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Garden Coaches or Garden Babysitters?
Garden coaches have only emerged on the gardening scene in the past few years but already it seems as though they're passing their use-by-date. With a new generation of gardeners blooming due to the "I-want-to-grow-my-own-organic-veggies" trend - but wanting that to happen within the next 30 seconds, or else - is the game up for garden coaches? Will the real growth trend this year be the need for garden babysitters?
Garden coaches are gardening guru's who consult and mentor newbie gardeners to care and understand for their plants and their yards. They will give advice, offer suggestions and assist the newbie in specifics as set out in the agreed TOS (terms of service). They offer a special set of skills and should be able to demonstrate, at least, these 8 qualities of a good garden coach.
But, is this really what newbie gardeners want? The impression that I, and others, get is that novices from the upcoming generation are all about having it done for them. In other words, they're not looking for a coach per se, but would happily employ the services of a cheap plant babysitter if someone were offering the service.
For this generation, gardening is something that happens once and if it fails is then relegated to the "too-hard" basket. They are still inspired to grow their foodstuffs organically but aren't willing to put the time and effort into mastering the "art" of gardening.
Instead of being coached, these upcoming novices are really looking for a service where they can plant their own garden yet leave it for someone else to make it look good. As the plants progress, and succeed, their enthusiasm may increase but until that happens it really needs to be taken care of by someone else - similar to a wet-nurse for celebrity mothers.
So, while garden coaches may still find a niche to explore, the real growth trend for gardening professionals probably hasn't even been started yet. But, the opportunity is beginning to expose itself.
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Comments
I think, as is often the case, that the answer is yes and no.
Yes there has definitely been an increase in people 'interested' in gardening that have started, felt like they have failed and so given up. Yes some of these have moved over to looking for 'garden babysitter's' as you have said but there are still a few people who give the garden another go.
You are probably right that MORE growth will occur in babysitting as opposed to coaching, so maybe business' need to cater for both? My philosophy at aussiegreenthumb.com is 'a gardening lifestyle, today and tomorrow' and by this I basically mean ANYONE can have the garden they want, just depends if they are willing to pay for babysitting, or coaching.
There probably is more money and growth to be had in babysitting but I think it is worthwhile to offer both services!
Posted by: James Middleton | January 5, 2010 3:48 PM
You are right folks want a cheap plant person to care for their gardens, but garden coaches don't come cheap. In my business my worth is more in that I provide a personalized reference to a client of how to care for his/her garden that that person can constantly refer to. Kind of like a reference book written by one (me) who is experienced in plants and gardens. I do walk thrus and do teach too but the clients don't wish to pay big bucks for that service if they can do it themselves-this is what they want-instant learning and an assurance on how to do it right. But I have spread my business into landscape design. THIS is really what clients want because they often just can't see the big picture and if they can, they can't put it together. We'll see how time goes on but I look at my business this way, I'm doing what I love AND getting paid for it AND beautifying the world one garden at a time. Most thought provoking post.
Posted by: tina | January 5, 2010 10:40 PM
I've been doing that for years. My business is gardening - sometimes I do it all, sometimes I plant what's asked for and maintain, and sometimes the customer plants and I maintain.
I'm perfectly OK with any variation. (I've actually got a customer who plants most of her beds and I plant the rest). The important thing is that the gardens look good and everyone is happy.
Posted by: bryan | January 8, 2010 5:57 AM