The Minnesota Balsam Bough Partnership

As one of the founding 'partners' of the Balsam Bough Partnership, Mickman Brothers, as well as others, were recognized by the U.S. Forest Service for our 'outstanding accomplishments in sustaining rural economic growth and promoting the conservation of the balsam resource in northern Minnesota.'

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Division of Forestry
Award of Excellence

In October of 2001, John S. Mickman was presented with the Minnesota Dept. of Natural Resources (DNR) Award of Excellence for:

• Helping to found the Balsam Bough Partnership
• Preparing informational materials on proper harvesting
• Conducting Educational Workshops for Bough Harvesters
• Implementing innovative ways to purchase & harvest boughs
• Actively supporting the DNR Legislative efforts to promote sustainability of the balsam resource in Minnesota

The Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association (MNLA)

We first became involved in the 'Green Industries' in 1975, when we founded our firm as a professional landscaping company. Soon afterward, we launched our Landscape Irrigation and Garden Center Divisions.

Since joining our trade association, the MNLA, we have become leaders in strengthening, promoting and guiding this worthwhile professional trade association into one of the finest green industry associations in the country.

Conservation of our most precious natural resource: Water

As one of the leading Landscape Irrigation Contractors in Minnesota, we have installed thousands of Irrigation Systems since 1976 in athletic complexes, golf courses, commercial developments, multi-family and single family homes.

The automatic Landscape Irrigation Systems in Minnesota use millions of gallons of water each evening to insure that our lawns & landscapes are healthy and growing. However, while it is raining, the Systems obviously don't need to operate. The installation of a simple, inexpensive device called a Rain Sensor, will prevent the System from coming on -- thus saving millions of gallons of water.

Support the Rain Sensor Bill.

Landscape Irrigation Systems use millions of gallons of water each evening during the summer months. At the July 1998 MNLA Irrigation Contractors Committee meeting, John Mickman proposed, and received endorsement from the full committee to launch a revolutionary legislative initiative. Our Bill requires that all new residential & commercial Landscape Irrigation Systems in Minnesota include a Rain Sensor device. This device (retail price: $29.95) prevents the Landscape Irrigation Systems from coming on during, and immediately after a rain storm.

The 'Rain Sensor Bill' as it became known, was introduced in both the Minnesota Senate (File #: 609) and the House (File #: 564). After John Mickman and Tim Malooly (Irrigation by Design) testified in Committee Hearings in both the House and Senate, the bill was passed in both Houses with overwhelming support.

Unfortunately, former Governor Jesse Ventura did not understand the importance and significant impact this Bill would have had in the conservation of water in Minnesota. HE VETOED THE BILL!

During the 2003 Minnesota Legislative Session, the MNLA again championed this important legislation, and again, the House & Senate wisely passed the Rain Sensor Bill and passed it on the Governor Pawlenty to sign into law. John Mickman was called upon to testify in both the House and the Senate as an expert witness from industry in support of this measure.

Governor Pawlenty, understanding that this is one of the most important environmental legislative measures taken in Minnesota in recent years, wisely passed this legislation into Law. The Rain Sensor Bill went into effect on July 1, 2003. This environmentally important law will save billions of gallons of potable water, and is an excellent testament to Minnesota's leading status as an environmentally friendly State.

We wish to congratulate the MNLA, Representative Denny McNamara (who initially sponsored the Bill) the MN House & Senate and our Governor, Tim Pawlenty for using good common sense in passing this Bill into Law.

Sometimes the system does work!

Bough Harvesting Praise

For the past eight years Hibbing Taconite Company has had your organization manage and harvest the bough resource on company owned lands. During that time the quality of the bough harvest has improved greatly, due mainly to your efforts to educate and supervise the areas bough cutters...
Click here to see full letter from Hibbing Taconite

Mickman Brothers Selected as the 1st
2004 Anoka County Community Conservationist

Date: September 20, 2004
From: Kim Kovich, Anoka Conservation Dist. Chair

It is my pleasure to inform you that Mickman Brothers, Inc. has been selected as the 2004 Anoka County Community Conservationist. This is the first time this honor has been awarded in Anoka County.
Click here to see full award letter