How to Turn Your Gardening Hobby into a Full-Time Job
If you clicked on this article, you must agree that gardening is an amazing pastime. It is a great way to unwind your mind and to forget about your daily stress, as well as a rewarding experience in and of itself. This is not something new – practical and aesthetic gardening traditions are known to be as old as ancient Mesopotamia and the Aztec Empire, going as far back as at least 1,800 BCE. Humanity’s love for nature and for nurturing it is deeply ingrained in our DNA. Thus, it is not surprising at all if you have discovered a passion for it.
Furthermore, gardening is an activity that benefits both you, and the planet. Despite being man-made, gardens are actually helping nature recover from pollution and disasters, even when done at a small scale. As for your personal well-being, gardening is undisputedly good for your health – all those hours spent outside breathing fresh air and making physical efforts, are guaranteed to reduce your stress levels and even reduce the risks of several diseases, by strengthening your immune system.
Now, let us assume that you already have some decent gardening skills, whether from working in your own garden or by volunteering as a gardener. Eventually, you might start wondering if this hobby of yours can be turned into something more lucrative, like a part-time job or even a full-time work commitment. This is certainly possible, but there are several important aspects to consider and steps to be taken:
- Work on getting in shape
First and foremost, gardening is a physically demanding activity. In order to become efficient and successful, a good gardener needs to be in great physical shape. You can improve yours by walking and exercising a lot, making sure to give extra attention to your back muscles and knees. You want to develop your posture and endurance, rather than build muscle mass – this will make things easier for you down the line. As most gardening obviously takes place outside, in all kinds of weather, it is also important to boost your immunity with vitamins and other supplements.
- Get more hands-on experience
Gardening is not just about designing landscapes – it is (literally) about down-to-earth, hard work. Regardless of the amount of gardening you did as a hobby, it is most certainly not enough to become a professional gardener. You absolutely need hands-on experience, working side by side with specialists of the trade. This is best addressed early on, because gaining valuable experience requires a lot of time. You can start doing this today, by applying for internships or assistant roles, plus do some of the aforementioned volunteer work, albeit for companies and institutions that are well-known in the industry.
- Research the tools of the trade
Like any other trade or industry, gardening is always developing and evolving. On a regular basis, spend some hours on the internet researching the latest tools and techniques used in modern gardening – this will surely pay off handsomely in the future. Do not neglect specialist forums and online communities, because these are the likeliest places to discover the latest trends and tips to improve your skills and update your technical approaches. Do not hesitate to ask a million questions – people who are passionate about gardening will gladly answer them and guide you towards your goals.
- Get educated
Horticulture is a scientifical discipline in its own right, and is actually a lot more complex than most people assume. To become a great gardener, you need to learn and understand the science behind the trade. There are varying levels to which you can take your education in horticulture. You can start off with some simple online courses or even YouTube tutorials. Then, if you feel that you are ready to invest a little bit more into your education, you can look for specialist courses offered by professional organisations, such as the Royal Horticulture Society. And finally, when you decide that it is time to become a full-fledged professional, you can apply for a Horticulture Degree or strive to earn a Master Gardener certification. Like in any other profession, getting the proper educational background will greatly expand your knowledge base and skillset, and will ultimately work wonders for your career.
- Build a career strategy and follow it
The moment you become a professional gardener is only the start of your career. As soon as you find yourself employed on a full-time basis and are starting to feel more confident about your skills and abilities, it is time to start thinking about the next steps. You can start planning a strategy to eventually get promoted to Senior or Head Gardener. Alternatively, you may consider branching out into more narrow specializations, like landscaping, greenkeeping or arboriculture. One day, you might feel confident enough to start your own small gardening business and try yourself in a more entrepreneurial role. Whatever you do, stay ambitious and never stop aiming for new goals!