doing it for the rest of his life.
Cook owns and operates EGC & Co. (stands for Edward G. Cook or Environmental Growing Concern) in Suffield, Connecticut. Passerbys can't miss his snappy-looking truck and custom-made trailer at curbside, with lights flashing during unloading and loading. The lights are part of what he calls a "hot loading" strategy that alerts drivers to his presence. "You can't be too careful when you're in this business," tells Cook, "especially when you're a one-person operation. One accident cannot only cause injury, but it can put you right out of business."
EGC targets high-end residential customers, many of whom are retired or near retirement. These are the people who still enjoy their gardens but would rather have someone else do the work. Cook is that person who spends three days a week gardening and two days mowing.
"I learned to appreciate gardening from my father," Cook relates. On the-job experience, and additional training here and overseas, have given him the tools and knowledge to deliver what customers want.
A Professor Of Gardening
Listening to "the gardener" talk about his business is not unlike sitting in a classroom. A conversation, for example, may begin with a discussion about technique. "I always mow at a slight angle down across a hill. I never turn into the hill. That would cause the machine to lose traction."
Then the talk may focus on business. "I don't make a purchase, I make an investment. Every piece of equipment I own is designed to help me with my work."
Then it may lead again to technique. "It's important to take notes on every property you maintain to be better prepared the next time you service the property. I also take notes on fuel consumption and track all maintenance costs."
Before you know it, the subject may turn to buying a new piece of equipment. "I have my own equipment test form I fill out when trying out new equipment."
Then it turns to safety. "Did you know that agricultural-related accidents are the number three cause of injury in this country?"
Safety First
The gardener emphasizes safety for several reasons. He lost his father in a tragic auto accident when he was only 15. Later, he was in an accident himself that caused months of suffering and hardship. He also knows that operating any type of equipment can be dangerous, not to mention the fact that the roads around Suffield are typical of most in New England, meaning they are relatively small and very heavily trafficked. Most contractors, including EGC, simply pull up to the curb and unload. There is no safe haven for trucks and trailers.
In addition to lighting up his truck, trailer and mower for loading and unloading, Cook also carefully displays safety cones at the parking site. He demonstrates his technique for putting up and taking down his cones, never once turning his back to oncoming traffic. He also practices safety procedures in all aspects of his operation, from operating his equipment to storing his fuel and other potentially dangerous material. "Notice where I keep my fuel and oil in the shop?" He answers, "Close to the main entrance where fire personnel can quickly identify it." Spoken like the volunteer firefighter he is.
Need For Versatility
But he really gets in gear talking about his new Walker, one he purchased in the spring of 1999.
"This is a Model D with a Kubota liquid-cooled engine," he explains. "It is equipped with a 48-inch GHS deck and the larger-capacity hopper. Options include lights, arm rests and a tail wheel lock for mowing hills.
"I invested in this machine because the way I used to mow, with a walk behind mower, was taking its toll. The Walker's a compact machine for storage, features an out-front design for better trimming, and the flip-up deck makes routine deck maintenance a breeze."
"I didn't need a monster mower, but I wanted one that would give me versatility. With this machine I can use several size and type decks, and several different attachments. As a one-person operation, I'm always looking for ways to keep costs down. A machine that wears several hats can help do just that."
In addition to mowing - he says the Walker has cut his mowing time in half - Cook employs the Model D for dethatching, overseeding, bulldozing, mulching, power brooming debris, and even hauling around gardening tools in a cart.
"I call this machine the ultimate golf cart," he adds with a smile, although having time to golf is simply out of the question.
From Boy Next Door To Gardener
Cook began mowing lawns in 1977. He mowed lawns exclusively for 10 years until, in his words, he started to listen to his inner person. "My dad was an Episcopal priest and always had beautiful gardens. I developed an appreciation early on for flowers, grass and growing things. I decided I wanted to be a special person who could bring the beauty of gardening to my customers."
So Cook became involved with the Future Farmers of America (FFA), then enrolled in a two-year horticulture program. Later, he toured Scotland with a gardening group and continued to soak up as much information about gardening as he could. Gradually, his business began to make a steady transition from mowing to gardening. Hence, full-service customers today, 15 out of his 40 accounts, get treated to one of the best mowing jobs in town. They're also treated to everything from weeding and shaping evergreens by hand to "deadheading," which encourages branching, bushy growth and more flowers. EGC also installs flowers, shrubs and hardscape elements, and places an emphasis on protecting the environment.
For example, Cook strives to be a source of information to customers, giving them two answers to every question they have - an organic solution first, then a chemical one. He also mulches grass clippings when he can put the nitrogen back into the soil.
Overall, Cook says his business is approximately 70% mowing and 30% gardening. But he doesn't like to make that distinction since the Walker, in his mind, is more than a mower. It's a gardening tool that fits his business like hand in glove.
"I wanted a Walker from the first time I saw one 20 years ago," says Cook. "I literally rolled pennies, nickels and dimes to save up the money to buy the mower. I finally had enough money three years ago to buy one, and did... only to have it stolen a few weeks after I made the investment. It was so new that it still had the plastic on the seat. I was destroyed." He goes on to explain that insurance didn't cover the mower since it was stored at a customer's site.
It took Cook two years to save enough for a down payment on another new Walker. With the help of his dealer Red Rider in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, he now proudly owns his second machine.
"It will easily pay for itself in two years," says Cook, referring to the Model D. "With the Walker I am able to do more for less, and more than meet the economics of doing business. In fact, since I've had the Walker, I've retained seven new customers just because they like the way the Walker mows."
"The gardener" calls his Walker a "machine of the times," if for no other reason than because it has rejuvenated his business. Being self-employed for 23 years is no small feat. And at times, Cook, like others in his position, has entertained the thought of having another career. A one-person operation is particularly difficult and demanding, he adds.
"As a self-employed person, you have to learn to accept the negatives that go with being in business, and concentrate on the positive aspects, the real people and the services you bring to these people. The Walker is one of the positives to the extent that I truly believe it has saved my business."
An overstatement? Probably. But in any case, the truth for this owner/operator is that the mower has had a positive influence on his business. More importantly, it's helped him continue to do something he wants to do for the rest of his life.
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