Journal #9

April 14, 2008       

            In is always nice for someone to report something positive about you. Of late, I have had a great deal of interest in my AARP Dream Job projects. I have been very fortunate to have the news print media interested in my progress in obtaining my heirloom seed company.

            Positive feedback in the form of e-mails, newspaper articles, magazine articles, cards and letters wishing me well in my efforts is very encouraging to say the least. I have also had positive feedback from customers who see me at the store where I am a garden professional. I have even had strangers say that they have read about me, or seen something about me on the internet, or in the news media and they have wished me well.

It all has had a profound effect upon me.

            A wonderful reporter from the Akron Beacon Jounal has interviewed me proclaiming:” Area gardener wins dream job.” This article appeared in the business section of the Beacon Journal on Saturday, March 15, 2008.

            In the May 1, 2008 edition of our city’s weekly newspaper, the Twinsburg Bulletin, the reporter stated:” Flowers will still grow” The article praised me for pursuing my dream job after age 50 years plus. The article also stated how I would utilize the help of local people in our community to help me fulfill my dream job. Twinsburg’s other weekly newspaper, the Twinsburg Sun, plans to conduct an interview this week for their paper.

            On Monday May 12, 2008, the Ohio state branch of the AARP graciously agreed to do an article about me in the upcoming June issue of the AARP Ohio newsletter. A very nice photographer traveled up from the state capitol of Columbus, Ohio to photograph me and several of my growers for the news magazine.

            In mid February, a reporter from a new national magazine called “Nature’s Garden” conducted an interview with me. Nature’s Garden magazine is a Better Homes and Garden magazine. The reporter was interested in my African American collection of heirloom seeds and plants. The featured article will appear sometime next year. The magazine wants photos of my garden and plants for the article. These photos will be taken close to harvest time when the readers can see all of my plants growing in the garden.

            On April 21, 2008, I received a lovely note from the AARP Ohio State Director congratulating me for my accomplishment as a Dream Job winner .I was told the AARP

Ohio branch is very proud of me and everyone at the state office is watching with excitement to see my dream fulfilled.

            On April 29, 2008, I received another note from the AARP Ohio State office thanking me for my volunteer service to my community. It is always nice to be recognized for your volunteer service.

            I consider myself extremely blessed that people are out there cheering me on to success. It means a great deal to me to have others applaud my efforts and encourage me to reach out and fulfill my dream job.        

Journal #8

April 30, 2008

Over the years I have found great joy in saving seeds and sharing them with other gardeners, organizations, farmers and others who are interested in growing vegetables, fruits, and herbs. When spring arrives and it is time to plant my garden, I am always eager to get out and plant my entire garden. Just about now, most gardeners including myself have started seeds inside and all of the seeds have germinated and evolved as nice seedlings. The seeds that are already seedlings are plants that need at least 6 to 8 weeks head start inside before they are planted in the ground. These seedlings are for plants like tomatoes and peppers. These sorts of plants need ideal conditions like a greenhouse would provide in order to flourish. Tomatoes and peppers can not be placed outside in the ground before the last frost date, or they may not make it if the weather turns nasty. The next step to preparing your seedlings that were started inside is a process of “hardening off” You must take your seedlings outside for a few hours each day before you are to plant them in the garden. In the evening before the temperature drops, you bring your seedlings back inside. As your seedlings get use to being outside they become sturdier. Other vegetables such as squash, pumpkins, watermelons, corn and radish seeds can be planted directly in the garden after the last frost date. The soil will have warmed enough to support the germination of these types of seeds.

             Late April and early May is a great time to buy seeds that can be sown directly in the garden. I always save enough seeds to share with other gardeners this time of spring. Over the last 5 or 6 years, I have been sharing lots of heirloom seeds with other gardeners.

This year, I consider myself to be very fortunate to have found a wonderful local farmer who will be helping me establish an heirloom seed bank for my seed business. My farmer friend has a nice sized garden that would support all that I want to grow to help my seed bank. He also has a greenhouse where we can quickly and professionally germinate plants from seed. I can honestly say this man is a God send for my new business. We relate well together. My farmer said he is a little nervous about trying out heirloom gardening. This will be his first attempt at growing heirlooms, but I have the fullest confidence in him and I am certain if Mother Nature cooperates with us, we shall have a bumper crop to harvest.

I am also sharing my seeds with many more local gardeners and seed savers across the country. I strive toward supplying as many seeds as I can for my world hunger campaign. I can not think of a better project to support with any of my seeds than helping to feed hungry people.

I am certainly looking forward to this season in my garden. I know it will be a wonderful and bountiful season.

Journal 7

Getting Ready To Garden 2008

April 16, 2008

            The time has arrived. Everything all of us gardeners have waited for over the long, cold winter is here at last. It is time to plant the garden seeds and to get ready to plant the garden.

            It is always an exciting time for me to finally start my seeds in anticipation of planting my garden at the end of May. The area in the Mid-West where I live is temporal zone 5 & 6. Essentially what that means is the last frost date is around May 15^th. I always wait until around Memorial Day to be sure the frost is gone and can not harm my tender little seedlings outside in my garden. Of course, I have already started my pepper and tomato plants in my windowsill planter. You need at least 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost for seedlings such as tomatoes and peppers to grow before they are big enough and strong enough to go out in your garden. Many more varieties of vegetables such as onions, lettuce, broccoli, and collard greens can go out in the garden, now. These plants are what are termed “cold hardy” These varieties of plants fair well in colder weather. My onions are already planted. Next week I will plant some mix varieties of lettuces such as the heirloom lettuce called “Deer’s Tongue”, along with many more lettuce varieties.

            I have asked several gardeners to help me to grow plants that I want to include in my seed bank. These varieties are mostly all African American heirlooms such as the Fish pepper, black-eyed peas and collard greens.

            This year I will rent an extra plot at the Twinsburg Community Garden to help to build up my seed bank, as well. I also have a container garden on the patio of my apartment with other heirloom plants including some Ohio heirloom vegetables and many more heirlooms of all sorts.

            It is my sincere hope that this year’s harvest is a bumper crop. If it is a good growing season, I will be able to collect lots of seeds for my seed bank. If the weather conditions do not hold up, I will have to see what I can harvest from my garden. Every year, the weather conditions play a major role in crop production. Last year was a vey hot and dry season. I did not have as much from my garden as I usually have. In 2006, I had a great season with lots of produce. So, Mother Nature either helps, or hurts. I am hoping she will help me this year.

            It is my plan to give much of my harvest to the local food bank. Every year the need for help grows larger with so many hungry people in our community and the world community. I always dedicate my time and efforts in a labor of love for the less fortunate. May one day I will need to accept help from some kind person concerned about my health and well being.

            I am truly grateful for all of the community of gardeners who are pulling for my heirloom seed company to be a success. With everyone’s help, I feel that my company is come together very well.

My Dream Job

Journal #6

April 2, 2008

          Formal education at the college or university levels, continuing education, less traditional education, and on the job training is vitally important to everyone’s career success. Learning should be an ongoing life long process whether you have been working at a job for a long period of time, or if you are spreading your wings in some new job, or career area.

          Being the best you can be on any job, you must be educated, knowledgeable, and skilled. You cannot always depend upon past workplace skills to sustain you in the present day, fast paced, technological workplace. Time does not stand still in any workplace. If you plan to have any future measures of success, then you can not be a Luddite, afraid of space aged technology, or you may find yourself grinding to a halt while others march past you to the top of the glass ceiling.

          Generations of working people before us 50 plus aged workers may have had just one workplace or employer for their entire career. That generation of workers’ education and skills carried them through a 30, 40, or even 50 year period of work. That generation of workers had just one or two jobs before they earned their gold watch upon retirement. Times have changed, now.  Fifty aged plus workers are working longer before retiring. We are changing careers, going back to school and learning new technologies for both personal and business uses. Many 50 plus aged workers work long past the time that was once considered retirement age.

          For the past 21 years that I have worked in the green industry, I have worked in many areas of my chosen career. I have been a student horticulturist. I have worked as an intern in greenhouses and nurseries. I have been a florist, I have been an interior plantscaper, I have been a groundskeeper, I have been a gardener, and I have also been a landscape designer. I began to realize a great deal more success in the green industry as my formal education, continuing education, and on the job training elevated me to a higher level of success. I once was the student, now I am the teacher. I am considered a paragon in the green industry. Even today, I continue to educate myself to enhance my career and for my own personal gain.

          In the last nine years as a garden professional at the Macedonia, Ohio Home Depot, I have taken over 300 hours of training at the store related to my job. I have also tried to give back in a meaningful way by teaching over 90 classes, various clinics and workshops, and giving lectures at Home Depot.

          Last month, I successfully completed my latest certification as a garden professional. On February 29, 2008, I completed training from the Scotts Training Institute. The Scotts Training Institute is the training facility for the Scotts Lawncare Company. This is the eighth time that I have received certification from Scotts Lawncare. Each year that I attend this training, I am able to touch base with the company’s extensive line of new products. Knowing what new products are available for my customers to utilize keeps me on my toes as a garden professional. I am able to diagnose lawn care and garden problems and recommend remedies involving lawn and garden fertilizers, soils and soil amendments, pre-emergents, pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and so on... The Scotts Lawncare Company’s motto is: “Knowledge builds confidence and confidence builds sales.” I believe this is very true.

          On March 6, 2008, I attended the Home Depot Garden Road Show in Brunswick, Ohio. The Road Show is the premiere event of the year for Home Depot’s garden departments.  All of the Home Depot’s garden department vendors attend this event to roll out all of their new product lines. Products include new garden equipment, such as tractors and walk behind mowers, grills, garden furniture, and plant and nursery stock. There are district managers, store managers, department managers, and associates attending this event from many local Home Depots. We all are given product knowledge classes called “PKs.” It is quite a lot of information to absorb, but the event is certainly a worthwhile project for all of us who work in the garden centers.

          Spring, is my busiest season in the garden center. All of the extra classes that I take to prepare for the upcoming busy season always proves to be very worthwhile. I always try to give knowledge back to my customers. I teach clinics related to pertinent garden subjects. During the next four Saturdays and Sundays in the month of April, I am scheduled to teach two garden clinics. On Saturdays, I will be teaching;” How to select and plant perennials” On Sundays, I will be teaching; “Organic gardening”. In addition, I conduct many garden lectures at public events. Of course, my favorite subject happens to be heirloom gardening. Educating myself in the green industry is a life long process. Educating myself serves me well. I hope to carry my knowledge into my new heirloom seed business.  

Journal #5

March 17, 2008

My heirloom seed business will be both profitable and charitable. I have always believed in helping other people to help themselves. In addition to selling heirloom seeds and related products, I want to set up a non-profit foundation to support world hunger programs, organizations and groups that help to feed the hungry people in our local community, as well as the world community.

World hunger is on the rise all over the world. It is devastating to hear of so many people who are starving and do not have enough food everyday to feed their families. I feel this is a very serious problem that needs to be addressed. I hope my foundation will be able to help in a positive manner. I think being able to supply seeds, small tools, and” how to do” information to organizations such as Plant A Row For The Hungry, Seeds For Africa, and Seeds of Hope is a good start. Additionally, supplying seeds and small tools to local community gardeners, garden clubs, farmers, and local food banks will help to resolve part of world hunger.

At this point, I do not know what it takes to successfully start and run a non-profit foundation, but I am certainly willing to learn. I do have a heads up approach in that I am aware there are a great deal of both public and private foundations that fund grant proposals. I am also fortunate enough to live close to one of only three Foundation Centers in the United States. These three Foundation Centers are located in San Francisco, California, Washington D.C., and Cleveland, Ohio, which is a short trip from where I live. The Foundation Centers help people with proposal and grant writing, how to approach a foundation, which foundations to approach for funding and a list of criteria a non-profit organization will need in order to receive a grant from a particular foundation. You must also attend a special training at the Foundation Center in order for you to use its facility. The Foundation Center is a special library with lots of information to absorb. You must learn to ferret out the information that is helpful for your own particular needs.           

The non-profit foundation for my heirloom seed business will need a Board of Directors. I am carefully considering the people I want to serve on my board. I know that this will all fall into place the closer I get toward starting my business. It is my hope to have a solid foundation in both my profitable business, as well as my non-profit foundation

My Dream Job

Journal #4

March 3, 2008

Building A Heirloom Seed Bank

            My Dream Job is to own and operate an heirloom seed company featuring African American Heritage seeds. Although there will be other seed supplies that are necessities to support my business such as starter soil, Ph test kits, peat pots, and windowsill greenhouses, my stock and trade will mainly be selling heirloom seeds.

             One of my main concerns will be to establish a large seed bank. I must have a large amount of seeds to satisfy my customer base. It will be no easy task gathering such a large amount of seeds, packaging them after harvesting them in order to sell them. Certainly, my supply for certain varieties of heirloom seeds cannot exceed my demand. Some of the seeds I plan to carry are extremely rare, hard to get, nearly extinct, or endangered varieties. I must come up with a plan to deal with these factors.

             In addition to obtaining the many varieties of vegetables, fruits, and herbs seeds that I plan to carry, there are other factors such as temporal zones of particular plants, soil conditions such a Ph factors, acidic soils, or alkaline soils that must be considered. I want to obtain, grow, and preserve good quality seeds that will flourish.

            Properly growing the heirloom seeds is just half of the battle. Anyone planning to grow heirlooms must not only know all of the conditions governing well grown stock, but one must also know how to harvest and preserve each particular variety of seed. You must know viability of seeds, in other words, how long you can keep a seed before it will no longer germinate. Many seeds, if properly stored, can be kept for as many as ten years before their germination rate depletes altogether. Many more types of seeds may only be viable for one year, or even less.

            There are three main criteria that define an heirloom plant. The first criterion for a plant to be classified as an heirloom is the test of time. An heirloom must be identified as that particular genus, species and variety for at least fifty years. For example,( Citrullus lantus) the White Meated Watermelon, is a native African plant that has grown for over 400 years in the wild as an open pollinated variety. It still exists as that particular variety in its present day form. The second criterion governing the classification of an heirloom plant is the seed from the plant must be an open pollinated variety of seed as opposed to a hybridized seed which became popular during the 1940’s. The decade of the 1940’s is when open pollinated varieties of plants began their extinction. Conversely, open pollinated plants are unique in their ability to reproduce themselves in the same form generation after generation for hundreds of years without being altered. This factor is vitally important to heirloom growers. The fact that open pollinated heirloom plants have never been hybridized makes them special. The growers are able to grow the same type of plants their great grandfathers grew many generations before the present day growers planted their seeds. You can still enjoy the uniqueness of the heirloom plant each year for many generations after you planted that heirloom. In more recent years, open pollinated varieties of plants have recently grown in popularity. With the arrival of the “green movement”, gardening has taken on a new environmentally friendly approach. Gardeners are seeing the value in saving heirloom plants rather than letting them vanish forever. The third criterion for a plant to be classified as an heirloom is the fact it must have its own distinct history. It must have been saved by a family, ethnic group, nationality, or religious group. Its history sets it apart from another heirloom. For example, the Fish Pepper (capsicum annuum) is a hot pepper with an African American history. The Fish Pepper has been recognized as an heirloom in the Black community since the 1870’s. It was first used in the crab houses in the Chesapeake Bay area and it spread through the Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area around 1900. It was used in crab and fish dishes to give them a zestier flavor. The Fish Pepper seemed to have disappeared for a long period of time and now has regained its popularity among heirloom growers during the last decade. It has been a favorite hot pepper in my garden for four years. I love to pass this pepper’s seeds along to my fellow gardeners. The Fish Pepper will be a must item for my heirloom seed company to carry.

            I am making plans to stock my heirloom seed bank, because I do not have a great deal of heirloom seeds to sell at this time. I expect to grow a great deal of the product line myself. I plan to seek the aid of local gardeners, greenhouses, and farmers to help me grow and preserve certain varieties of seeds for my seed bank. In addition, I plan to have “satellite growers” located in different temporal zones and regions across the United States to grow varieties of plants for me to increase my seed bank. I plan to obtain starter seeds from established heirloom companies featuring the vegetables, fruits, and herbs that I have chosen to be in my product line. This is a painstakingly slow process, but I feel this process will be the foundation I need to get my seed company off of the ground.

Dream Job Journal

Entry #2

February 20, 2008

            Anyone who has ever baked a cake from “scratch” versus a cake that came from a boxed source knows that the end result of the “scratch” cake. Your homemade ingredients blended together made your cake well worth the extra ingredients and the extra effort on your part.

            That maybe a rather strange analogy, to compare starting a new business to baking a cake, but in my case the two things are more similar then they are different. I will be starting from scratch. Hopefully, by blending my ingredients of having a vast education, a great deal of training and over 21 years of experience working in my related career as a garden professional gives me more than just the basic ingredients to pursue a successful beginning to the starting of my new African American heirloom internet seed business. The opportunity to fulfill my Dream Job began when I won the AARP Dream Job contest earlier this year. The category that I was chosen a winner in My Dream Job contest is the “The Flexibility Seeker” The definition of Flexibility Seeker according to the essay I submitted is: A person who desires the flexibility to manage personal interests and responsibilities outside of the workplace. I think that flexibility seeker suits me to a tee. I am always seeking to redefine myself, expand, evolve and open more and new areas and avenues for myself. By doing so, I have not only opened myself up to opportunities in my career, but new and more experiences in my personal life, as well.

            The other necessary ingredients I will need to put my business on the right path is to have expert business advice. A Business Consultant from RetirementsJobs.com, literally holds the most vital ingredients to me successfully launching my new enterprise. My Business Consultant is helping me to create a business acumen that is placing me in an environment that breeds success. He is helping to focus upon a business plan that defines business goals and structure. I am able to concentrate on what products and services should be included, marketing and promotional aspects and business finances needed to start up my business and successfully run it.

            Anyone planning to open a business for themselves, or go into business for themselves needs to carefully look at all of the factors involving their business endeavors. Look before leap. Many businesses are not carefully thought out before they are started. They are doomed to fail before they get started.  Anyone going in business needs professional support such as a business advisor, a business consultant like the experts at RetiremntJobs.com to guide you in your efforts. I am very glad that I have this kind of interest in me and my business from experts. I honestly think that I could not have done the things I needed to do to even get started on the right track without this kind of help.

            I have other positive factors supporting the type of business that I am starting. In the January 24, 2008 issue of the Cleveland Plain Dealer from Cleveland, Ohio, there was an article proclaiming the impact of the internet on gardening. The article by a local reporter stated websites are the fastest growing businesses for gardening supplies including seeds. For the first time ever, this year’s, internet businesses will over take orders of flowers, seeds and other garden supplies that normally go to printed catalogs. The combined sales of internet and catalog orders of garden supplies are estimated to be at a huge $3.1 billion dollars.

            Again, being “flexible” was one of the key ingredients that opened up the possibility of having an internet business that is just a little bit different than other garden Internet enterprises. My interest in pursuing something that has never been done before with an heirloom seed company, I feel will be a key ingredient to my over all success. After researching the history of African American gardening for the past six (6) years, I have discovered there is a big interest in many facets of heirloom gardening including African American heirloom gardening. It was an open field for me to explore. Practically nothing has been written in gardening books, on the internet and just about any other source concerning heirloom gardening and African Americans’ contributions to gardening history. The more I studied about all of these horticulture-hidden treasures, the more I wanted to study, learn and be in involved.

            I began gathering facts about African American heirlooms. I have done enough research to be presently working on a book entitled: “Edible Antiques: Growing, Preserving and Cooking With African American Heirloom Vegetables” I have also been lecturing about African American heirlooms for the past 6 years. The interest in my work has grown significantly. Interested gardeners ask" Where can I get these kinds of garden seeds for my garden? How easy are these plants to grow? How do I harvest and preserve African American heirloom seeds?" Questions like these spurred me on to be interested in starting an heirloom seed company. It is an idea that I want to share with other gardeners throughout the world. I hope it will act as a catalyst for other gardeners and people wishing to pursue their dream jobs.

Dream Job Journal

Deborah -"Flexibility Seeker"

Volume #1

January 28, 2008

          In early January 2008, upon returning home from work, my sister,Mary Ann, told me I probably would be very interested in listening to a message that was left on our telephone answering machine.

          My first thought was who was soliciting me for something, now? My sister, said to just listen first then see what you think. The voice on the answering machine was telling me that I had been chosen as a finalist for AARP’s My Dream Job Contest over a field of 7,300 contestants.

          At first, I was in a daze not believing what I had just heard. I played the recording several times over just to wrap my mind around the words. When I e-mailed my essay online, I thought that I did not have much of a chance of winning. Now, the opportunity had presented itself to me.    

          Days passed and after being interviewed in a conference call over the phone, I was informed I was one the 6 (six) winners of the My Dream Job Contest.

          My mind was racing at the prospect of fulfilling my dream of owning and operating my own heirloom seed company. This achievement would be the crown jewel in my career as a garden professional. All of those 7 (seven) years of study to become the first African American Master Nationally Accredited Landscape Design Critic had a special new importance. When you are the first of a race, or nationality to achieve a goal, you not only beat the odds, but you set precedence for those who follow.

          Having other people see the merit in your life long work is in itself an accomplishment. Having someone else willing to support your causes at an age when your career (58 years of age) is on the down side if almost too much to hope for. I am still in shock that I won. I feel extremely fortunate to have been chosen along with the 5 (five) other winners.

          Working in the “Green Industry” is not for everyone. Many years of the 21 years that I have been a garden professional have not been easy. I had low paying jobs. I had hard and dirty jobs. I worked from sun up to sun down especially during the growing season from mid March to Late May each year. But for those of us who are real “Garden Nuts”, it is what we live for each year. The rewards far exceed the demands. There is something each and every year to explore in gardening. I for one never grow tired of reading about gardening, teaching gardening techniques and lecturing about all expects of gardening, landscape design and related subjects.

          Ten years ago, I found my true niche in gardening. I discovered heirloom gardening. Imagine exploring of the possibilities of growing, preserving and even cooking with what I term “edible antiques.” The food that is grown from these special treasures has a place in all of our histories regardless of our race, creed or nationality. I am proud to be a saver of these priceless little bits of horticulture tissue. And now I can share my edible antiques with others. It is a wonderful passion I am more than willing to share.

          There are many challenges before me to make this dream a reality. I do not expect it to happen overnight. I have some ideas about what I should expect to make my goal succeed, I am fortunate to have professional lines of support which means the world to me. I am sure with the aid and support of many dedicated professionals, friends, other passionate gardeners and foremost my family, I will be well on my way toward fulfilling my dream.

          I extend my most sincere best wishes and congratulations to my fellow winners. You all are special people with extraordinary dreams. I am sure you will all be a great success!

Essay: Every January the new seeds come into the store where I am a garden professional. It is like being in a candy store when I see the seed rack display go up and all of the vegetable,herb and flower seeds are handsomely packaged and ready to go out for the season. No one else gets excited like I do about these tiny bits of horticulture tissue. They are the main reason for my chosen profession. I am a collector and saver of rare, heirloom seeds. I am committed toward collecting, growing and preserving these edible antiques for generations to enjoy in the future. I pass these seeds along to individuals, other gardeners, garden clubs, groups and organizations which help to feed the hungry in our local community, as well as, the world community of hungry people. I teach people how to grow their own food. I try to give people skills and knowledge of how to garden to help them to help themselves through community gardening and home gardening. I would like to own my own seed company specializing in heirloom vegetable and herb seeds. I know I could make a difference in many people’s lives one seed at a time. I have worked as a garden professional for 20 years. I have taught garden and landscape design at a local university. I lecture and write about gardening techniques that help beginner to advance gardeners get the best out of their garden. I am writing a book about the history of African American heirloom plants. My entrepreneurial gardening spirit has given my career a great surge. In 1994, I became the first African American Master Nationally Accredited Landscape Design Critic. It is time I explore new avenues, new opportunities for myself, but it is only a dream for now! I hope that one day the dream will be fulfilled.