Green Side Up

Welcome to "Green Side Up: Tackling Entrepreneurial Weeds in Landscaping and Tree Care." Join hosts Jason Lee & Jordan Upcavage, a battle-tested landscaper, and a tree whisperer, as they peel back the layers of small business ownership in the green industry.Get ready for raw stories from the trenches, navigating unpredictable weather, managing demanding clients, and conquering the challenges that define entrepreneurial journeys. Whether you're knee-deep in the dirt or just planting your seeds, this podcast is your companion in the uphill climb of entrepreneurial success.Embrace the messy reality, find solace in shared struggles, and glean insights to thrive in the wild terrain of landscaping and tree care business. It's not always a walk in the park, but with "Green Side Up," you'll learn to thrive amid the chaos of entrepreneurship. Let's tackle those weeds together!

Green Side Up is a business podcast hosted by Jason Lee & Jordan Upcavage, with 142 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Jason Lee & Jordan Upcavage hosts Green Side Up, a business show with 142 episodes published.

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  Green Side Up

  Ep 142. Trench Talk Tactics: Flat Rate, CRMs, and Social Media That Actually Converts

  Sep 17, 20261 hour

  In this episode of Green Side Up, Jason and Jordan sit down for part two with Kevin Battistoni of Hunter Irrigation to dig deeper into what it takes to build a profitable, modern service business. Kevin breaks down the shift from traditional time-and-material billing to flat rate, upfront pricing, and how contractors are using this model to increase service margins by 30% while giving homeowners true cost certainty. They explore tiered "good, better, best" options, performance-based pay that lets top technicians earn six figures, and how smart use of CRMs eliminates missed materials and back-office rework. The conversation then shifts to social media as a serious lead engine, not a vanity metric game—covering Trench Talk's peer-to-peer content strategy, three core weekly content types contractors should post, and how to leverage tools like AI and simple time-lapse videos to stay top of mind without huge production budgets. Along the way, they wrestle with the tension between tech addiction, family life, and using these same platforms to grow a business and elevate the green industry as a true trade. Show Notes: IG: @kevin_battistoni_from_ hunter FB: @kevinbattistoni Connect with Jason and Jordan: Green Side Up Podcast Website Email: greensideuppodcast@gmail.com Facebook: Green Side Up @greensideuppodcast on Instagram @skyfroglandscape on Instagram Visit Our Businesses: SkyFrog Landscape Independent Tree Service Save with SingleOps: Mention Green Side Up or use this link to get $500 off your SingleOps subscription: Get $500 Off SingleOps Sponsors & Partners: MitoGrow Intrigue Media on Instagram (@imintriguemedia) GS TrackMe Podcast Produced by: Mr. Producer (@mrproducerusa)

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  Green Side Up

  Ep 141. Rising Tides and Real Numbers: Peer Groups, Pricing, and Profit in the Green Industry

  Sep 10, 202652 min

  In this episode of the Green Side Up Podcast, Jason and Jordan sit down live at the Landscape Show 2026 in the Hunter Irrigation studio with Kevin from Hunter Industries for a deep dive into where water, technology, and business strategy intersect. Kevin shares his journey as a fourth-generation "dirt surgeon," how he survived the 2008 downturn and COVID by pivoting into digital engagement, and how tools like Hydrawise and advanced monitoring turn irrigation systems into profit-driving, proactive service platforms. Jason and Jordan open up about building SkyFrog and their Tree Service brands, navigating hurricanes, drought, layoffs, and creative marketing to keep their companies healthy. The conversation then shifts into the power of peer groups, pricing smarter instead of just chasing top-line revenue, and Jason's vision for bringing real peer-to-peer learning into FNGLA across Florida. They wrap by teeing up a part-two episode on social media, digital engagement, and "Trench Talk"—how contractors can turn their everyday work and stories into real business results. Show Notes: IG: @kevin_battistoni_from_ hunter FB: @kevinbattistoni Connect with Jason and Jordan: Green Side Up Podcast Website Email: greensideuppodcast@gmail.com Facebook: Green Side Up @greensideuppodcast on Instagram @skyfroglandscape on Instagram Tree Care Business Webinars: A Healthy Bottom Line - Sept. 15, 2026 Visit Our Businesses: SkyFrog Landscape Independent Tree Service Save with SingleOps: Mention Green Side Up or use this link to get $500 off your SingleOps subscription: Get $500 Off SingleOps Sponsors & Partners: MitoGrow Intrigue Media on Instagram (@imintriguemedia) GS TrackMe Podcast Produced by: Mr. Producer (@mrproducerusa)

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  Green Side Up

  Ep 140. If You're Not Appearing, You're Disappearing

  Sep 3, 202647 min

  In this episode of Green Side Up, Jason and Jordan riff on late-summer grind, momentum, and why "if you're not appearing, you're disappearing" in the Green Industry. Jason shares what's happening at SkyFrog—from plant ID trainings and battling spurge at the Boys & Girls Club to winning the FNGLA Landscape Division State Board seat and helping revive the landscape committee. They dig into how professional organizations like FNGLA and the ISA Florida Chapter elevate the industry through certification, consumer education, and real networking (not just letters after your name). The conversation then shifts to building recurring revenue with plant health care, the upcoming Granum Tree Care Business Webinar on PHC operations, and regional certification events in North Florida. They wrap by highlighting local FNGLA chapter meetings, the POW MIA Memorial service project, and Saluting Branches, reflecting on why giving back, showing up, and surrounding yourself with motivated peers pays off in both business and life. Connect with Jason and Jordan: Green Side Up Podcast Website Email: greensideuppodcast@gmail.com Facebook: Green Side Up @greensideuppodcast on Instagram @skyfroglandscape on Instagram Tree Care Business Webinars: A Healthy Bottom Line - Sept. 15, 2026 Visit Our Businesses: SkyFrog Landscape Independent Tree Service Save with SingleOps: Mention Green Side Up or use this link to get $500 off your SingleOps subscription: Get $500 Off SingleOps Sponsors & Partners: MitoGrow Intrigue Media on Instagram (@imintriguemedia) GS TrackMe Podcast Produced by: Mr. Producer (@mrproducerusa)

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  Green Side Up

  Ep 139. Get More Customers in Less Time: Marketing and Money Talk with Tony Bass

  Aug 27, 20261h 4m

  In this episode of the Green Side Up podcast, Jason and Jordan sit down with industry veteran Tony Bass of Super Lawn Trucks live from the Landscape Show in Orlando. Tony shares hard-won lessons from nearly four decades in the lawn and landscape industry, including why financial literacy is the real foundation of confident pricing and sustainable profit. The conversation then shifts into a masterclass on modern marketing for contractors: using problem-focused truck signage, QR codes, and video-driven landing pages to generate higher-quality leads in a world where AI is reshaping search. Tony walks through his "scale-ready" formula for turning truck signs into automated sales funnels, from headlines like "Is your tree sick?" to online scheduling and even paid consultations. They also dig into the growing influence of private equity in the green industry, why being a local, independent contractor is becoming a powerful differentiator, and preview Tony's upcoming book, The Proud Landscaper . This episode is a practical, high-energy playbook for landscape and tree service owners who want to sharpen their numbers, upgrade their marketing, and protect the soul of independent business. Connect with Jason and Jordan: Green Side Up Podcast Website Email: greensideuppodcast@gmail.com Facebook: Green Side Up @greensideuppodcast on Instagram @skyfroglandscape on Instagram Tree Care Business Webinars: A Healthy Bottom Line - Sept. 15, 2026 Visit Our Businesses: SkyFrog Landscape Independent Tree Service Save with SingleOps: Mention Green Side Up or use this link to get $500 off your SingleOps subscription: Get $500 Off SingleOps Sponsors & Partners: MitoGrow Intrigue Media on Instagram (@imintriguemedia) GS TrackMe Podcast Produced by: Mr. Producer (@mrproducerusa)

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  Green Side Up

  Ep 138. Speed to Lead: How Small Landscape Companies Win with AI and Smart Marketing

  Aug 20, 202642 min

  In this live episode of the Green Side Up Podcast from the Landscape Show 2026 inside the Super Lawn Truck Studios, Jason and Jordan sit down with Vanessa McQuade of Intrigue Media and Tyler from Cutz Landscaping Services in Orlando to explore how small but ambitious landscape companies can punch above their weight. Tyler shares his journey from family-operated maintenance work to higher-end hardscape and outdoor living projects—powered by training with Amish craftsmen and a modern CRM (SynkedUp). Vanessa breaks down practical ways to plug AI into marketing, sales, and phone answering so owners can move faster without losing the human touch, from Google Business optimization and automations to AI-powered answering services and nurture sequences. The group digs into real numbers, growth from $450K to $530K, review-getting tactics that actually work in the field, and how to build a marketing engine that turns ideal clients into long-term maintenance and install relationships—all with plenty of on-the-truck banter and real-world examples landscapers can copy on Monday morning. Connect with Jason and Jordan: Green Side Up Podcast Website Email: greensideuppodcast@gmail.com Facebook: Green Side Up @greensideuppodcast on Instagram @skyfroglandscape on Instagram Visit Our Businesses: SkyFrog Landscape Independent Tree Service Save with SingleOps: Mention Green Side Up or use this link to get $500 off your SingleOps subscription: Get $500 Off SingleOps Sponsors & Partners: MitoGrow Intrigue Media on Instagram (@imintriguemedia) GS TrackMe Podcast Produced by: Mr. Producer (@mrproducerusa)

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