“I bring in up to $5,000 a month gardening!”
“I worked in a hospital lab for 30 years, but about nine years ago, they made some changes and offered me a severance package. I had been gardening for friends and family on the side for years, and so I jumped at the chance to turn it into a business.
“To get Gardens4u off the ground, I created a website (Gardens4u.ca) and purchased accounting software but later realized I only needed Excel. I had taken a landscaping course years ago, but today, it’s easy to learn about gardening on Google and YouTube. I sent a group email to people I knew, which accounted for 95% of my clientele the first few years.
“I design, create and maintain gardens primarily for elderly clients who want to maintain their gardens and for busy working parents who don’t have the time to garden. During the spring, I work six to eight hours a day, five days a week. I have a magnetic sign on my car to advertise, and I get new customers from my website, but most of my clients are word-of-mouth referrals. I also post before and after garden projects on my blog, Loreeebee.ca.
“I love the fresh air, sun and flexibility so I can help care for my grandchildren. I charge $25 per hour and make up to $5,000 a month— money that pays for gardening supplies and allows me to travel with my husband.”