Gardening career..?

[Cosmo and Dibs]

Is there much chance of having a successfulcareer in gardening/horticulture?

But is it worth it? Is there enough work out there? It would be great to be self-employed, but wouldn't work dry up in winter?

Should I just have gardening as an enjoyable hobby?

[Iamhanuman]

while the economy is doing what its doing now about the only business still booming is horticulture, especially veg growing.
there is probably no better time than now to get into it professionally

if you believe in yourself, then you will succeed.

[Glutton4...]

Dunno!

I was Landscaping (Commercial mainly) for the last five years, no training, just thrown in at the deep end! It was fab until redundancy hit! Now I'm just on the first steps of 'self-employed jobbing gardener' which isn't quite the same thing, but at least it is real gardening! Naff all, really, during the winter this year, but if you don't mind getting your hands dirty it is very satisfying.

I'll never be a millionaire though

[Cosmo and Dibs]

So what do you do during winter?

[Glutton4...]

Go to the Gym (trying to lose weight/get fit), cook for the freezer (discovered I can cook!), research stuff on the pooter (to improve my gardening knowledge), and waste an inordinate amount of time on here !

I already have a few regulars (pensioners, mainly) who appreciate the problems caused by the bad weather, and are happy with whatever I can do during the winter. I also sell stuff on eBay, which helps a little, but only because DH acquires so much 'stuff' we have no room for...

[Glutton4...]

I know I'm rambling (red wine!), but I'm not sure you'll earn any more with the qualifications than without. If you've a good head on your shoulders, and support of those nearest to you, you could probably have a career anyway!

Hopefully someone with more experience than me will come along and give you a better viewpoint, or different perspective than mine.

[areia]

i suppose if you have your own allotment you could preserve and sell excess produce in the markets during the winter

[Alice]

Being self employed is never easy Cosmo and Dibs.
No salary goes into your bank account at the end of the month - only money from work you have hustled for yourself.
It's not for the faint hearted, only for those who can say failure is not an option and I will succeed whatever it takes.
Unless you are passionately commited to working for yourself at something you are passionate about, then I would just keep it as a hobby.
And there is the point that once you have turned something you love doing into work you have destroyed that thing.

[Glutton4...]

... and there was me looking on the bright side!





sorry, had a drink or two, I know I'll look at this differently tomorrow!

[digthatchick]

This is from someone who has done it - last November I was made redundant ( again) from the print and design business. I have always had a fascination in gardening and growing veg.

My sister is a qualified nurseywoman and my father was a gardener so I took the plunge and went self employed as a gardener.

I am quite close to you in Worcester rather than Brum so check out Pershore college for courses or day courses like what to do in the garden this month with the well renowned Bob Hares.

December and Jan were very quiet as I was building a strategy and sussing the competition, designing doordrop cards and getting van plus livery. Main tip DON'T just leave a mobile number as people think you are either travellers or casing their house! I am now so busy I am working a 6 day week.

Don't charge by the hour it's a waste of time and effort, charge by Day, half day (add 20%) or contract. I had a lady who said she only wanted one hour a week I said no .. minimum 4 hours or 2 hours at £** per hour
regular customer now every week big garden, they are happy and so am I ... go for it, it is a fantastic way to earn a living.

[TonyF]

My nephew is a gardener with a full-time gardening business which he's been running for 7 years. He did a full-time degree course at Merris Wood in Surrey and he permenantly employs 4 guys plus himself doing high-end gardens for people all over the south of UK, including some contract work for one of the television gardeners.

His work has slowed down but he has work for another year at least.

Business wise, his father (BiL) runs a multi-national business and set up his business model.

They all get their hands dirty but it always rebuilding gardens and re-planting trees and the like rather than the sort of gardening GYO people do I think.

I ran a project in London during the 80s employing 200 gardeners, re-building original garden designs and plans for historic almshouses across London. It was seriously hard work.

I get regular requests here to do people's gardens for them/help them but to be honest for me, with such a big garden and the equivalent of two allotments in a chum's garden to look after, I wouldn't want to go back into gardening.

Jobbing gardening is fine but as already mentioned, can be hard in the winter - if it were me, I'd look for a landscaper wanting people and let them have the worry tho your worry would be what happens if there's no work, same as being a jobbing gardener, the mortgage doesn't pay itself. And don't work on the black, getting caught and having the Revenue round your neck isn't worth the hassle.

[Pootle]

I'd echo what digthatchick says - a friend of mine retrained through Pershore college and now has a good business here in Malvern. She's exhibited at the Malvern Show/Gardeners World. I would recommend contacting Pershore as they seem to give great advice on careers in all areas of horticulture.

I think you have to be prepared to be flexible but providing you know your onions (so to speak) you'll do ok. I have heard horror stories of people calling themselves landscapers/gardeners who don't know anything about preparation etc so it's a good idea to get some qualifications under your belt!

[vicky]

I've worked as a jobbing gardener for the last 10 years and I still love it! There's enough work in winter to 'keep me going', especially if you work in some larger gardens, we also save up garden clearances/major work for the winter.
I don't do it as a full time job as I have children can only work school/nursery hours, but before the second child I was making very good money doing 9-3 4 days a week. When the toddler goes to school I will throw myself back into it!
Pm me if you want any more info!

[Flummery]

i suppose if you have your own allotment you could preserve and sell excess produce in the markets during the winter

.. but check with your allotment contract fIrst. Some sites stipulate that you CAN'T sell excess as a business.

[sewer rat]

while the economy is doing what its doing now about the only business still booming is horticulture, especially veg growing.
there is probably no better time than now to get into it professionally

if you believe in yourself, then you will succeed.

It ain't easy. If you want to concentrate on veg you have to look at where you are going to get your income from.
I'm going into my third season and at this time of year I am flat broke - every spare penny I had goes on compost, seed, seed potatoes, etc.
I sell my veg through a box scheme, and at Farmers Markets and at the Farm Gate.
I may sell a few trays of young plants but that's not my area - too much competition from either the established garden centres or the mail order catalogue companies.
In winter I work two days a week in an estate garden to keep the bills paid but it is hell of a tight.
Not trying to put you off - I love my job, but I will never be rich, will always be physically drained, and very probably divorced in five years time !