As our household gets ready to send our little girl off to her first day of pre-K at a big school, we as parents find ourselves already studying every night. Not to brush up on long division or work on our grammar, but rather to continue our own education in our professional fields. Some professions, like doctors, must learn the latest medicine, engineers must know the most current rules to meet building codes, etc. In the industry of agriculture not everyone is required to keep up certifications however the businesses and individuals who do are typically the most respected, successful, and responsible in the industry, do. Did you know that this education is not exclusive to four-year degrees and firsthand on the job training? Our industry has some of the most transparent education opportunities in place of any around, and considering we are the tip of the spear when is comes to being stewards of the land it would behoove any passionate gardener to get a little additional education on their own.
Have you seen the TED talk by Phillip Zimbardo who discusses the hard evidence that men spend 10,000 hrs. by the age of 21 playing video games? In that amount of time an adult could achieve 2 bachelor’s degrees, watching his video here….. This is astonishing, and really puts into perspective how we use our time every day. I did not find Phillips video on my own, I was listening to John Mark Comers’ book The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. (Buy it here as we highly recommend!) Yes, I said listening because I realized when I get home, I’m much too tired to read and fall asleep within a few pages of where I began. I started listening to books on Audible while driving as I spend several hours a week on the road. It was a huge boost of reassurance to hear those facts, which reinforced my decision to listen to books on Audible rather than zone out into the radio. After listening to 5 books in a couple months (probably not impressive to some, but that was 4 more books than I read the previous year) I found a new desire to continue my education. I was not ready to go back to school and take night classes, so I started looking for opportunities outside the traditional path. If listening to books had done anything for me, it clarified that I could read the same books a college student can and hold the same knowledge minus thousands of dollars for classes and earning a piece of paper at the end.
Certifications became the clear answer, it would still cost a few dollars, but I would still receive a paper certification at the end acknowledging the course was satisfactorily completed. If you’re not familiar with the FNGLA or UF/IFAS we highly recommend you look into both. Not only do these courses give you training opportunities as a homeowner that professionals are taking, but access to the most educated individuals in the industry to help with your questions. Did you know you can have a soil analysis done for you yard for $10 and someone with a master’s degree will help explain what is happening in your soils and what amendments are needed to achieve your gardening goals? You can have water samples sent off from your well, or even you for your city water if you feel concerned about the quality coming to your specific house. UF/IFAS has all of these resources, classes, and certifications available for the everyday homeowner who just wants to know more.
Are you really into gardening and landscaping? Do you want to see the cutting-edge plant material, industry technology, pest prevention techniques, alternate glysophate options, or even listen and meet industry influencers in person? Join the FNGLA (Florida Nursery Growers and Landscapers Association) and no you do not have to own a business, they offer a $95/yr. membership to anyone who wants becomes certified. This membership gets you access to professionals from your area and opportunities to attend conferences that offer everything listed above. You can attend your local events and listen to what the concerns are in your community for the agriculture industry. If you’re looking to make a career change and don’t know how to break into the industry, there are certification tests available which upon completion open the door to list yourself in the hiring portal for free in an industry actively hiring.
When looking for an opportunity to make a difference in your community, we cannot think of a greater opportunity than having a direct impact on the local ecosystem. In a constantly warming environment that is seeing its’ legacy of tree canopies continuously bulldozed in the name of progress it is essential we take every opportunity to preserve our natural space. Rather than rewatching those How I Met Your Mother episodes or beating level 4 in Zelda, look at how you spend your time. Could you have earned two certifications to educate yourself in a field that needs your knowledge in that same time frame. The number one way to engage with people, and teach them how important our industry is, happens in person-to-person conversation. Imagine even just a few more houses in your neighborhood having a responsible landscape, using less water, attracting pollinators, and growing food. I love the saying, “the best time to plant a tree was 25 yrs. ago, then next best time is today”. Will you plant a tree? A knowledge tree that you can grow in your community, physical trees for the future? We certainly are not spending our time watching TV as a first option anymore when getting home. Please write us back and let us know your must-read books for the garden or life, how will you spend your time!
The Veranda View 