Ball Horticultural Company’s Post

Should we 'talk up' horticulture to engage with a new audience? Working with, and for, professionals across different disciplines raises quite an important question: how can we expect non-gardeners to take horticulture seriously if we insist on using over-simplified language and concepts? Taking a lawyer as an example, a lawyer will work with industry jargon and terminology far beyond my understanding every day. They might not know their Cercis from their Cercidiphyllums but they will at least understand that different careers have their own terminologies. While we think we're making horticulture accessible to all by simplifying the language of the job is there not actually a danger that we're playing the importance of our work down? It surely won't give a favourable impression of horticulture and of those who devote their lives to creating and nurturing gardens.

🌱 Addressing the Needs of Young Professionals in Horticulture 🌿 In a recent HortWeek poll, it's disheartening to see that 63% of respondents believe that young professionals in horticulture are not receiving adequate support from their employers. While 25% do feel the industry is doing enough, it's clear that there's room for improvement. Suggestions range from pushing for a more structured training program and support for attendance at industry events like YPHA, HTA National Plant Show and Glee Birmingham Show. One respondent highlighted the importance of recognizing the value of attending these events, both for the knowledge sharing and contacts, emphasizing the positive impact on business success. However, a significant challenge raised is the lack of awareness among employers about such opportunities. As one employer noted, "If employees don't ask, how can we support them?" It's crucial to bridge this information gap and find effective channels to communicate upcoming events and initiatives beneficial for young professionals in horticulture. Other suggestions from respondents include: 📚 More fact-finding visits and networking opportunities. 🌱 Better training, reflective pay, and support for entry-level horticulturists. 🌍 Government support to cover costs of nurturing young talent. How can we as a industry better support the next generation of talent? A question that will be the cornerstone of addressing the skills shortage from a retention point of view. Full article:

While most Americans over the age of 35 are familiar with horticulture, there remains an opportunity to better position it as a viable career option. Americans know horticulture is important, but don’t understand how someone makes a viable, rewarding, self-supporting career out of it. Seed Your Future's research shows that given this essential info, students are choosing green pathways working with plants! https://lnkd.in/eDWufSx8 #seedyourfuture #SYF #careers #research #plants #horticulture #workingwithplants

Curious about the role Italy plays in the horticulture industry? 🇮🇹 Learn more about how this country is contributing to the seed sector and beyond: https://hubs.li/Q02ygQCX0

Curious about the role Italy plays in the horticulture industry? 🇮🇹 Learn more about how this country is contributing to the seed sector and beyond: https://hubs.li/Q02xNlV00

Industry professionals from all over the world came together to tackle crucial challenges like “What is needed to be an attractive employer?” and “How can we make the horticulture industry as attractive as possible to work in?” 🌱 The horticulture professionals brainstormed at table discussions and shared innovative solutions to attract young talent into the controlled environment horticulture industry. Curious to learn more about the insights from Power Day? Dive into the full story here: https://lnkd.in/d8rujfYW 🌿 #Horticulture #GreenTech #PowerDay #IndustryInsights #AttractiveEmployer #YoungTalent #InnovationInHorticulture

Curious about the role Italy plays in the horticulture industry? 🇮🇹 Learn more about how this country is contributing to the seed sector and beyond: https://hubs.li/Q02xNj_m0

It's Day 3 of #GreenCareerWeek! Explore our 140 career profiles to get a glimpse of how many different careers you can find in horticulture: seedyourfuture.org #seedyourfuture #yearofplantpower #horticulture #plantscience #STEMlearning #naturenevercloses #greencareers #plantcareers

Sustainable Growth in Canadian Horticulture: A New Chapter Read more here -> https://lnkd.in/ezKbqknH #igrownews #igrownagribusinessnews