This is a public-interest archive. Personal data is pseudonymized and retained under GDPR Article 89.

Promoting the trade

Hi all,
This is slightly off topic for our writing list but I feel it does relate to the industry which provides many of us with our income.
Occasionally, we've discussed some of the problems with nursery employees who don't seem to know about the products they are selling, whether it be plants, biocides, hard goods, etc. Although I haven't seen it here, another favourite topic in print relates to selecting a designer and/or installer. Both areas of discussion come replete with many caveats about unskilled workers,  getting references, less than altruistic motives of plant sellers etc.
In my area of the continent, Eastern Ontario, it is very difficult to attract new people into the gardening/landscaping industry. Long hours, physically and mentally demanding work, poor pay when compared to alternatives, seasonality and so on combine to produce a less-than attractive allure.  Several trade and government organisations are trying to interest bright young folks who want to make this a career. It's a tough sell.
 
What is happening in your parts of the country to make horticulture an attractive vocation for our young people?
 
From what I gather in many of the posts, we, as a group of writers, feel it is part of our mandate to educate consumers about all aspects of gardening. Do we also have the obligation to promote the working end of the trade? 
 
What can/should we do, as garden writers, to elevate the profile?
 
Dan
 
Dan Clost's Greenscapes
The Good Earth columnist
dan.clost@sympatico.ca
_______________________________________________
gardenwriters mailing list
gardenwriters@lists.ibiblio.org
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/gardenwriters

GWL has searchable archives at:
http://www.hort.net/lists/gardenwriters

Send photos for GWL to gwlphotos@hort.net to be posted
at: http://www.hort.net/lists/gwlphotos

Post gardening questions/threads to
"Gardenwriters on Gardening" <gwl-g@lists.ibiblio.org>

For GWL website and Wiki, go to
http://www.ibiblio.org/gardenwriters
Other Mailing lists | Author Index | Date Index | Subject Index | Thread Index