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  • From: list@ginda.us
  • To: North American Fruit Explorers <nafex@lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [NAFEX] changing jobs - fruit interests
  • Date: Wed, 28 May 2003 00:24:19 -0400

Do you have dependents? Do you have savings? Can you stick your toe in a little deeper before jumping in? There are lots of good courses you can take to expand your knowledge and skills, most of which can be fit into the same schedule as a full-time job.

I guess I'm just risk averse, but I think it's a lot easier to earn a living with computers than with fruit. Also, I don't think having a "day job" needs to preclude you from breeding fruit trees. In fact, many "professional" farmers supplement their farm income with some other work. Breeding trees takes land and many, many years, but it doesn't take a huge number of hours in any one year.

Whatever you decide, good luck.
Ginda

On Tuesday, May 27, 2003, at 12:03 PM, rob hamilton wrote:

Hello all,

This may be odd place to talk about this, and I dont
know if anyone can really offer me any real advice
about this, but I am not sure where to go.

I am pretty new a fruit culture, but I am finding it
really interesting...more interesting than what I am
doing now.

Let me back-up a bit.
I am about 36 years old and I am working at Spelman
College and lab tech and teacher of Computer Graphics.

It's a nice job with pretty good perks, but I am not
as interested in computers as I once was. For a while
now, I have been just floating along with no real
interest in anything. I bought my first house about 6
years ago with 1/4 acre lot. I had no interest in
plants at all then (which is why I got the small lot),
but with constant prodding of the guy next door to
keep my lawn cut, the issue of yardwork was forced
upon me. After 2 years of mowing and cutting hedges, I
begin to tell people that "grass does not put food on
the table, so why am I spending so much time with
it!". I thought about what I said and it clicked. If I
am going to work in the yard, it needs to be something
I enjoy. Suddenly, I thought fruit trees! Why not! So
I started and haven't stopped yet. Now most of my free
time I am reading books and web pages and planting
anything and everything in the yard. I have planted
many trees and bushes. I have met many wonderful
people who have encouraged me. Most of them on this
list! I have learned more that I have ever wanted to
know about fruit culture and I am still a novice. I
have rooted my first cutting last year and budded my
first tree this spring. I seem to be getting deeper
and deeper in to the hobby with no way out. :)

Today I see a crossroad coming and I am not sure of
what to do. Do I keep this as just a hobby (and get
buy more land) or do I make it really work for me. I
have no formal training in horticulture. Do I go back
to school, and if so what do I do when I get out? Will
this be a fruit thing be just a passing fancy, or will
I start breeding my own cultivars.

I know, these are questions I need answer myself, but
I always found it good to hear for others about their
journeys and what they do.

Anyone care to share?


=====
--------------------------------------------
Zone 7b Atlanta, GA

Atlanta Fruits Club www.groups.yahoo.com/atlanta_fruits
North American Fruit Explorers (NAFEX) www.NAFEX.org
Southern Fruit Federation (SFF) www.NAFEX.org/SFF
Southeastern Palm and Exotic Plant Society (SPEPS) www.SPEPS.net

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