1210212.us16.myftpupload.com Managed WordPress Site

Tag: horticulture

  • Career Profile: Horticulturist

    Career Profile: Horticulturist

    Horticulture. What is it? In its simplest form we can define it as the cultivation of plants. But there’s a lot more to it than that.

    An individual who works in the horticulture field is called a horticulturist. Their duties consist of managing and coordinating anything that involves cultivating and breeding plant life. From working with landscape companies, to advising provincial ministries on proper techniques and maintenance of plants and landscapes; a horticulturist’s job often takes them from one job site to another and seldom leaves them standing in the same place.

    An ideal candidate for the horticulturist career path is an individual who enjoys working outdoors, nature, travelling and, well, getting dirty!
    Horticulturists may act as technicians or advisors for agriculture companies and provide information on techniques to yield a higher crop growth and impart pesticide-related info to both commercial and independent farmers. They may also work with landscaping companies to help them determine which plants will grow the most plentifully based on its required needs, like climate and precipitation.

    Horticulturists may choose to work as independent contractors or work directly for natural resource ministries to ensure soil levels are not contaminated and pose no threat to its vegetation or animals in the area.

    The career path of a horticulturist typically only requires some post secondary education as an apprentice. The individual could start out as a landscaper and gradually make their way to a horticulturist. If desired, university degrees are offered in the field of horticulture. These degrees may lead into other agricultural fields such as forestry and biology.

    So if you have always loved learning about plant life and even planting your own garden or flowerbeds at home, a career in horticulture could be perfect for you!

  • Career Profile: Landscaping Technician

    Career Profile: Landscaping Technician

    Type of Work
    This unit group includes those who survey and assess landscapes; draw sketches and build models of landscape designs; construct and maintain gardens, parks, golf courses and other landscaped environments; advise clients on issues related to horticulture; breed, cultivate and study plants; and treat injured and diseased trees and plants.

    Outlook
    Over the past few years, the number of landscape and horticultural technicians and specialists increased sharply. This increase is mainly attributable to the growth in demand for landscaping and horticultural products and services. Trends are very positive in landscaping and more mixed in horticulture. Since the landscaping industry accounts for the largest number of workers in this occupational group by far, it is expected that the number of landscape and horticultural technicians and specialists will rise sharply over the next few years.

    Demand for Landscaping (non-construction)
    Landscape technicians and specialists work on projects involving public spaces such as urban and regional parks, public squares, highways, recreation areas, parking lots and nature conservation sites, private and public gardens, recreational and sports areas, pedestrian zones and bicycle paths, golf courses, cemeteries, residential, institutional, commercial and industrial sites, and so forth. The good outlook for tourism infrastructure development and increased public pressure for the creation of green spaces in urban environments should provide jobs for landscape technicians and specialists over the next few years. In fact, niches are developing and moving away from projects related directly to construction. Although the protection of cultural heritage sites and environmental conservation will continue to exert a positive influence on jobs in this occupation, landscape development will be added to this trend in a context of increasing competition in the tourism sector, and as a major element in municipal strategies to retain and attract citizens and companies to the area. Added to this are the needs to redevelop contaminated industrial sites and to preserve and restore cultural and historic sites.

    Requirements
    To work in this occupation, candidates must have relevant landscape or horticulture experience, and enjoy working outdoors. They also need to be in good physical condition and have good manual dexterity. Team spirit, autonomy, initiative, attention to detail and reliability are other qualifications sought by employers.

    Education and Training
    Depending on the position, specific training is not necessarily required to enter this occupation. Although a number of employers require that candidates hold a high school diploma (DES), extensive experience in landscaping or horticulture is sufficient in many cases. That being said, more and more employers primarily recruit graduates of the many training programs leading to this occupation. Whether required or not, landscaping and horticulture diplomas are always assets for those seeking to work in this occupation.

    These are the main programs leading to this occupation:
    – Diploma of Vocational Studies (DEP) inArboriculture-élagage ([arboriculture and pruning] offered in French), Ornamental Horticulture or Landscaping Operations.
    – Attestation of Vocational Specialty (ASP) inSpécialités en horticulture ([horticulture specialties] offered in French).
    – Diploma of Collegial Studies (DEC) in Horticulture and Environmental Technology and Paysage or Ornamental Horticulture Landscaping and Marketing.

    Other programs also lead to this occupation, including Attestations of Collegial Studies (AECs) in landscaping and ornamental horticulture. Community organizations also offer school-to-work transition programs in these fields.

  • Career Profile: Horticulturist

    Career Profile: Horticulturist

    Many people like to grow flowers and vegetables in their houses and yards. They take care of the grass on their lawns, water their plants in dry weather, and pull weeds from among the plants. Sometimes, they put special fertilizer on the plants to help them grow better. When they take care of plants in this way, they do some of the work of a horticulturalist.

    The work of a horticulturalist can take many different forms. Some horticulturalists do very basic labour, such as digging up the soil in gardens to prepare them for planting or mowing and trimming lawns. They also prune trees by cutting off extra branches and prune smaller plants by removing dead leaves and flowers.

    These horticulturalists need only a basic education, such as a high school diploma. They do all of the basic jobs that keep the plants healthy and growing. Horticulturalists at this level are normally not paid very well, and usually they work only in the growing season from late spring until early fall. However, this kind of job can be good for students or for people who prefer not to spend years studying.

    Some horticultural work requires much more knowledge than a basic labourer needs. People working at this level often have degrees in agriculture, botany, or related fields. They research new plant species for different climates or try to find ways of making plants stronger and easier to care for. Some horticulturalists at this level also help design gardens or advise people on the best methods of plant care. Others become crop inspectors for large farms or work with small, local groups. Still others become professors and teachers in colleges and universities. These horticulturalists are generally fairly well paid, although the salary can vary according to what kind of work is available.

    Either of the two levels of horticultural work could be good choices for anyone who enjoys working with plants. They can work in edible horticulture, growing plants for food. Employment in this area is generally quite secure since people always need food. However, the low pay and seasonal work for some horticultural workers are disadvantages, as well as exposure to dangerous chemicals. Some of the work, such as digging up flower beds, can also be physically difficult. Another option is to work in ornamental horticulture, growing plants like flowers or shrubs for show rather than for food. Work in this area is often less physically difficult, although dealing with chemicals is still a problem.

    Do you love to work with plants and to see them grow? If so, maybe a career as a horticulturalist is right for you.

  • Career Profile: Horticulturist

    Career Profile: Horticulturist

    Horticulture. What is it? In its simplest form we can define it as the cultivation of plants. But there’s a lot more to it than that.

    An individual who works in the horticulture field is called a horticulturist. Their duties consist of managing and coordinating anything that involves cultivating and breeding plant life. From working with landscape companies, to advising provincial ministries on proper techniques and maintenance of plants and landscapes; a horticulturist’s job often takes them from one job site to another and seldom leaves them standing in the same place.

    An ideal candidate for the horticulturist career path is an individual who enjoys working outdoors, nature, travelling and, well, getting dirty!
    Horticulturists may act as technicians or advisors for agriculture companies and provide information on techniques to yield a higher crop growth and impart pesticide-related info to both commercial and independent farmers. They may also work with landscaping companies to help them determine which plants will grow the most plentifully based on its required needs, like climate and precipitation.

    Horticulturists may choose to work as independent contractors or work directly for natural resource ministries to ensure soil levels are not contaminated and pose no threat to its vegetation or animals in the area.

    The career path of a horticulturist typically only requires some post secondary education as an apprentice. The individual could start out as a landscaper and gradually make their way to a horticulturist. If desired, university degrees are offered in the field of horticulture. These degrees may lead into other agricultural fields such as forestry and biology.

    So if you have always loved learning about plant life and even planting your own garden or flowerbeds at home, a career in horticulture could be perfect for you!