Hi Taylor – I had an epiphany recently—I spend all week working eight-hour days and wishing I were at home in my garden instead of stuck behind a desk. Life is short, so how feasible is it for me to make my work life more enjoyable? I guess what I’m asking is… can I be a professional gardener? – Marcy
Hey Marcy – If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my own career path and the careers of countless clients, it’s that the answer is always yes. It doesn’t come easily, but being smart about your money and intentional about how you spend your time can put you in a place where you truly love what you do.
–1. What do you really want? We have to start by defining your goal. The dream might be to somehow make six figures just tending your own small garden, but that’s a bit of a stretch. Less outlandish would be finding some kind of job where you work outside and get your hands in the dirt. Is landscaping something you’re interested in, or working at a nursery? Is there a part-time gig you can work with someone who sells fruit at the farmers’ market? That way, you can test the waters and find out if this is really something you want to do for a living. Since you’re talking about a massive career shift, you probably want to start slowly so you don’t get overwhelmed or make a move you regret.
–2. Control. A lot of people get tired of working in an office because they feel like all their work benefits a boss or a corporation with no personal fulfillment. If you’re considering a shift into a life of horticulture or agriculture, do you want to be the boss of your new operation? Do you want to start a company, or lead the charge on creating some kind of cooperative effort? Or would you be happy to water someone else’s trees and just enjoy a simple job outside? You need to find the apex of your professional ambitions and your love of gardening.
–3. Consider everything. If you’re still in the daydreaming part of this potential change, don’t take anything off the table. Maybe you can start bringing your homegrown tomatoes to market and make money that way, or you can start a collaborative farming system with neighbors and support each other. Maybe you’re on the precipice of launching an urban farming collective where you and a bunch of friends grow lettuce on your rooftops and sell vegetables to local schools or something. I’m just throwing out random ideas, but nothing is impossible if you’ve got the drive to make it happen. Start with a big dream and then figure out how to make it realistic.
Short answer: You can absolutely become a professional gardener. I have no idea how or when or where, but if that’s what you really want, I’ve got no doubt you can make it happen. Good luck!
Taylor Kovar, CFP®
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
