Overcoming Unemployment

Last week I finally said GOODBYE to the unemployment world. We had a rocky couple of years together, unemployment and I. I hope to never have to re-enter her treacherous realm. Here I document some of our comings and goings.

When I graduated from College I figured the world was mine for the taking. I had performed extremely well in my field while in school and was offered a job (multiple actually) right away after graduation. In fact, getting a job had always been an easy task for me. I'm not sure why that was, but I never complained about it!

In May of 2011 I changed all of the plans I had in the world and moved to Connecticut. I decided not to take the trip to Nepal, I moved my entire life out east, I even started a blog! The job seemed promising, and for the first little while I enjoyed it. Until I didn't. I wasn't satisfied with what I was doing or where I was going. Through a series of traumatic events, I had a career-crisis and paradigm shift. After my experience, I figured I would never go back to the world of landscaping, plants and design. 

Tree Prunin' Machine!

I wandered through many fields from 2012 on. I was a personal assistant to a horticulturalist and then to two men at a construction company. Then I decided that maybe being a health coach was my calling in life. When I realized that my own health was more than enough to focus on, I moved back to Utah and after 7 years of independence, I boarded up with my childhood roomies. Hey Mom and Dad! Back in the good 'ol SLC, I tried my hand at becoming an interior design assistant. But yet again it didn't work out. So I babysat, I crafted, I lingered. I applied for about a million jobs, I looked into a million programs, I went to therapy, I even started working with a career coach. I read multiple self help books and did just about everything I could. And then FINALLY... I became a server at a restaurant. 

For me becoming a server felt like an all-time low. Here I was, with a college degree, an award-winning landscape designer status, and plenty of experience to back me up. Yet no one wanted me. Or maybe I didn't know what I wanted? Either way I felt worthless. Yes, I was grateful to have a job, but I felt so debilitated. Other people were working towards their dreams or already had them. I wasn't even sure if I had dreams. The feelings of worthless-ness were powerful to say the least.

Oddly enough, I really started to treasure my job at a country music playing, giant portion serving, over-the-top boot displaying steak house. I met some of my most treasured friends among the servers and employees, I enjoyed giving people a great dining experience, and I enjoyed the fast-past and run-around environment. Some amazing things came to me that I would have never experienced had I not been working there at that restaurant. It truly enriched my life on every level. 

Some of my crew on a "sparkler" break

When I decided to leave the restaurant, I knew I had to find something that suited me, my background, and my love for people. I had thought about going back into the landscaping world, but I still couldn't stomach the idea of an industry I had been completely disillusioned to. I still loved plants, but I couldn't see a way of working with them outside this industry. So I decided to try for another personal assistant job. I applied for a position and was 99% sure I was going to get it. I put in my two weeks at the restaurant and hoped for the best. 

However, what I thought was "the best" did not happen. Not even close. And I didn't get the job.

Panic set in as I realized I had no way to provide for myself. I had been searching for the right job and career since January of 2012. And 2 years later I felt worse off than I did before I declared a major in college. At least back then I had hope for the future. Now I had little desire to keep searching. I didn't know what else to do. I started to get a little desperate. Nursing school? MBA? I didn't want to get into debt, but what were my options. And what if I hated the new field too? What was I to do????

Then one day my sister-in-law sent me a link to work at a botanical garden here in Salt Lake City. I had never considered working in a botanical garden. At first I felt averse to even considering another horticulture related career. But then it occurred to me that this could work. I could both work with plants, and people, and NOT be in the residential or commercial landscape management industry. A tiny little light bulb lit up in my head, and somehow I gathered the gusto to apply for the job. 

But I didn't get it.

They told me that there was an assistant position opening up for the job I had just applied to, so I applied to that one.

But I didn't get it.

Loosing steam at an alarming rate, I turned to my last resort. Through the whole process I had been talking to a friend of mine who works there. He finally said to me, "Jenny, we have some seasonal positions opening in my department, why don't you apply?"So, as a last ditch effort, I applied.

And I got it.

I would have never imagined it, but so far this job has been perfect for me. I get to work with plants, I get to be creative in coming up with new ideas, and best of all, I get to teach children about all of the great aspects about nature. Every element of this job works with who I am and what I love. I had elements in my life that I already knew I loved, but I didn't know they could all come together. This was my dream and I didn't know it until it presented itself to me. 

I don't know what the next step will be. I don't have a 5 year plan. Or even a 2 year plan. I am hoping that I will be able to use this position as a stepping stone. Maybe I will be able to move up gain full employment at the gardens. If not, I found a great master's program in Portland that focuses on garden education. In any case, I am finally pointed in the right direction.

Most of the stories I heard during the whole ordeal were about people who knew what their dreams were, and somehow achieved them through lots of failure and hard work. Or people who had huge paradigm shifts whilst already pursuing another career path. The moral was always the same: "Follow Your Dream" and keep working at it until you get it. I felt hopeless because I didn't have a dream. I didn't know what I wanted. Everything was a means to an end. 

It felt cruel to me that I had to go through this process for two years with unprecedented amounts of pain and confusion. And honestly, I'm so fresh out of it that I don't know all of the reasons why I did go through what I went through. Some seem applicable, but many of the reasons are still very unclear to me. There are others who have gone through much more or much less. I don't yet have the whole "moral" to my story, but what I do have is hope. And it's more hope than I have felt in a long time.  

To that, I say CHEERS!

Yummy Flowers? Yes Please!

If you're like me, you get easily bored with the normal, everyday "salad"

Some nuts here, some crasins there, some ranch tucked everywhere...

So why not dress up tea time and do it like the Brits!?

Put some edible flower's on your salad!!

Here I have some beautifully colorful pansies on top of spinach for springtime. They have a mildly tart taste and go great with almonds, your favorite springtime veggies, and some raspberry vinagrette. They also work great on arugula and romaine - really any springtime lettuce. Isn't this way more inspiring than hum-drum parsley?

Well believe it or not, Pansies are not the only edible flowers in your garden. I love putting flowers on my salad throughout the season and it's a great way to wow your guests! 

Here are some more edible flowers. Check out some of the cool directions. Who knew bringing our garden into the kitchen could be this fun?

• Angelica (Angelica archangelica) - May be skin allergen to some individuals. Good with fish and the stems are especially popular candied. Tastes like: celery-flavored. 
• Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum) - Tastes like: sweet, anise-like, licorice
• Bee Balm (Monarda species) - Used in place of bergamot to make a tea with a flavor similar to Earl Grey Tea. 
• Calendula* (Calendula officinalis) - Tastes like: poor man's saffron, spicy, tangy, peppery, adds a golden hue to foods
• Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) - Tastes like: spicy, peppery, clove-like
• Chrysanthemum: Garland*(Chrysanthemum coronarium) - Tastes like: slight to bitter flavor, pungent
• Dandelion* (Taraxacum officinalis)Tastes like: very young buds fried in butter taste similar to mushrooms. Makes a potent wine.
• English Daisy* (Bellis perennis) - Tastes like: tangy, leafy
• Fuchsia (Fuchsia X hybrida) - Tastes like: slightly acidic
• Gardenia (Gardenia jasminoides) - Tastes like: light, sweet flavor
• Gladiolus* (Gladiolus spp) - Tastes like: similar to lettuce
• Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) - Tastes like: slightly acidic, boiled makes a nice beverage
• Hollyhock  (Alcea rosea) - Tastes like: very bland, nondescript flavor
• Honeysuckle: Japanese (Lonicera japonica) - Berries are highly poisonous. Do not eat them!
• Impatiens (Impatiens wallerana) - Tastes like: very bland, nondescript flavor
• Lavender (Lavendula species) - Lavender oil may be poisenous. Tastes like: floral, slightly perfumey flavor
• Lilac (Syringa vulgaris) - Tastes like: lemony, floral, pungent
• Mallow: Common (Malva sylrestris) - Tastes like: sweet, delicate flavor
• Marigold: Signet (Tagetes tenuifolia) - Tastes like: spicy to bitter
• Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) - Buds are often pickled and used like capers. Tastes like: sweet, mildly pungent, peppery flavor
• Redbud  (Cercis canadensis) - Tastes like: mildly sweet
• Rose (Rosa rugosa  or R. gallica officinalis) - Tastes like: sweet, aromatic flavor, stronger fragrance produces a stronger flavor. Be sure to remove the bitter white portion of the petals. Rose hips  are also edible 
• Squash Blossom (Cucurbita pepo species (aka Zucchini Blossom)) - Tastes like: sweet, nectar flavor.
• Sunflower* (Helianthus annus) - Tastes like: leafy, slightly bitter. Lightly steam petals to lessen bitterness. Unopened flower buds can be steamed like artichokes.
• Tuberous Begonia (Begonia X tuberosa) - ONLY HYBRIDs are edible. The flowers and stems contain oxalic acid and should not be consumed by individuals suffering from gout, kidneystones, or rheumatism. Further, the flower should be eaten in strick moderation. Tastes like: crisp, sour, lemony
• Violet (Viola species) - Tastes like: sweet, nectar

*Only the petals of these composite flowers are edible

Flowers to Avoid - Some flowers in particular to be avoided (but not a complete list) are: azalea, crocus, daffodil, foxglove, oleander, rhododendron, jack-in-the-pulpit, lily of the valley, and wisteria. See a more complete list.

I have only put my favorites here. Click for a more complete list.

May your seasons salading be FLOWERY and BRIGHT!

Spring's-A-Comin'

image: Denver Botanic Gardens

The time has come for the sun to shine brighter and wee little plants to start poking their heads from their wintery graves. Which also means it's time to get DIRTY! 

As I left my driveway this morning I saw the sweet little starts of daffodils and thought to myself, "it's finally here." I love the start of a new season. This year is particularly great because 'ol Jack Frost decided not to visit New England with any snowstorms. I can't say I'm exceptionally sad about it. But we were left with quite a bleak view for all winter. Needless to say I am ready for the world to give me some GREEN!

I thought about all of the wonderful things I could post about to get you ready for spring. And then I got dizzy because I didn't know where to start. SO I decided to write up my personal plan of action AND let you in on some of my favorite websites. These sites are tried and true - whether you're gearing up to plant your own veggie mart or splash your house with some color. 

Let's get started! 

Step 1: TEST YOUR SOIL

You have no idea how much this simple little task can make or break your garden. Plants are just as complicated as humans. We require more than to eat, poop, and sleep, right? So plants need more than soil, water, and sun. The soil pH and nutrient balance is an important part of your garden. Every state should have a university agricultural extension and can typically analyze your soil for a small fee. Just type in "[your state] agricultural extension" into Google and BAM. You're on your way

Step 2: PREP THE SOIL

Now that you know what your soil is lacking (or has too much off), take some time to amend the soil. This is especially important for long term plants (perennials, shrubs, trees) and veggie gardens. Do you expect to get nutrients from your veggies? Well they have to get it from the ground first. So don't skip this step! Areas with annuals don't need as much prep because you will be pulling them out after the season is over. If you don't have enough in the budget to amend all your soil (which I don't recommend anyway), then do small spaces at a time. That takes me to my next point

Step 3: DO SOME RESEARCH

Get inspired. Take your ideas from pinterest to reality! Look at websites, check out books, find your favorite color schemes, and have fun with it. Then, check your plant hardiness ZONE. An important point to note is that most plants do NOT grow the way they say they grow on those 'lil tags that accompany them. Remember, these plants are grown in California so they probably aren't going to grow the same way in your state. See what grows well in your soil type, in the shade, in the sun, with lots of water, without any water. Then do the research around your house. Where is there a lot of sun? Where is there a lot of shade? Where does the water pile up? Where is there a lot of wind? These will all help shape where and what you plant.

Step 4: MAKE A PLAN

Now let me make myself clear: Don't get ahead of yourself! It's easy to do when we feeble ones gain ambition. But if we take on too much, we will soon be swimming in a sea of un-cared for planties. If this is your first year, do a small area of annuals and see what works for you. If your whole house needs to be landscaped, I recommend hiring a landscape designer or architect to help. That way you can have an entire plan and attack small chunks as your budget permits. Also remember that the more you put in, the more maintenance will be required. Later I will do a post on maintenance, but for now just remember that there is no such thing as a "no-maintenance" landscape. For those of you making your own plan, plan what colors and what plant will go where. Take some time to write it or draw it out. Make sure to take full grown sizes into account. This will be very helpful so you don't buy too many plants.

For vegetable gardens: I just found this lovely site that will make a plan for you. It takes into account where you live, what and when you should plant, and then sends you lovely reminders. Check it out here!

Step 5: GO TO YOUR LOCAL NURSERY

You don't have to buy from the most expensive nursery, but that might be a good place to start your looking. They often have the most unique plants available. Home Depot and Lowes will have mass annuals for a waaay better price, so save the petunias for a later trip. Use this time to pick the sales associates' brain and see what you like best. If you are doing a small garden, gather inspiration from the pre-planted pots. If you are doing veggies, the nursery will give you all of the information you need of varieties and fertilizer. And remember, when you buy plants you pay for what you get. Quality is pretty much stated on the price tag. If you want to save money, buy a smaller version of the plant. It will be stronger in the long run because it has grown up in your landscape, not a foreign one. 

Step 6: GET THE RIGHT TOOLS

The right tools need not be the most expensive ones, but make sure you have what you need. Gardening gloves, a great looking hat, and a hand trowel will be a great start! But eventually you will find that additional tools will help you be more efficient. I guarantee that you will have more satisfaction if you find the tools that make it easier on you. Heck, I need one of those little padded knee things to lean on. Haters can hate! I'm lovin' me my gard'nin time!

Step 7: WEED BARRIER

If you don't want to spend your whole life outside in the weeds, make sure to put down two things. 1 - a pre emergent herbicides and 2 - a weed barrier. I personally HATE that black junk they sell in the nurseries, so I always recommend that you put down old newspaper. This is great for two reasons: 1 - You can dig into it easily if you need to do additional planting or re-planting and 2 - you don't have to dig it up at the end of the year. It is completely organic and will decompose into the soil. 

Step 8: START PLANTING

Now that you have made a plan, start planting! Have fun! Invite your friends to plant with you! I have found gardening is a great way to dig deep into someone's soul. Pun definitely intended. Also, make sure you plant correctly. Especially with your more expensive plants. Check the tag and follow the guidelines. Do not suffocate your plants!! Most of us bury our shrubs and trees too deep. They don't get oxygen this way. Check the tag to be sure of depth AND width.

Step 9: WATER WITH CARE

There are two types of water people. Those who neglect and those who kill with love. Don't be either of these.  Make sure you know the water requirements for your plants and FOLLOW IT. Believe it or not, killing with love is more common - ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR LAWN. A general rule of (green) thumb (tee hee) is that your plants need more in the beginning, and less as time goes on. Later in life let them get a little thirsty (only a little). This will help their roots grow deep and strong. Except for annuals. Water the heck out of 'em.

Step 10: KEEP A JOURNAL

As the years go on you will learn more and more about your garden... You will also forget more and more about your garden. I'm not kidding people! Keep a journal, you will be glad you did. Write down what you planted and where. Talk about how many veggies you got from one plant. What you did one year to the next. And when you find the plant of your dreams, you will be soooo glad that you wrote down the botanical and common and variety names so you could order ten thousand more 5 years later. Plus, it's a great way to see your growth as a gardener.

Well not that I've talked your ear off, here are some more great resources and websites.

National Garden Association - lots of how-to videos

Better Homes and Garden - need I say more? 

A great article on when to plant veggies

Monrovia plant catalog

By far my FAVORITE company for gloves and hats

My favorite nursery in all of Utah - great fruit tree how-to videos

 Connecticut Agricultural Extension
Smart Gardener - Makes a plan and sends reminders for veggies!

Not having a green thumb is a myth. The only trick is knowing the tricks. So get out there, get some sun, and have some fun!

In later posts I will talk about some of my favorite design techniques and how to get the most "bang outta your buck." I look forward to sharing more with you!