Oh one more thing which I meant to ask before... Does anyone know a good way to clean that white line off our rock that sits down in the water? We've been told it will probably keep coming back, but we just want to be able to clean it up a little bit for special occasions. I tried some other recommendations that seemed to work a little bit. There has to be an easier way??? I guess you can't use a water softener or you'll get problems, or at least that's what Aqua Pools told us - can any water experts confirm that please or offer some suggestions. We love our rock, it's a paneled rock that looks nice down underwater, but we just wish somebody would invent a way to clean that line up.

I'm sure Taylan is doing his legwork. Perhaps Taylan, you can begin by searching the internet. For example contact members of the BC Landscape and Nursery Assoc. http://www.bclna.com/bclna_membership_join.htm - you can get a list of nurseries operating in the area. You could also go to your University's library to conduct research. All businesses must be registered somewhere, you'd need to locate that information. Under horticulture, landscaper, nurseries, etc.. You can approach your horticultural department to chat with a faculty member. FAculty members often are in close touch with industry and you will find them to be a good source of information. I would also suggest having a better understanding of container gardening. Small scale to large scale. Most products used in balconies and elsehwere are labeled and branded. Look for those brands and start contacting their manufacturers/suppliers. If there are garden shows or any garden clubs active in BC, interview the members for tips. Who are the major suppliers of plants and flowers in BC area? Tip -- start w/ the yellow pages/ start w/ checking your local stores especially nurseries. Check the labels of plants. Often plant labels bear the names of the suppliers. -Who are the major producers of gardening supplies in BC area? again, start w/ the nurseries and check the brand names of the tools on sale. And you can do internet searches on these things. -What seasonal changes are to watch for in gardening business? Well, to start with lets look into fall season -- you see tulips bulbs and other bulbs being imported from HOlland. These get into the ground in the fall for spring flowers. then during the holidays when you spot poinsettias and amaryllis, paperwhites, lilies being sold off. - meaning some nurseries would have started these plants some months prior. Trees being sold for christmas trees, - meaning check out the tree farms nearby for their cycles of growth & harvest. Then in Spring, just around easter, when you'd be spotting tulip flowering early sold off in pots -- meaning some nurseries would have forced early flowering for these bulbs. Then comes all the perennial and annual plants for planting. People have from Late spring to early sept. to beging planting. And not just planting -- ou have the fertilizer suppliers, the suppliers of compost, soil. Then the people who sell gardenign services. Then the garden ornaments. etc... So from late spring through summer gardening is really hot. -What sort of facilities would be required to grow and store the plants? A very complex question - each plant takes different care. Best discuss with nurseries - there are many nurseries that will actually do some sort of tour of their processes. Do check the yellow pages. -What sort of human resources would be needed to operate such facilities? Check nursery operations first. So that should give you enough tips to start your project. Good luck. I'm frankly surprised you hadn't mentioned approaching any horticultural department. Doesn't UBC have one or the equivalent?

Spam--not allowed on Gardenweb, please read the membership agreement.

I'm not sure I agree that they are doing more work. Yes, they are probably visiting your table more often to pick up dirty plates, but they don't have to 1. take orders 2. answer questions about the menu 3. run back & forth to the kitchen to check on orders 4. carry hot heavy plates of food on big trays Mostly they are just sort of hanging around watching tables for drink refills & dirty plate pick up. So, in fact, there are usually fewer servers in the whole place for a buffet than there are in a normal table service restaurant. Thus they end up with more tables' tips than does a regular server. Also, my experience with buffets is that although they bring you your check, you end up paying at the register, so that's even another task they are exempt from. I'm not saying you shouldn't tip more than 10% if you feel they deserve it, just that I don't see buffet servers doing the same or more work as regular table service servers.