Seasonal Work
By Taramaria Hood
16 Aug 2009
What's your profession? Please describe it.
As a gardener for a city, my duties are geared towards maintaining city beautification. The first summer I worked in this position for Grand Rapids, MI and the second and present summer for Bloomington, IN. In Grand Rapids I worked alone and in Bloomington I am part of a crew of six. Both places have the same basic duties, watering, weeding, planting, and maintenance. The frequency each of these duties are performed was based on the differing plants in the locations.
Where do you do this?
Last summer I worked in downtown Grand Rapids, Michigan (2008) and this summer I am working and living in Bloomington, Indiana.
Do you enjoy what you do?
I very much enjoy the work which is why I sought it out for a second summer though sometimes hot weather or cool, rainy weather can make work uncomfortable. Being outdoors is nice but then there's bug bites and poison ivy...it has its ups and downs.
When you were young, what did you want to "be" when you grew up?
I have wanted to be a visual artist, and continue to wish to be one. I am finishing my college degree as a studio art major with a focus in sculpture.
Do you feel stuck doing what you are doing?
no, since this is seasonal work there is a definitive end in sight. My end will be before most of the seasonal workers as I must return to school in the fall. The downside to this is that I need to find winter work.
What are the most and least satisfying parts of your job?
Extremely hot weather combined with particularly difficult labor such as recently we cut down a whole line of shrubs on a very hot week is less then satisfying and long work. Whenever we take a bed (flower bed) that's looking particularly bad and clean in it up through pruning and weeding or replanting it's really satisfying. I also enjoy watering hydrangeas (a type of flower) in particular because they droop when they need water and after watering them they almost immediately perk up visibly.
How do you combine photography with your job?
As a sculpture major and having great interest in other forms of visual art the structure and nature is consistently inspiring me and interesting me. Visual form and color at different times of day often striking so I have been carrying my camera around to capture the moments or to recall the forms or movement of interest.
