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The Professional Gardener

Best and worst horticulture related careers to start in?

7 years ago

Industries (Pubic gardening, greenhouse worker, arborist, agriculture, etc), company size (small, big, institutional), etc....? Looking for what would make the best career.

As far as my story goes, I'm going to be graduating with a two year degree from a Horticulture/Landscaping program, where we learned aspects from just about all the green industries. I've worked part time and summer jobs with a few landscapers doing mostly maintenance, and have done much on my own. I also did a summer internship at a public garden, and have taken extra courses in arboriculture.

To make things clear, I'm looking for something that would potentially make a great long term career or even offer major benefits in a short run. I have no real personal preference on one industry over the other. I chose the green industry simply because while I am intelligent and very strong at math, I just never liked doing it and get stressed out when indoors too long. I like the green industry so far, but at the same time I'm just no passionate about it either, as working in 95 degree heat and making bottom line salary just isn't too awesome.

In the long run I plan on taking night courses for another industry once I find what it is I want, but for the mean time I'm planning on making a career in what I have. I feel qualified in most of the fields.

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