A Cold Day in Suburbia

NYTimes snow machines

[from the NY Times]

Well here’s a new trend I didn’t see. Residential snow-making. That’s right guys are making their own snow piles, runs, hillsides, chutes, etc. I didn’t see it coming, I’ve been snowed under, this entire trend has blown right by me.

In what appears to be a blizzard of activity this hobby as taken on a life of it’s own. Creating an avalanche of new enthusiast. I mean c’mon are we serious here?!?

“Daddy I’m bored, there’s nothing to do, make me a snowhill”.

Not only that these guys have started their own forum; Snowguns.com, I read over 3,700 registered on-site. The site is new but the forum looks like it has been going strong for awhile.
After reading this article in the Times two, that’s right two things have occurred to me:

That there has to be an opportunity for the residential Landscape Designer here somewhere. I hope to be snowed under by the responses, and . . .
Americans have too much money.

By Rick Anderson

The Whispering Crane Institute was originally formed to act as the umbrella organization for the Philosophy of Design Symposium, and other seminars and workshops given by Rick Anderson and Richard L. Dube’. In the year 2000 WCI became a sole proprietorship owned by Rick Anderson. Today the WCI provides design and consultation services for Landscape Contractors, acts as a Green Industry think tank, and provides training for others in the form of workshops, seminars, and individual consulting. The WCI also provides written material, opinions, case-studies and how-to articles for industry trade magazines.

View all of Rick Anderson's posts.

4 comments

Kathy says:

February 17, 2007 at 4:05 pm

I addressed this topic a few years ago, though not as punnily:
http://www.coldclimategardening.com/2004/02/14/one-mans-snow-is-another-mans-treasure/

Kathy;
It’s a good read but that much money!?! It gave me the chills . . . seriously it just amazes me what some people will spend/waste money on. I guess it’s their version of keeping the economy going.
Rick

Reply
The County Clerk says:

February 20, 2007 at 6:26 pm

Ha!

I say “no harm done.”

I think the idea is stupid, but it also seems like something I’d do.

Hank

Oh, no harm done, I mean this is America after all, and a man’s home is his castle and all that, but really?!? I mean . . . Wellllllll, if it floats the boat, have at it. But don’t let anyone give me some snowjob about how necessary this is.

If a guy could do that he could sell ice to eskimo’s.
Rick

Reply
Gary says:

February 24, 2007 at 1:43 pm

Snow ?

Remind me what snow looks like, we don’t get it in the UK anymore 🙂

http://jerrychicken.blogspot.com/2007/02/evidence-of-global-warming.html

Have blogged on how spring started a whole month earlier than last year, in fact it started as soon as autumn finished, I had new buds on one bush in my garden before the old leaves had blown off back in November.

Maybe you can start one of these snow-making businesses and become a millionaire, and; you know, jet around and look at . . . . real snow.

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