Start Your Own Business Making Concrete Trees

2013 - Volume #37, Issue #4, Page #08

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You’ve never seen anything like these “concrete trees” that take hanging flowerpot stands to a whole new level. Earl Senchuk teaches artists and nursery growers how to make a profitable sideline business.
    From a distance they look like live trees — except the foliage is wrong. Instead of green leaves, the “giant plant stands” sprout all kinds of flowers and blossoms, growing in pots hanging from the branches. They require minimum maintenance because watering systems are built into the trunks of trees which are up to 13 ft. tall.
    It’s a perfect blend for Senchuk, an artist and a biology graduate, who also makes heated planting beds and greenhouses to lengthen growing seasons (featured in FARM SHOW’s Vol. 37, No. 3).
    The Marquette, Mich., artist/inventor makes the trees out of steel rod and concrete. He starts with a large pipe base adds 1/2-in. cold steel rod branches and limbs to create the skeletal shape of the tree. He welds on 1/8-in. steel struts for dimension to support plumbing and metal mesh, which is then covered in mortar. After a base coat, Senchuk uses his artistic talents to create knots, crevices and bark texture with a second coat of mortar. Birch, with its peeling bark, is the most challenging and time consuming, he says.
    Because of their size (8 ft. and up), they are impractical for shipping, Senchuk says, so he doesn’t market his trees nationwide. However, he teamed up with Vertical Artisans.com to develop a webinar program for $495, to teach others so they can make and sell trees in their areas.
    “The Living Tree Art training program includes a 120-page instruction manual with many drawings and photographs showing every step of the way and 35 videos in parallel to each step. Periodic webinars allow you to ask questions directly while learning new tricks from other Vertical Artisans,” Senchuk says.
    Anyone with basic MIG welding skills and an artistic eye who is willing to work can make the trees, he says.
    He also has a marketing suggestion.
    “I offer the use of one of my Living Tree Art sculptures for free to a well landscaped business location where I know that the tree will do well and look well for the entire season,” he explains. “The business agrees to supply and maintain the flowers, and the tree is for sale. There is virtually no work for the business to have to do because the tree, for the most part, takes care of itself. The business almost always ends up buying the tree art before someone else can.”
    The trees are labor intensive and take about two weeks to complete. Prices start at about $3,000 (8 ft.).
    Senchuk says he usually only makes a couple of trees a year, in addition to his other work.
    “If the idea appeals to anyone who has the welding wherewithal and interest to learn how to make Living Tree Art, click on the link on my home page or go directly to the www.verticalartisans.com website,” Senchuk says.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Earl Senchuk, 207 W. Arch St., Marquette, Mich. 49855 (ph 906 361-1391; info@earlsenchuk.com; www.earlsenchuk.com).

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Start Your Own Business Making Concrete Trees BUILDINGS New Techniques You’ve never seen anything like these “concrete trees” that take hanging flowerpot stands to a whole new level Earl Senchuk teaches artists and nursery growers how to make a profitable sideline business From a distance they look like live trees — except the foliage is wrong Instead of green leaves the “giant plant stands” sprout all kinds of flowers and blossoms growing in pots hanging from the branches They require minimum maintenance because watering systems are built into the trunks of trees which are up to 13 ft tall It’s a perfect blend for Senchuk an artist and a biology graduate who also makes heated planting beds and greenhouses to lengthen growing seasons featured in FARM SHOW’s Vol 37 No 3 The Marquette Mich artist/inventor makes the trees out of steel rod and concrete He starts with a large pipe base adds 1/2-in cold steel rod branches and limbs to create the skeletal shape of the tree He welds on 1/8-in steel struts for dimension to support plumbing and metal mesh which is then covered in mortar After a base coat Senchuk uses his artistic talents to create knots crevices and bark texture with a second coat of mortar Birch with its peeling bark is the most challenging and time consuming he says Because of their size 8 ft and up they are impractical for shipping Senchuk says so he doesn’t market his trees nationwide However he teamed up with Vertical Artisans com to develop a webinar program for $495 to teach others so they can make and sell trees in their areas “The Living Tree Art training program includes a 120-page instruction manual with many drawings and photographs showing every step of the way and 35 videos in parallel to each step Periodic webinars allow you to ask questions directly while learning new tricks from other Vertical Artisans ” Senchuk says Anyone with basic MIG welding skills and an artistic eye who is willing to work can make the trees he says He also has a marketing suggestion “I offer the use of one of my Living Tree Art sculptures for free to a well landscaped business location where I know that the tree will do well and look well for the entire season ” he explains “The business agrees to supply and maintain the flowers and the tree is for sale There is virtually no work for the business to have to do because the tree for the most part takes care of itself The business almost always ends up buying the tree art before someone else can ” The trees are labor intensive and take about two weeks to complete Prices start at about $3 000 8 ft Senchuk says he usually only makes a couple of trees a year in addition to his other work “If the idea appeals to anyone who has the welding wherewithal and interest to learn how to make Living Tree Art click on the link on my home page or go directly to the www verticalartisans com website ” Senchuk says Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Earl Senchuk 207 W Arch St Marquette Mich 49855 ph 906 361-1391; info@earlsenchuk com; www earlsenchuk com

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