A Field that is Blooming: Careers in Landscaping and Horticulture

Do you have clients who could envision themselves designing a beautiful garden, landscaping the front yard, installing trees, shrubs and perennials? How about paving stone patios, maintaining lawns or constructing decks and fences? If so, landscaping and horticulture may be the field for them!

The “greening industry” is a catch-all phrase used to describe anything green and growing and encompasses the care of plants and the natural environment. With a direct economic impact of $4.72 billion in 2003, the Illinois “green industries” are growing rapidly, notes the Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Experts and business owners agree. “Illinois is in the agricultural realm of things. Landscaping, nurseries, greenhouses and florists generate more revenue than corn crops,” notes Christy Webber, President of Christy Webber Landscaping. However, the demand is outweighing the supply – job seekers should take note. Landscaping and horticulture are included in the 25% of service sector industries that report they are unable to fill all of their open jobs, according to the University of Illinois’ Natural Resources Program.

Within the last ten years, with the booming housing market and the influx of families staying in the city, the “curb appeal” of houses is becoming more and more important. According to the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Program, a well-designed and maintained landscape adds value to homes and property. Research shows the value of a home can be increased by as much as 15% as a result of good landscape.

Where are the jobs?

The green industry is one of the nation’s largest employers and there are countless career opportunities in this field.

Landscaping occupations include not only landscape designers and architects, but also tree care workers, landscape contractors, gardeners and maintenance workers, irrigation and soil specialists, nursery workers and growers, interior plantscape workers and pest management workers.

Most companies, depending on size, usually have a staff comprised of one higher-degree individual (usually either a landscape architect and/or horticulturalist) and landscaping workers with experience and/or training in the field.

Companies’ employment opportunities are relative to the size of the business, Webber notes. Most labor positions in the industry pay between $7.50 - $18.00 per hour; benefits often depend on the employer. Management and designer positions often pay from $25.00 - $37.00 per hour depending on education and experience.

What skills are needed?

Job developers really need to know the work requirements of the industry, explains Webber. “They need to appreciate there will be little tolerance for lackluster performance, especially given the labor-intensive nature of the business. This industry is comprised mostly of small business entrepreneurs who worked hard to ‘grow’ their businesses, and expect their crew workers to do the same.” Most importantly, individuals should also have a genuine interest in caring for the natural environment.

Many occupations in the green industry require critical thinking, strong decision-making abilities, and problem-solving skills. Although most of the manual work is done in crews, Webber notes, many times crew members are working independently on specific pieces of a project where critical thinking skills often come into play. Because much of the work requires spatial relations, individuals should have basic mathematical skills, along with good reading, writing, and communication skills.

The majority of landscape personnel have direct contact with their customers; these individuals should have excellent customer service skills to be able to listen to the customers’ wishes and needs. Others may be part of a crew and receive direction from a crew leader; these individuals need excellent “soft skills” – to understand teamwork, deal with clients and interact with other crew members.

Physical strength and endurance are essential to perform the functions of most jobs in the green industry. Individuals must be able to lift heavy objects, kneel, stand and walk for long periods of time and often use dangerous tools. Because the majority of the work is outdoors, landscape personnel must be able to endure heat and sun exposure in the summer, rain in the spring and fall and cold, frosty conditions in the winter.

What education and/or training is required?

The “beauty” of this field is the number of opportunities for people with a range of experience and education. Those who would like to enter the field near entry level can take a few horticulture courses; many community college and university extension program provide horticulture and landscape architecture and design programs. Certificate or associate degree programs as well as bachelor’s and master’s programs exist for those who want more in-depth knowledge.

The number of four-year degree programs seems to be on the decline, but two-year and certificate courses are on the rise, explains Edde Jones, Program Director for the Greencorps Chicago, Department of the Environment. Webber agrees. This is especially beneficial to a population of job seekers with limited work experience and education. Webber explains further, “while the industry is in need of staff possessing college degrees in horticulture and related studies, the majority of positions consist of laborers, managers in various departments and business support staff.”

Individuals who have experience working in a nursery or a maintenance company may be good candidate for job openings. Internships or practical experience, such as participation in community gardens and volunteering, also will increase employment opportunities.

Knowledge of Spanish is an asset in this field; there is a high-number of Spanish speakers in the green industry.

What are the expected work conditions?

One of the most appealing aspects of the green industry is the nature of the work. Many landscaping staff work outdoors (in parks, recreation areas, commercial grounds or private residences), although some may work in an office setting performing some of the business functions (management, bookkeeping) for the projects.

Many find working outdoors to be one of the most freeing, beneficial parts of the work and often a good fit for people who do not want to be behind a desk or in an office all day. Landscaping is a “living” industry where challenges are constantly arising, be it pests, soil conditions or nature, describes Webber. This is not a “corporate” environment. Getting your hands dirty is a requirement of the job, she promises.

Most companies tend to work primarily Monday through Friday during daylight hours; work at night is rare due to the need for light and safe outdoor conditions.

A downfall of the industry is that it tends to be seasonal in some regions. The bulk of the work is required in the summer months, followed by spring and fall. However, Nancy Kreith, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Extension Program Director and GreenNet-Chicago’s Greening Network President suggests that a little creativity such as seasonal sales (pumpkins, Christmas trees), outdoor residential holiday decorating, snow removal and working in nurseries and greenhouses can go far in sprucing up any seasonal downturns.

According to the 1st Annual Chicago Green Festival held in Chicago this April, “Chicago is a national leader in greening their city.” Job seekers, experienced or not, can be a part of this exciting, blooming new field.

A Field that is Blooming: Careers in Landscaping and Horticulture

Do you have clients who could envision themselves designing a beautiful garden, landscaping the front yard, installing trees, shrubs and perennials? How about paving stone patios, maintaining lawns or constructing decks and fences? If so, landscaping and horticulture may be the field for them!

The “greening industry” is a catch-all phrase used to describe anything green and growing and encompasses the care of plants and the natural environment. With a direct economic impact of $4.72 billion in 2003, the Illinois “green industries” are growing rapidly, notes the Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Experts and business owners agree. “Illinois is in the agricultural realm of things. Landscaping, nurseries, greenhouses and florists generate more revenue than corn crops,” notes Christy Webber, President of Christy Webber Landscaping. However, the demand is outweighing the supply – job seekers should take note. Landscaping and horticulture are included in the 25% of service sector industries that report they are unable to fill all of their open jobs, according to the University of Illinois’ Natural Resources Program.

Within the last ten years, with the booming housing market and the influx of families staying in the city, the “curb appeal” of houses is becoming more and more important. According to the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Program, a well-designed and maintained landscape adds value to homes and property. Research shows the value of a home can be increased by as much as 15% as a result of good landscape.

Where are the jobs?

The green industry is one of the nation’s largest employers and there are countless career opportunities in this field.

Landscaping occupations include not only landscape designers and architects, but also tree care workers, landscape contractors, gardeners and maintenance workers, irrigation and soil specialists, nursery workers and growers, interior plantscape workers and pest management workers.

Most companies, depending on size, usually have a staff comprised of one higher-degree individual (usually either a landscape architect and/or horticulturalist) and landscaping workers with experience and/or training in the field.

Companies’ employment opportunities are relative to the size of the business, Webber notes. Most labor positions in the industry pay between $7.50 - $18.00 per hour; benefits often depend on the employer. Management and designer positions often pay from $25.00 - $37.00 per hour depending on education and experience.

What skills are needed?

Job developers really need to know the work requirements of the industry, explains Webber. “They need to appreciate there will be little tolerance for lackluster performance, especially given the labor-intensive nature of the business. This industry is comprised mostly of small business entrepreneurs who worked hard to ‘grow’ their businesses, and expect their crew workers to do the same.” Most importantly, individuals should also have a genuine interest in caring for the natural environment.

Many occupations in the green industry require critical thinking, strong decision-making abilities, and problem-solving skills. Although most of the manual work is done in crews, Webber notes, many times crew members are working independently on specific pieces of a project where critical thinking skills often come into play. Because much of the work requires spatial relations, individuals should have basic mathematical skills, along with good reading, writing, and communication skills.

The majority of landscape personnel have direct contact with their customers; these individuals should have excellent customer service skills to be able to listen to the customers’ wishes and needs. Others may be part of a crew and receive direction from a crew leader; these individuals need excellent “soft skills” – to understand teamwork, deal with clients and interact with other crew members.

Physical strength and endurance are essential to perform the functions of most jobs in the green industry. Individuals must be able to lift heavy objects, kneel, stand and walk for long periods of time and often use dangerous tools. Because the majority of the work is outdoors, landscape personnel must be able to endure heat and sun exposure in the summer, rain in the spring and fall and cold, frosty conditions in the winter.

What education and/or training is required?

The “beauty” of this field is the number of opportunities for people with a range of experience and education. Those who would like to enter the field near entry level can take a few horticulture courses; many community college and university extension program provide horticulture and landscape architecture and design programs. Certificate or associate degree programs as well as bachelor’s and master’s programs exist for those who want more in-depth knowledge.

The number of four-year degree programs seems to be on the decline, but two-year and certificate courses are on the rise, explains Edde Jones, Program Director for the Greencorps Chicago, Department of the Environment. Webber agrees. This is especially beneficial to a population of job seekers with limited work experience and education. Webber explains further, “while the industry is in need of staff possessing college degrees in horticulture and related studies, the majority of positions consist of laborers, managers in various departments and business support staff.”

Individuals who have experience working in a nursery or a maintenance company may be good candidate for job openings. Internships or practical experience, such as participation in community gardens and volunteering, also will increase employment opportunities.

Knowledge of Spanish is an asset in this field; there is a high-number of Spanish speakers in the green industry.

What are the expected work conditions?

One of the most appealing aspects of the green industry is the nature of the work. Many landscaping staff work outdoors (in parks, recreation areas, commercial grounds or private residences), although some may work in an office setting performing some of the business functions (management, bookkeeping) for the projects.

Many find working outdoors to be one of the most freeing, beneficial parts of the work and often a good fit for people who do not want to be behind a desk or in an office all day. Landscaping is a “living” industry where challenges are constantly arising, be it pests, soil conditions or nature, describes Webber. This is not a “corporate” environment. Getting your hands dirty is a requirement of the job, she promises.

Most companies tend to work primarily Monday through Friday during daylight hours; work at night is rare due to the need for light and safe outdoor conditions.

A downfall of the industry is that it tends to be seasonal in some regions. The bulk of the work is required in the summer months, followed by spring and fall. However, Nancy Kreith, University of Illinois Urbana Champaign Extension Program Director and GreenNet-Chicago’s Greening Network President suggests that a little creativity such as seasonal sales (pumpkins, Christmas trees), outdoor residential holiday decorating, snow removal and working in nurseries and greenhouses can go far in sprucing up any seasonal downturns.

According to the 1st Annual Chicago Green Festival held in Chicago this April, “Chicago is a national leader in greening their city.” Job seekers, experienced or not, can be a part of this exciting, blooming new field.

After a brief hibernation, the issue of homosexual marriage is reemerging into prominent public debate. Last month, New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine announced that he would seek to allow official marriages for same-sex couples in his state, replacing the current policy of civil unions. These unions, meant to be equivalent to marriage in all but the name, have fallen short of expectations: Employers that afford benefits to married couples have continued to deny them to civil union partners.

Roughly two-thirds of New Jersey residents would like to see the civil union policy replaced by full marriage equality. But Corzine has prudently decided to wait until after the coming presidential election to push for the new measure, recalling how the 2004 promulgation of gay marriage in Massachusetts helped mobilize right-wing sentiment and re-elect George W. Bush. For some, this isn't fast enough. Gay rights groups that have criticized the shortcomings of civil unions are eager to rectify a statute that has placed a significant burden on the gay community. But moving ahead on this initiative before November 4 would be courting disaster for all progressive goals.

From time immemorial, the women in this land of ours were treated as a sort of thing. Her placing in the society was not at par with other human being. She has no rights. She cannot move nor do anything at her will. In Hindu Shastras, she has been branded just like animals. From the verses of Ramayan as written by Mr. Tulsi Das, " Dhol, ganwar, shudra, pashu, naari- Ye sab tadan ke adhikari," one may easily draw inferences as to what status has been granted to our mothers. Similarly, we can understand that of Dropadi of Mahabharata was reduced to the status of a bitch, as she was the wife of five husbands (Pandwas). She was not only, the wife of five husbands; she put at stake in gambling by none else than the so called Dharmraj Yudhishthar! In 'Manusmrati' the ancient Hindu Code-book, the status granted to women is quite visible and she was put to the lowest rug of humanity as she was treated at par with the animals and slave by the proprietors of Hindu Dharma. Such was the placement earmarked to our mothers, sisters and even great grand mothers that the heads of humanity bend upon down with shame!

That is why Dr. Ambedkar was of the firm opinion that until or unless, by applying dynamite, the Hindu Dharma-shastras are not blown up, nothing is going to happen. In the name sanskaras, the Hindu women are tied up with the bondage of superstitions, which they carry till their death. They are also responsible for inculcating these wrong notions learnt by them through baseless traditions and preaching of the Shastras in the budding minds of their offspring.

Otherwise also the women in India have remained a matter of joy and a source of amusement as such she was used and misused by men just to serve their evil ends. She has been used just like a machine for procreation. It has also been mentioned in Hindu Shastras that the woman is the bond slave of her father when she was young, to her husband when she is middle aged and to her son when she is a mother. Of course, all the epigrams, aphorisms, proverbs, platitudes and truisms bear necked truth about the stature of women in India.

It does not mean that no efforts have been made in the past to bring dignity to women. As in Europe, Christianity inaugurated the Era of equality, liberty and fraternity by preaching that a prince and pauper are equal in the eyes of God. There is also a very long tradition of social reforms by our saints and other social reformers. But the proprietors of the orthodoxy thwarted these efforts. In the absence of any legal sanction or authority, these efforts could not sustain.

In this direction Dr. B.R. Ambedkar has tried to brake down the barriers in the way of advancement of women in India. He laid down the foundation of concrete and sincere efforts by codifying the common Civil Code for the Hindus and the principle is capable of extension to other sections of the Indian society. Prior to these efforts of Dr. Ambedkar, the destiny of the Indian women depended upon the wrong notions and perceptions chalked out by the proprietors of orthodoxy.

The prevailing two schools of Hindu Law viz. 'Mitakshara' and 'Dayabhag, created and sustained inequality. According to 'Mitakshara' the property of a Hindu is not his individual property. It belongs to what is called coparcenary, which consists of father, son, grandsons and great grandsons by reason of birth. The property passed under Mitakshara by survivorship to the members of coparcenary who remain behind, and does not pass to the heirs of the deceased. Whereas Dayabhag recognised the property held by the heir as his personal property with an absolute right to dispose it of either by gift or by will or any other manner that he chooses. The chaotic conditions of the Hindu law were reduced to eat propositions in the form of judicial pronouncements and codification was the legislative recognition of the judge made law. Dr. Ambedkar himself had explained lucidly the reasons for consolidation and codification.

Article 25 of the Indian Constitution permits all the freedom. The reforms introduced by Dr. Ambedkar through "Hindu Code-bill" have been adhered to and have been accepted by and large. He, by codifying Hindu Law in respect of marriage, divorce and succession, rationalized and restored the dignity to women. Prior to the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 and Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, the Hindu Law was uncodifyed in a large measure, though Hindu Women's Right to Property Act, 1937 was the subject legislative intervention. The Sharda Act is also worth mentioning. It has set the seal of authority upon that piece of social reforms, which the heads of orthodoxy were, imposing and impending.

In Hindu Code Bill, the principles of codification covered:

(i) Right to property,
(ii) Order of succession to property,
(iii) Maintenance, marriage, divorce, adoption, minority and guardianship.

Needless to say, the Bill was a part of social engineering via law. It was by any standard of any time a revolutionary measure. It was really a first step towards the recognition and empowerment of women in India. Under these revolutionary measures, a woman will have property in her own right and be able to dispose of her property.

The Hindu Code Bill introduced by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly on 11th April 1947. A debate on this bill continued for more than four years and still remains inconclusive. Here once again, the orthodoxy prevailed upon the reforms. In the words of Dr. Ambedkar, it was killed and died unset and unsung. He felt that the then government led by Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru was not eager to clear the Hindu Code Bill. He, therefore, tendered his resignation but continued to participate in the Parliamentary debates on the request of the Prime Minister.

Sharp criticism of this Bill in and outside Parliament led many to believe that it might inflict heavy damages on the Hindu society. Even the President Dr. Rajendra Prasad got scared and issued a threat that he would withhold his assent even if it had been passed by the Parliament. But the efforts of Baba Saheb Ambedkar were lauded also like anything. The Times of India on 26th December 1950 carried a statement of Dr. Ambedkar in which he said that the Bill aimed at removing the legal obstacles in the social advancement of women. Justice P.B. Gajendra-gadkar while congratulating Dr. Ambedkar for the role he had played in drafting and piloting the Bill said, "If Dr. Ambedkar gives us Hindus our Code, his achievement would go down in history as a very eloquent piece of poetic justice indeed."

In recent past, a lot hue and cry is being made over 'Women's Reservation Bill' by the different sections of the Indian society, different political or apolitical organizations but nobody seems to be honest in its perspectives. The political empowerment is a must for the all round development of the women, but as in the case of dalit politicians and legislators, our efforts may prove futile. We must concentrate on imparting social education before giving any concrete shape to their political empowerment to the women. Without academic and social education, the political empowerment of women in certain parts of the country had proved futile. In Panchayat Raj set up in U.P. and elsewhere in the country, the uneducated women are subjected to exploitation at the hands of government machinery. It will not be prudent on our part to restore the rights of the women belonging to the affluent section of the society only. Therefore, our efforts should be directed towards all round development of each and every section of Indian women by giving their due share. It is a must to maintain and protect chastity, dignity and modesty of women. It is the need of the hour to give due share to each and every section of the Indian women. I am sure, without removing social stigma, no progress or development could be achieved.

Now the question arises as what sort of empowerment our women needed prior to restarting their equal property rights? There are lot of nodal agencies including the national Commission for Women said to have been working for the welfare of the women apart from governmental efforts. Where does they reach in this direction? Leaving a meager number of urban and suburban women, the Indian women are still crying for simple justice. Which is not even allowed to have been accessed to them. With their age, no bar, they have been raped, kicked, killed, subdued & humiliated almost daily. Why? Because of our indifferent attitude towards them. This indifferent attitude and approach of our crops up at the time of the birth of female child. They are subjected to rebuke and ignored so far as their education and other facilities are concerned which are required for their proper and healthy growth/development. The male child is given preference over the female child? With this attitude of our own, we use to suppress and remained unfair towards the fair sex.

First of all we must try to treat our female child as par our female child as par with our male ones and thenceforth restore equality amongst them. No restoration of property right would be meaningful without making her mentally strong. We must allow them to think breathe and act independently and bring her out of the shackles of slavery. Do not impose the filthy rites, rituals and superstition citing the examples from our dated SHASTRAS. Don't treat women your slave or servant who has come to this world just to cook your food, wash your dirty clothes, and fulfil your other needs.

Please mined it that they are your mothers, sisters, wife (Life partners). If we able to mend our ways, the restoration of their property rights to them would be meaningful.

Let us be a little bit honest to diagnose the illness by taking into consideration all the aspects and aspirations in changed scenario, circumstances and atmosphere. Only then we could have a perfect planning to achieve our cherished aim that is empowerment of Indian women and could be able to restore their property and other rights in order to bring her at par with other human beings. This could be achieved only if we are able to blow up the heinous Hindu-shastras by using dynamite as affirmed by none else than Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the emancipator of the millions including Indian women.

Most sports historians trace golf’s origins to a type of land hockey played in Flanders in the middle ages. It is suggested that three Scotsmen fighting in a regiment allied with the French witnessed the game and took it home to Scotland where golf as we know it took root.

History of golf

For centuries golf was played by individuals wealthy enough to afford both the expensive materials and access to the desirable places to play away from commoners. To some extent golf retains this upper-class image although now it is the case that the availability of inexpensive or rental equipment as well as many publicly accessible golf courses has popularized the game like never before.

Golf Ball History

The featherie ball was invented sometime around the early 1600s. Until this time wooden balls were used. A featherie is of painted cow-hide stitched shut; containing goose feathers. This ball outperformed the wood variety and was the standard ball until the invention of the guttie in 1848. Dr. Robert Adams is the individual responsible for this inexpensive and aerodynamically superior ball.

Wound balls were the first multi-layered ball on the scene in the early twentieth century. These balls were once of a liquid or solid core wound up in rubber thread and coated with a thin shell. More advanced manufacturing techniques allowed manufacturers greater precision when designing and producing these balls. Today’s multi-layered balls employ a titanium core and a number of hybrid materials. The shell of the ball is softer these days than it was in the past. A golf ball of today will have two to four layers of synthetic material. 

History of the Golf Club

Golf clubs have undergone a long evolution. In golf’s earliest days people used whatever was handy to fashion crude instruments to play. The first record of a special set of clubs comes from King James IV of Scotland, who commissioned a set in 1602. One year later the kingdom appointed its first royal club maker, William Mayne. These early golf clubs were wood, relatively fragile, and expensive to make. The first metal heads date to 1750, and in fact club makers were experimenting with a number of materials in an attempt to improve the effectiveness and durability of the clubs in a game. A new club, a ‘bulger’, was invented to cope with the new dynamics of the ‘guttie’ ball in 1848. These clubs closely resemble the woods of today.

It was sometime around 1900 when aluminum became the material of choice, and in 1902 E. Burr presented iron heads with grooved faces which increased the backspin of the ball. In 1929 clubs with metal shafts were allowed officially into the professional game. In 1939 the 14 club rule was introduced as was the convention of numbering clubs instead of giving names.

 The putter was only permitted in professional golf in 1951, and the graphite shaft first made its way into the game in 1973. The most recent evolution in golf clubs is the Taylor-Made ‘metal woods’, which now supersede the ‘wooden woods’ in popularity. Today’s most expensive and sophisticated golf clubs utilize titanium heads and graphite shafts.

US Open Golf History

The US Open is an annual event presented by the United States Golf Association (USGA). There are four major men’s championships every year in golf, and this is one of them. The first US Open was on the fourth of October, 1895.  Newport, Rhode Island, was the place and it was a nine-hole court. Eleven men competed, ten professionals and one amateur. Horace Rawlins, a 21 year old Englishman, was the winner. The British dominated the US Open until John J. McDermott took the prize in 1911, the first American to win this tournament.

Master Golf History

Every year in Augusta, Georgia, golf’s greatest come out to swing at the Augusta National Golf Club. The course is world famous for it hosts one of four major golf tournaments. The course was built in 1931 by Bob Jones and Clifford Roberts. To draw attention to the new course the two decided to host an annual tournament, the first of which was held in 1934 and won by Horton Smith against Craig Wood. The tournament was originally titled the ‘Augusta National Invitation Tournament’, but in 1939 it changed its name forever into The Masters.

The Masters Golf Tournament History

The Master’s tournament grabbed headlines, and despite a hiatus throughout the Second World War, has only surged in popularity and prestige throughout the past sixty years. Throughout the 1970s Americans ruled the tournament, however in 1980 Seve Ballesteros, a Spaniard, won the match. Throughout the next 17 years Europeans would win the tournament ten times.

Legend Golf

Tiger Woods made history in 1997 by becoming the youngest golfer ever to win the Masters. Four years later he took his second title; it is not incorrect to say that golf was, for a few years at least, dominated by the legend of Tiger Woods. His status as a golf legend has inspired a generation of new players.

Legend Golf Course

Golf is a game populated by legendary figures making legendary shots. From Craig Wood to Tiger Woods, and all the champions in-between, golf is a game that continues to attract people from all walks of life.