“Last summer, we lost a high-level foreman, had an employee shortage, and other issues. We had a job in the Highlands Ranch area that was getting harder to work into the schedule,” says Diggable Designs Landscape Construction’s Mike Moore. Fretting over the job, he kept asking himself, “Who do I know? Who might help?”

He reached out to Patrick O’Meara, High Country Landscape, Ltd., with whom he’s worked several years on Day of Service projects. They worked well together as volunteers, but this was business. 

Long story short, O’Meara could offer exactly what Moore needed—namely, experience in tree removal and planting. O’Meara could take a job off of Diggable’s backlog and personally supervise the work. This also meant Moore didn’t have to pay for 4 hours in travel time sending his two-man crew from Lakewood to Highlands Ranch. O’Meara and his team were only eight minutes away.

According to O’Meara, “We didn’t need supervision, but when Diggable’s supervisor came on site briefly to check in on our second project doing a planting job, it was good back-up. He brought some job supplies, met a delivery and was on to other projects.” O’Meara also points out, “Our working relationship doesn’t cross any of the sub-contractor boundaries about timing, tools and so on. Plus, when you know someone is doing things right, there’s a trust factor.”

Another win was for the homeowners. Diggable’s landscape design along with High Country’s installation earned them the “Garden of the Neighborhood” designation.

During the season, the companies partnered on three jobs and are looking at more ways to hand off work whenever it’s a win/win. They already refer jobs that are closer geographically to one another. Says Moore, “We definitely pick those jobs for High Country based on their location and lack of inconvenience to them.” The collaborators are talking about how to keep their crews working closer to home base by splitting up more work. Irrigation blowouts might be something they divide and conquer next season.

Says Moore, “Money is not being lost and it’s been a lifeline. Patrick was willing to step up and help on that first job—and I’d do the same for him.” Adds O’Meara, “I also like the environmental side. Saving gas 45 minutes to an hour is eliminating so much unnecessary pollution.”

At the end of the season, people, planet and profit have all come out winners in this deal.

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green NOW:
What are your big goals for 2017?
Why Westminster is tapping in to reclaimed water
3 resources to improve your productivity
Greenery is 2017's Color of the Year