Gardening as a career? Any Opinions?
By kjtquay
@kjtquay (31)
February 12, 2009 6:53am CST
I'm seriously thinking about taking horticulture at college next year with a view of becoming a gardener.
I just wanted to know if there are any professional gardeners on this site what they think about their career? The ups and downs? etc.
I love gardening and being outdoors but my knowledge of gardening isn't great, but I guess thats what i'm going to college for! I'm still only considering it at the moment and would love to hear anybodys opinions about this as a profession.
Thanks!
4 responses
@peavey (16936)
• United States
16 Feb 09
I'm not a professional gardener, but I've gardened all my life, so this is interesting to me. What would you do, exactly, as a professional gardener? Would you find the same satisfaction starting and selling plants, like a greenhouse/nursery? Or are you thinking of being a truck farmer and selling vegetables and fruits? Or landscaping? It's a wide field, so I'm curious.
@peavey (16936)
• United States
16 Feb 09
In that case, I would recommend that you try to find a job in a nursery this spring, when they need extra help. Maybe that will help you get your hands on it and decide whether the extra education is necessary - or if you really want to do it. Just a few thoughts. 
Good luck!
Good luck!
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
11 Nov 09
If you love it like you say, GO FOR IT! There are many ways to make money as a gardener. green houses, high tunnels, flower shops, CSAs, organic, landscaping, helping others, etc. I'm not a professsional gardener, but I work for someone who is. She runs an herb company. She loves the outdoors. She loves gardening. There are sooo many ways you can go with your degree, it's amazing.
@writersedge (22563)
• United States
11 Nov 09
The ups and downs of her herb company.
She has to constantly educate people about different herbs. Legally she can't recommend anything. She has to look for new niches and ways to sell her products. Farmer's markets, craft fairs, consignments, etc. Now she's looking at online. If the plants that are in demand grow, great! If not, she still has to find herbs to meet demand or restart, etc. She has studied and become very knowledgeable about wild plants and they often come back well on their own.
Lots of work from spring to Christmas. Not as much from the first of the year on until spring.
From Spring to Christmas, seldom has time off, esp. weekends don't seem to be off. Worked really well when her Mom or her brother helped her. Her brother has his own job now and her Mother is ill. So she's having trouble meeting demand now and that's where hiring me part-time came in.
@xParanoiax (6987)
• United States
22 Feb 09
Well, I'm trying to create a successful farming business on a little over an acre this year with my Mom...but that's not quite the same and I haven't done it yet.
I grew up on a farm, but I don't have an experience with a large variety of plants (just a decent handful)...so I'm glad for my Mother's experience and knowledge with this subject (she studied horticulture as well).
She's never farmed on a small scale though and she doesn't have as much business sense...which is where I come in.
Like I said, it's not quite the same...but working with plants and their relation with people is worthwhile. If it's the economy you're worried about, I'd think about edible gardening versus totally decorative, since food never goes out of style. You can make a career out of maintaining victory gardens for people nowadays as well...so there's still quite a bit of demand for it -- in fact, I think, at least in the farming and victory garden department, the demand is growing quite a bit!
@daneg33 (1128)
• Canada
12 Feb 09
Well, I'm no gardener, but my sister is in landscaping. There is lots of money to be made from that if you are creative and know all about plants. You could start up your own business - start off in the summer and do some flyers, distribute them around your neighbourhood. Start off small (part time - weekends) and build up your client base, then expand. The only draw back to that work is that you are constantly in the sun, so you need to wear lots of sunscreen, a hat, long sleeves, so you don't get sun damaged skin. It's not easy work either, so you tend to stay in really good shape - meh - who needs the gym!!
