Brothers Arijeet and Rajvarun Grewal, students in Hanford, CA, helped forward a bill that would subsidize synthetic turf in California. The bill, AB 603, was introduced by Bakersfield assembly member Rudy Salas in February. If passed, the bill would grant a subsidy to those who replace their natural grass lawns with artificial grass.

Ari and Raj, students in Hantford at Pioneer Middle School and Sierra Pacific High School, thought of the idea and suggested it to Mr. Salas via a letter. Mr. Salas liked the idea, and now it's being put into motion. The brothers created a Facebook page for their project called Saving California Farms One Drop at a Time.

Ari and Raj agreed to speak with us in this interview, and Global Syn-Turf is honored to have them. 

Where did the idea come from?

Raj: Last summer, we decided to redo our landscape. My brother and I became interested in finding out if we could install synthetic grass, which will help conserve fresh water. My father explained that synthetic grass is expensive, and he further explained that we could go for it if it was subsidized like solar panels. This encouraged us to propose legislation.

What motivated you to pursue this endeavor so seriously?

Ari: Living in the Central Valley, one cannot escape drought news. We learned that more than 60% of fresh water is wasted on lawn maintenance in California. Therefore, we wanted to do our part to conserve fresh water.

When did you realize that the potential of synthetic grass as a drought-tolerant option wasn't being fully utilized?

Raj: After researching extensively on this topic, we learned that many cities in California did provide rebates for homeowners and businesses that purchased and installed synthetic turf. However, we learned that there was not a state-wide program that provided state-wide incentives, given that some of the cities and counties do not generate much tax revenue and cannot afford to provide incentives to its residents.

What do you think will be some of the long term effects of the popular adoption of synthetic grass in residential areas?

Ari: Primarily, the adoption of synthetic grass in residential areas would help conserve a lot of fresh water that can be used for our Central Valley agriculture. It would also decrease the chances of another severe drought to occur in California.

Do you think synthetic grass has any advantages over other drought-tolerant alternatives, such as xeriscaping?

Raj: Synthetic grass and drought- tolerant alternatives both have advantages. They both help reduce the wastage of fresh water. However, grass is a part of our natural lives. Xeriscaping, on the other hand, takes away that naturalness.

On your Facebook page you say that "One day, water may lead to the division of California." Could you expound on that?

Raj: It is a politically hot subject. Several times in the past, a division of California has been proposed. More than any other political reason, water was the main issue. Recently, there is zero water allocation from the Sacramento--San Joaquin River Delta due to smelt fish. The majority of Central Valley residents believe that Big Brothers on both sides (North and South) control most of the legislative processes due to their population and, hence, influence and control of the flow of water.

On your Facebook page you say that you "would like to propose a clause in the bill allocating a percent of subsidy to provide vocational and trade education for those who may get negatively impacted so they can rebuild a better and brighter future for themselves and their families." Could you expound on this idea?

Ari: We wanted to make sure that our proposal does not negatively impact anyone, especially hardworking Californians in the landscape industry. Therefore, we proposed a portion of incentives to train them in synthetic grass installation.

On your Facebook page you say that popular adoption of synthetic grass will "bring economic prosperity to the state of California." Could you explain this a bit further?

Ari: In the beginning, lot of people were against Internet or online shopping, and now we can see how many jobs it has created in terms of software, e-commerce, and logistics (warehouse and transportation) jobs. Along the same lines, we strongly believe that the synthetic grass industry will also contribute in creating jobs (i.e. manufacturing, installation, and maintenance).

What has it been like working with Bakersfield assembly member Rudy Salas? Are there any lessons you can impart to us that you learned from working with him?

Raj: It was a wonderful experience. We have learned more about the other projects and bills that are being proposed in the Assembly Session. We have learned to become more active in our community.

Did you have a specific strategy for pitching the Bill to the Chairman of the Assembly Committee on Revenue and Taxation, Mr. Phil Ting?

Ari: It was a great pleasure to meet Mr. Phil Ting and asking for his support in person. We believe we have already reached the masses via TV and newspapers. We have also requested the local city council and county Board of supervisors to write to Mr. Ting in our bill's support. We also encourage the industry (including your company) to support and lobby our bill.

What was the experience like traveling to Sacramento to introduce AB 603? Did anything occur that was unexpected? What was the most surprising thing you learned about during your trip introducing the bill?

Ari: It was an amazing experience. We were honored and delighted to be invited by Mr. Salas to be a part of history in the making. We still have goose bumps from being on the assembly floor submitting AB 603 and seeing "Grewal Family" name on the notice board in the assembly hall. As a visitor you are just allowed to be in the gallery, but being there, on the assembly floor, just feels great!

Raj, according to a report, you are interested in pursuing a career in politics because of this experience. Is there a specific area of politics you are interested in?

Raj: I have not fully chosen my field; however, whatever job I do take, I would love to give back to my community. Going through this adventure has definitely opened my eyes to the endless career paths from which I could choose.

How does this experience fit into both of your long-term goals?

Ari: Our community has instilled in us the will power to give back to our community. Proposing this bill has given us the opportunity to help our neighborhoods. Also, we have learned that the sky has no limit in defining our own destiny.

Is there anything else either of you would like to talk about?

Raj: We highly appreciate you reaching out to us. Once again, we strongly request your company's leadership team to engage law makers in California (especially Mr. Ting and Mr. Salas) and support our bill.

The controversy around crumb rubber infill continues as a new in-depth piece in the USA Today was published today surveying the political dispute occurring between school synthetic turf sports field superintendents, environmental agencies, and consumer protection agencies.

On the one hand, the Consumer Product Safety commission is being criticized for publishing a headline in 2008 proclaiming that synthetic turf with crumb rubber infills was "OK to install, OK to play on," despite the fact that the tests they had conducted were not conclusive.

Furthermore, the Environmental Protection Agency has historically supported the use of crumb rubber infills in synthetic turf fieldsd in their effort to recycle old car tires. Due to recent political pressure, they have stated that the safety of such rubbers is not conclusive.

And on the other hand, schools are reticent to allow their turf fields to be tested for fear of negative publicity and having to pay to have their turf fields replaced, which costs more than $1 million, if the tests prove that the fields are harmful to children.

And on still another hand, the Synthetic Turf Council have touted the obvious benefits of synthetic turf, reduced maintenance costs and water savings, etc.

It seems that the debate around synthetic turf crumb rubber infill will just have to continue until conclusive tests have been completed.

The leading manufacturer of artificial grass, Global Syn-Turf, Inc., announced that it has launched a special Spanish-language program designed to support Spanish speakers in the synthetic turf industry who are most comfortable interacting in Spanish. Services in the program include Spanish-language literature and knowledge transference, as well as Spanish-language audiovisual media. The company has launched the first phase of the program, and will expand its Spanish-language services throughout 2015 in several stages of updates.

According to Labor Force Statistics from the Current Population Survey conducted by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Hispanics represent 43.1% of the Landscaping services industry. Global Syn-Turf is the only worldwide artificial turf manufacturer focusing on Hispanic landscapers, with services delivered in their primary language.

"U.S. Hispanics, in particular, are upwardly mobile in the landscaping industry," said Marysol Gomez, Sales and Marketing Manager. "Further, in 2011, households with at least one Spanish-speaking worker in the landscaping industry obtained more than $18 billion in household income -- that's a lot of buying power. And this number is only increasing. Our new program was designed for this customer base, as well as for Spanish-speaking people in Latin America and all over the world. Our goal is for Global Syn-Turf to be the preeminent one-stop emporium for this population to shop for artificial grass products and receive Spanish-language artificial grass services -- whenever they want. We are thrilled to fill the hole in this market by launching this Spanish-language program, and are just as excited about other new products and services coming down the pipeline throughout 2015."

The first phase of Global Syn-Turf's program launches today with the publication of Spanish-language literature, including artificial grass installation and instruction manuals, which can be accessed on their website at GlobalSynTurf.com. In addition to Spanish-language literature immediately available on the web, Spanish-language services and knowledge dispensation are currently available at all of Global Syn-Turf's warehouses and locations. Other services, including video aids, are projected for release in updates throughout 2015.

Commenting on recent major developments in the green industry, Marysol Gomez said, "Recently we've seen similar announcements from other green industry companies, confirming the explosive market for Spanish-language services and products. The green industry is receptive to, and built to accommodate, innovative and progressive movements from firms, and this program is poised to make Global Syn-Turf quickly become a premier, one-stop worldwide artificial grass destination for Spanish speakers. Our customer base is very diverse, so it's logical for our products and services to adapt accordingly."

Artificial grass isn't catching on in just the United States -- it is a worldwide phenomenon. According to The Telegraph, fake products are becoming popular in all sorts of verticals. Other verticals include the flower market for special occasions. In the UK, fake flowers are becoming a common gift on such holidays as Mother's Day and Valentine's Day. In just the past year, one individual flower seller claims that his sales of fake flowers have increased by 71 percent.

Reasons for the increased sales of artificial flowers is that they are hypoallergenic, and also that the technologies have simply taken a quantum leap in the past few years. Gone are the silk flowers, and in are the new plastic versions which can be cleaned with water without damage.

Naturally, artificial grass is becoming mainstream as well. More and still more UK homeowners are converting their hard-to-maintain, filled-with-dead-grass lawns with maintenance-free artificial grass products. Besides, a common after effect of installing the artificial grass in their yards is the desire to bring others into the artificial grass fold! Apparently, once they install artificial grass in their yards, they tend to make an effort in convincing their friends and neighbors to convert their yards, too. Once you discover something good, you want to share it with the world!

 Global Syn-Turf, Inc., the artificial grass industry's leading manufacturer and supplier, has launched five new eco-friendly products to their line of artificial grass innovations. The new products continue the company's reputation for producing state-of-the-art artificial grass technologies and accessories, and anticipating the needs of artificial grass installers worldwide.

The new artificial grass innovations being launched are: Turf Super Glue for seaming, seaming tape, bender board and stakes, galvanized spikes, and golf cup caps. The new products are to be used by artificial grass installers in their synthetic turf and putting green installations.

"Global Syn-Turf loves a challenge, especially when it involves inventing new and improved industrial artificial grass products," said Rachel Brady, Global Syn-Turf's Sales and Marketing Manager. "After a few experiments, we've perfected the products, which are now ready for popular consumption. We believe these new accessories will be very useful to the public and an integral component of our success this year and beyond" said Ms. Brady.

The first product, Global Syn-Turf's firm, high-quality seaming glue, Turf Super Glue, is an effective and environmentally friendly adhesive for seaming and binding artificial turf to various surfaces.

• Perfect for seaming together sections of artificial grass, synthetic pet grass and putting greens
• Solvent-free, eco-friendly, non-flammable, non-toxic, and non-hazardous formula
• Glue can also be used for bonding artificial turf to various substrates, including road base, decomposed granite, crushed gravel, concrete, asphalt and wood
• Will not disintegrate even in extreme weather conditions
• Easy to apply and clean up

The second product, Global Syn-Turf's strong-yet-pliable seaming tape, is intended to be used in conjunction with Turf Super Glue, and is placed underneath the artificial turf, binding it to various substrates.

• Suitable for use over decomposed granite, crushed gravel, concrete, and shock pads
• Ideal for all types of turf applications and absorbs glue through the entire surface.
• Using seaming tape in conjunction with Turf Super Glue will yield the perfect seam every time

According to Rachel Brady, "The Seaming Glue and Seaming Tape are great additions to our line of artificial grass adhesives, as they are perfectly suited for use in many different lawn configurations, and can be used with both putting greens and standard artificial grass surfaces. These new and effective artificial grass adhesives position Global Syn-Turf as the very best resource for installers looking to increase productivity with better adhesive solutions for their artificial grass installations."

Global Syn-Turf's beautiful new bender board edging is the third product being launched this week. Bender board provides a beautiful wood-grained edging for your artificial grass installation.

• Provides a stout partition between mulch beds, concrete and artificial grass
• Sturdy structure makes it resistant to weather, fading and pets
• Suitable for straight, curved, and irregular edges
• Flexible and easy to install

To be used in combination with the bender board are their sturdy and inconspicuous bender board stakes. Bender board stakes are polypropylene and are to be placed every two inches along the bender board edging. Their brown color will blend in with your bender board and the landscape's circumambience.

Ms. Brady stated, "We recognized a need our customers had for a high-quality, affordable, and timeless artificial grass edging, and designed a bender board to fulfill this very need. Whether customers are planning to use it to differentiate their artificial grass installation from a raised layer of mulch, or to block weeds and foreign plants from growing into their artificial grass areas, this bender board product is the perfect solution. Coupled with the bender board stakes, a natural, wood-colored edging is now an easy aesthetic for every landscaper and artificial grass installer to accomplish."

The fourth product, galvanized spikes, is a great choice for securing artificial grass seams and edges.  The steel spikes (nails) are resistant to rust and extreme weather and have a galvanized finish. The galvanized spikes are multipurpose, suitable for securing various surfaces.

"We are very excited to expand our accessories line to include the galvanized spikes. The galvanized spikes provide a solution for artificial grass installers who prefer an alternative to staples," said Rachel Brady. "Ultimately, this particular innovation is a means for Global Syn-Turf to begin offering more fastening products to the turf industry, and will allow us to bring reliable Global Syn-Turf products to installers everywhere-€”irrespective of their installation preferences."

And the last product being launched this week is Global Syn-Turf's specially designed, eco-friendly Golf Hole Cap.  This product provides a firm-yet-easily-removable barrier between your golf hole and the environment.  The universal Golf Hole Cap is designed to fit regulation size golf cups, and is constructed with sturdy, durable plastic, with built-in, reliable UV protection, ensuring that the cap will resist fading and disintegration.

• Firmly sits in the golf cup and will not be dislodged by heavy gusts
• Texturized top
• Repurposes your putting green for non-golf activities by covering the golf hole
• Will fit any PGA, USGA, or other Standard Regulation Golf Cup
• Prevents leaves, debris and liquids from falling into the hole
• Prevents pedestrians from injuring themselves by stepping into the hole

On the new golf hole cap product, Rachel Brady stated, "Our new golf hole cap is the perfect solution for protecting your putting green. Not only that, it can serve to repurpose the putting green for alternative activities, such as playing with your kids or dog, or entertaining guests -€“ all you have to do is place our golf hole caps over the golf holes, and you're putting green is instantaneously transformed into a generic turf surface for all kinds of non-golf activities. Global Syn-Turf places importance in usability; as such, the Global Syn-Turf golf hole cap enables homeowners with putting greens to maximize the value and use they get out of their back yard putting green properties."

Global Syn-Turf's products are voted the best artificial grass for commercial and residential properties. The company creates durable and safe surfaces. No matter what the conditions or climate, Global Syn-Turf synthetic turf can withstand high usage, risk-free. And factors such as this are the motivating causes of why people are saying that Global Syn-Turf synthetic turf solutions are setting standard with innovative technologies specifically developed to guarantee the health and safety of its sportive users. If you combine the practical applications, sustained smoothness, and uniform padding, with the health and safety benefits, the cost of installing Global Syn-Turf artificial turf goes from that of an expenditure to that of an investment.

This is the first of a continuing series of interviews with green industry professionals.  In this interview, an anonymous (he asked for his name and company to be suppressed) landscape contractor speaks off-the-cuff about his experiences in the green industry and installing artificial grass.

What is a typical day like for a landscape contractor?

The life of a general contractor can be very tumultuous. They are working with expensive, often dangerous equipment. Depending on the contract, they are solely responsible for any mishaps that occur. Still more stressful is the fact that they if the site they are working on is residential, the very material of their business just so happens to be their client's most expensive article of property and sometimes their most prized possession -- namely their homes. So with all of this liability, and in this day and age, in which your every action is susceptible to being recorded forever on the Internet, the job can be difficult.

How does a landscape contractor accept a job?

Ordinarily, landscape contractors have to go to the customer's location when the customer is available. It can be on the weekend, in the evening, or during the day -- it just depends on when the customer would like them to begin. However, once the customer has given them the go-ahead to begin work, most contractors want to get started as soon as possible.

What is the most stressful part of being a landscape contractor?

By force of circumstance, the majority of them are deprived of the privilege of being able to maintain their reputations. The reason is that the average contractor's business is constantly in flux. Yes, it's feasible for a contractor with robust resources to have as many as ten pending jobs in queue, but the majority of contractors simply don't have that capacity. They only have one crew. And with only one crew, the maximum amount of jobs you can take is three to four. So, the majority of contractors may have one job to start with, and then take on a second job a few days later, and then have a third emerge, and then perhaps a fourth.

However, for your average contractor with only one crew and three projects in queue, what very often happens is that the queue is upset by accidents. Perhaps their truck breaks down. Or when the first job is almost finished, perhaps their vehicle leaks and besmirches the pave that's just been painted. Or say an incident with the irrigation happens while they are remodeling something inside and need to use the pressure washer -- if the pipeline is malfunctioning, they won't be able to finish the job. Mishaps like this are very expensive and burdensome. Everything can be running smoothly and according to plan, but if the crew says: "We hit the gas line," at the very moment when the three pending customers have given green lights to start working on the next projects, what can you do?

At that point the contractor has to call the utility to come fix it, because his crew can't proceed until the gas line is fixed. And of course he can't just hire another crew to do the new jobs.Thus, he's forced to move the crew out of the current job and send them to the next job. And then, guess what? With every intent of coming back to finish the first job, he probably never will. Perhaps the customer will call him and say, "You're coming back; otherwise I'll sue you!" And he may return to the first job briefly. It's a very hectic cycle and business to be in. In short, with limited resources, it's difficult for a contractor to maintain an impeccable reputation.

What about artificial grass installers?

With regard to artificial grass installation companies, there are two types of arrangements they have with their personnel: one of them is that they pay their crews by the hour. They say to their crew, "There's a job today. You start today; you finish today." and then seven people are sent to the job to get it done. By the end of the day, everyone receives a paycheck at the hourly rate.

The second type of arrangement is when they pay their personnel according to square footage. They say, "I am going to pay you two dollars per square foot for this job. I don't care how you do it, or how long it takes you to do it -- do it whichever way and however long you'd like. If you finish in half a day -- Hallelujah! -- you make more per hour."

So, basically every artificial grass installer calls their own crew, but they run them differently, based on how effective and efficient they want them to be.

What about installing artificial grass is different than a typical construction gig?

Unlike most contractors, unless there's an installation problem, artificial grass installers don't usually have any hiccups during installation. This is because the work involved isn't too complex. It's not like construction where you're prevented from finishing a job because of, say, a broken board. In construction, a broken piece of board only costs twenty cents per linear foot; so five feet is just one dollar. But if you don't fix it, the completion of the project goes nowhere.

With an artificial grass installation, on the other hand, the consequence of finding a defective section of the turf isn't that serious. It is just a product. That's what makes it so beautiful: a four-person crew can make twenty-four-thousand dollars in a day and a half.

Is installing artificial grass a threat to lawn care business?

Lawn maintenance contractors shouldn't feel anxiety about installing artificial grass. Their lawn care gigs are not being threatened. Artificial grass installations only account for three to five percent of residential yards these days. If you're a lawn maintenance contractor, and you start installing artificial grass, you are going to be busy; you'll never run out of artificial turf installation gigs.

Concerned lawn maintenance contractors often reply, "I charge thirty dollars per week to maintain each yard, and I am currently maintaining twenty percent of the neighborhood. If I install artificial turf, there will be no need for my services." My response to this contention is, "Are you crazy? Look at where you live. Just three to five percent of the homes in the neighborhood have artificial turf. And even if that percentage was much higher, say twenty percent, it wouldn't matter because you'd run yourself to death before finishing installing all of them, anyway.In brief, in no wise does the lawn maintenance contractor lose business as a consequence of installing artificial turf.

How does a landscape contractor succeed?

Anyone with sales, business management and installation abilities can make a lot of money installing artificial turf.

The other thing is that, like any business, you have to commit to it and believe in yourself. You might not have any work on some days. You might get discouraged. And then you might start to deviate from your plan. You can't do that; you have to keep your eyes on the prize. In the competitive business world, you just can't let your efforts abate. This world, this market, doesn't grant anyone the luxury of being lazy, or deviating from their plan, because there are too many people out there who are just as committed as you, and just as smart as you, if not more so.

So, if suddenly, two months have gone by, and you still don't have any business, and you're thinking that you have to put food on the table, you still need to stick with your game plan. You need to have a plan. You have to stick with it.

For example, I have an online friend in Billings, Montana, who's been installing turf for two years. Who is he? He's a twenty nine year old kid. How did he get there? He had guts and persistence. That's all it took. And he's just one guy. You know what he does? In the winter time, he plows snow. He works in the restaurant at Shell. And in the spring time he hits the trade shows, he stops by all of the booths, telling people he installs artificial grass and so on. And he uses his own money to make video advertisements. He said, "I need to make a life; this is what I do. I pick up every job I can get during the winter, snow plowing, etc. But when spring hits, I am out one hundred percent installing artificial turf. I tell everyone I know, every city, every department, every single person I know. I am committed. You know what? He installs a lot of turf. If you are not committed, you are not going to go anywhere. You must be determined. When we first met on some forums, I didn't think he was going to make it. I thought, "Billings, Montana?" If you are talking about Chicago, then there might be a chance. But, he proved me wrong: by making a plan and sticking with it.