On 12 Mar, 22:37, Sally Thompson
wrote:
On Wed, 12 Mar 2008 16:53:21 +0000, Gary Edwards wrote
(in article ):



As a gardener I have been frustrated to find that no matter how many
qualifications, tools, insurances, licenses I have - my prices will
still be compared to casual labour from the retired or a neighbours
young son looking for pocket money! Is gardening a profession? We think
it is so we have created The Gardeners Guild.co.uk. What should be the
minimum requirement for a gardener?

Just an idea. *Do you have a reasonable front garden of your own? *Make it
look fantastic and then put up a sign "gardening by ...". *It pays to
advertise!

--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
Burne-Jones/William Morris window in Shropshire church with conservation
churchyard:http://www.whitton-stmarys.org.uk

I had a phone call the other day asking if I sold primroses.
I'm in the trade he said.
Oh Yes!
Yes I am a landscaper....
Sorry I said, but I specalise in Dahlias
Oh! What are those? he asked.
I thought you said you were in the trade.
Yes but my partener is the one that does the plants,
Oh! I said, so you're a builder then
Well..............Yes really.

To me that sums up the problem

You have to know your plants, how to look after them, and do a good
days work for the money you charge.
If people feel they have had value for money then they will pass your
info on to friends.
If the don't feel they've had value then they just talk about you.

If I want someone to cut the grass, and I have a mower already, or
just want someone to rake up leaves then I'm not going to pay the
earth, but if I want someone to maintain the borders, shrubs etc then
I want someone who knows what they are doing. and will pay
accordingly.
If they can find a neighbours son willing to do any work that doesn't
involve a computer then they are doing well.
20 years ago we used to get 6 or 7 youngsters a year looking for
weekend work or holiday work.
I havn't had 1 asking in the last 8 years.
David Hill
Abacus Nurseries