Boston Flora

Tag: GEM

  • Saturday, November 9, 9:30 am – 4:00 pm – Gem, Mineral, Rock and Fossil Show

    Saturday, November 9 is the 17th annual Pioneer Valley Institute Gem, Mineral, Rock and Fossil Show and Sale at Greenfield Community College’s new Dining Commons in the Main Building. (If you haven’t been to GCC, don’t worry. You won’t get lost! Also, the newly reconstructed Core area with the Dining Commons is just beautiful.) The show opens at 9:30 and runs to 4 pm. ADMISSION IS FREE!

    Besides geological specimens from around the world, come and see jewelry, beads, cabochons, and many other “gems” from the earth. Talented local artisans have crafted many items. The Jurassic Roadshow showcases specimens from the Connecticut Valley. Talk to the expert collectors. Bring in your specimens for identification. On display: an amazingly preserved baby dinoprint. You can also take a tour of the GCC Rock Park at the rear of the Main Building.

    At 1:00 Historian Bob Herbert will present a program on ROSWELL FIELD, the owner of the famous Barton Cove dinosaur footprint quarry where so many Amherst College Hitchcock specimens were collected. This man, now mostly forgotten, was an important layman-scientist who met and corresponded with many world-famous scientists. You can see the whole Bob Herbert journal article here: http://www.gillmass.org/pdfs/2013-Robert-Herbert-Roswell-Field.pdf .

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  • Wednesday, January 18 – Thursday, January 19 – GEM Horticultural Business Seminar

    Renowned horticultural business consultant Frank Crandall will host the 8th two-day intensive GEM (Growth, Effectiveness, Management) Horticultural Business Seminar on Wednesday, Jan. 18 and Thursday, Jan. 19, 2012, from 8am to 5pm at the Kettle Pond Visitor’s Center at 50 Bend Road in Charlestown, RI (snow date Friday, Jan. 20).

    Crandall, a Rhode Island Certified Horticulturist, Arborist and NOFA Accredited Organic Land Care Professional, will share methods and techniques he mastered during 38 years of experience running an award-winning landscape firm with $3 million in sales and 30 employees at its peak. Over two days, the seminar will cover the following topics: Estimating, Job Costing, Overhead Calculation, Company Finances (budgets, cash flow, and financial statements), Sales Techniques, Employees (attracting, hiring, retaining, firing, and evaluating), Management Tips, Marketing, Importance of a Handbook, Business Insurance, Contracts and Legal Agreements, Getting Small Business Loans and Accounting Mistakes to Avoid.

    The text for the seminar is Crandall’s newly published book, The Essential Horticultural Business Handbook, which each participant will receive. Daily lunches are also included. The seminar is approved for NOFA Organic Land Care Program re-accreditation credits for accredited professionals. The cost is $395 per person; $375 early bird registration (by Jan. 3, 2012); $375 each for two or more employees from the same company. Checks should be made payable to Frank Crandall, GEM and mailed to: PO Box 451, Wakefield, RI 02880.

    For more information or to register, contact Frank Crandall at FrankCrandall3@gmail.com or (401) 742-7619.