THE NEED TO TALK UP OUR PRODUCTS, OUR PROFESSION, OUR INDUSTRY

By Clive Larkman, Larkman Nurseries

We hear on the radio and in the media this comment ‘work – life balance’ which I find annoying as it implies that work is not part of life. If they wanted to say work-leisure balance it would make sense. Granted that for some people work is a chore and they would rather not be there. Their work is mundane and they are in an industry that does not generate a lot of satisfaction.

We work in a great industry as we are creating and growing living organisms that just by existing make the world a better place. We are producing little oxygen machines that are a key part of the circle of life. It doesn’t matter if you are growing expensive indoor plants for the millennial collector with lots of money or mass producing vegetable seedlings for our farmers. Plants are good things to produce!

Some of us have come to the nursery industry from other professions and others were born into plant growing families. Others chose nursery work as a profession when we left school. It doesn’t matter how you came here but you are part of a worldwide family that goes back thousands of years. The ornamental sector has been part of society for centuries. Just look back at some of the age-old Japanese Bonsai or the ancient trees in parts of Europe. These were grown by people with a belief that what they were growing would be around long after they have left their lives on Earth.

15 months ago, we were just getting our heads around the new pandemic as it spread around the world. We were all living with a sense of worry but felt that it would have been over by spring. Winter, a year on and we are still trying to deal with the constant fear of lockdowns and border closure. We had what was probably the best year in over 100 for nursery industry sales as many people were forced to live in their homes for weeks on end. We were all stunned by the winter demand in 2020 and the industry is the better for it.

Last year brought many new people to the pleasure of gardening and growing their own food. Young and old who had always done something else in their leisure time. They also found that it is rewarding to watch plants grow and beautify their homes. Those that chose to grow their own food found that it tasted better and wasn’t that hard to do. We must as a united industry do our best to keep these new converts in the garden.

The lockdowns this year were too short to have a similar effect on the community, but they haven’t turned anyone away from the garden. The degree of uncertainty and fear of travelling interstate and being stuck away from home in quarantine or having to isolate when they return is keeping people at home.

Now they are starting to worry about even moving around Melbourne in case they go to a venue that is later found to be a Tier One site. We should be able to do well again this spring but we must as a united industry deliver a message that home gardening is fun, is easy, is rewarding and is good for you.

We need each one of us to find ways to promote plants in any way we can. We should participate in shows, talk up the hobby, help others to promote plants. Whenever we are asked to promote plants through talks and visits to schools, Rotary and Service clubs or even talks on the radio, we have to respond. The more of us that can do this the greater the awareness of gardening will filter through our communities. Whenever we are asked where we work or what we do we should be proud to say, “in a nursery working with plants.” Let’s talk up our products, our profession, our industry.

About the author

Clive has a degree in Biological Science – Zoology and Botany, a post graduate diploma in Philosophy of Science and is a certificated nurseryman. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Horticulture (Past Victorian President), life member of The Australian Lavender Growers Association, Treasurer of the I nternational Plant Propagator’s Society – Australian Region (past President and International Board Member), the executive of the Nursery and Garden Industry of Victoria, Chairman of Agribusiness Yarra Valley and Chairman of Victorian Agribusiness Council. He writes regularly for several trade journals and is a member of the Horticultural Media Association.