Level 5 Horticulture

Hannaho

I have just been offered a place for next year on a horticulture course - Level 5. It's always something I wanted to do, but I am 60 - I have been in my current career for 40 years and am burnt out with it - am I mad doing a horticulture course at 60? I am not looking to make much money - just to work in a garden centre, Woodies, B&Q garden areas - kids left college and no mortgage, so just need enough money for me. I am a little concerned re the physical work also. If any one here has done a horticulture course in their 50s or 60s it would be really helpful to know how you found doing the course.

looksee

Not horticulture, but I did go to college at 50 and really enjoyed it, and got good results too! Go for it, if you are reasonably fit you could be gardening, if not as a job - for another 15 - 20 years, and if not, well you will have the satisfaction of having done the course.

I reckon you would easily find work doing a bit of gardening for people, cutting grass, pruning shrubs, weeding and tidying, there are not enough people who can do that, not with any level of training anyway.

Ceist_Beag

Lots of retired or semi retired people (or even people who are still working full time) attend Kildalton College to take the horticulture course. A lot of them do it part time rather than full time. You can pick and choose which modules to take if you don't fancy doing it full time in one year. I can highly recommend this approach.

popa smurf

Did it about 12 years ago not much going on at the time, they were a mixed group of us a few in there 60s who were very interested in it and a few young ones that were at it to keep getting a few quid from the state, did work experience in garden centre 1 day a week. There was a good bit of class room and not much of the practical stuff there was a pollytunnel there all right but it wasn't great, the tutor's were OK,young enough,think they worked in construction before it went tits up in 2008 and went in that kind of work. That was 2012 and Budgets were tight that time, and they used to struggle to keep heating on for us, but overall I enjoyed it, learned a bit like tree and plant names and how to mow the lawn properly, yes there is a correct way to mow a lawn.

Hannaho

Thanks to you all for these helpful replies. CeistBeag, I actually contacted Kildalton and they confirmed that they do do the course part-time, which would be really helpful as otherwise I would have to take a year unpaid unless I could find some weekend work. They are going to contact me about applying for next September. Good to hear from you and Popa Smurf that there were people in their 60s doing these horticultural courses. I thought I might have been too old. Popa Smurf, just wondering from your comment if I will actually learn anything on the Level 5 - I would like there to a good practical element to the course. Also, did you get any work from the course. I have a concern about doing it and there being no work afterwards. I don't want anything much 14/15 euros an hour for 20-30 hours per week. Mortgage paid and kids finished college.

popa smurf

I didn't use it yet unfortunately it's a low enough paying sector if your working for someone else, was thinking at the time I might go self employed,but it is very seasonal and might be hard to keep the bills paid so i went back in to construction at the minute, plenty work about again, it's boring old stuff but pays the bills. Change is good though and if you are the creative type it might suit you so I would definitely give it a go.

Hannaho

Thanks, Popa Smurf, I don't mind the low pay with working for someone else - luckily I have gotten to that stage with only me to support. I've wanted to do a horticulture course for several years. I'll give it a go. I can always go back to my current job with a different company afterwards.