Dreaming of leaving your desk job behind for a more fulfilling outdoor career? It’s a major decision that requires careful evaluation. As someone who recently made the leap to professional gardening, here are the top 10 factors I pondered before taking the plunge:
1. Gain Firsthand Experience
Before committing, it’s crucial to get real-world exposure through volunteering, job shadowing, or conversing with industry professionals. This will give you invaluable insights into the day-to-day realities. Can you handle the physical demands? Will it align with your lifestyle? Hands-on experience enables skill development and confidence building.
2. Assess Your Passion
A genuine passion for plants, nature and gardening will fuel your motivation to learn, adapt and thrive as an outdoor professional. However, passion alone isn’t enough – be sure not to conflate it with comprehensive expertise. An open, curious mindset is key.
3. Build Your Knowledge
While formal credentials aren’t always necessary, having a baseline understanding of horticulture, botany and landscaping best practices is very beneficial. The good news is you don’t need to know everything upfront – just having the drive to continuously learn new skills is invaluable.
4. Understand the Seasonal Nature
Gardening work fluctuates significantly by season. Financially plan for slower winter months by exploring ways to diversify your income streams. Also know that much of the work is repetitive – you may mulch the same area for weeks on end.
5. Network and Specialize
Connect with gardening pros to expand your knowledge, opportunities and mentor relationships. And consider specializing in a particular niche like landscape design, organic practices or urban agriculture as your career progresses.
6. Financial Implications
Research expected gardener incomes in your region and anticipate expenses like tools/equipment, transportation, insurance etc. Understand it may take time to establish yourself, so save up if possible.
7. Work-Life Balance
Gardening can involve long, tiring days especially during peak seasons. Determine whether this fits with your lifestyle and commitments before diving in.
8. Envision Your Legacy
Deeply reflect on how you want to be remembered and what matters most. Will you regret not pursuing your passion? Visualize your future self.
9. Timeline and Backup Plan
Give yourself ample time to learn the ropes, but also have a Plan B if it doesn’t work out as hoped right away. You can always reevaluate later on.
10. Confidence and Passion
With the right mindset and understanding of the commitment required, you can confidently turn your outdoor dreams into reality. Tend your passion through continuous learning and growth.