If you like spending your free time immersed in nature, planting out a garden, or simply getting your hands dirty, this article was written just for you!
Turning a passion into a lasting and successful career can be a tricky affair when you don’t know where to start (or even what roles are available in your ideal niche), so we’ve put together a little something to help you out. With insights into various horticulture careers, agriculture careers and other outdoor careers, this guide is bound to help you find your dream job; all you need to do is read on!
Get to Know the Outdoorsy Industries
When you’re thinking of getting into an outdoorsy industry, there are two key categories you’ll want to familiarise yourself with: horticulture careers and agriculture careers. Don’t get us wrong, there are other nature-related careers that don’t fall under either of these categories, so if they don’t appeal to you, there are still plenty of options. However, these are probably the most common industry categories, so you’ll want to get to know them anyway!
Horticulture
In simple terms, horticulture is the science and art of growing fruits, vegetables and other plants. It also encompasses the development and sustainable production of cultivated food and ornamental plants. In essence, the plants that people want to buy. The specific careers that fall under this category are extremely varied, so you’ll be spoiled for choice if you choose to seek a horticulture career!
Horticultural careers can be divided into two areas:
#1 Production
Which refers to roles that support the growth and production of both seasonal plants and natural resources so that they can be sold to the public.
#2 Amenity
Which refers to roles that support the growth and production of plants for recreational / residential purposes.
Some of the different horticulture pathways include:
- Floriculture
- Turf Management
- Landscape Horticulture
- Pomology
Agriculture
Agriculture as a category is a little boarder than horticulture, as it covers all roles that contribute to growing crops and raising farm animals for food and general use. Those looking to pursue an agriculture career will be providing their community with materials for clothes, food and furniture, so it’s fair to say that agriculture is a pretty admirable career path!
Like horticultural careers, agricultural careers can be divided into two distinct categories:
#1 Growers
Which refers to roles that involve growing crops, either outdoors or using indoor / covered growing techniques.
#2 Farmers
Which refers to roles that revolve around the rearing of animals such as sheep, cattle, deer and chicken.
Some of the different agriculture pathways include:
- Agronomy
- Animal Husbandry
- Agricultural Engineering
- Forestry
Why Choose an Outdoor Career?
If you’ve clicked on this article, we’re guessing that you already love the outdoors and the experience of getting down and dirty. That means that your passion is directly aligned with these potential career paths, and if you ask us, pursuing your passion is the best reason to choose a certain career!
However, if you need a few more reasons to dive into a horticulture career, agriculture career, or outdoor careers in general, we’ve got you covered! Keep reading to discover our top five reasons to choose an outdoors career:
#1 Meeting Like-Minded People
If you have a passion for the outdoors, you’ll likely want to spend your weekends getting a nice dose of nature, and finding others who want to do the same isn’t always as easy in a corporate role. By pursuing a horticulture career or agriculture career, you’ll be working alongside other people who love the outdoors and like doing the same things you do. In short, it’s a friendship-building life hack!
#2 Improve Your Physical and Mental Wellbeing
There are so many health benefits that come from working outdoors. In fact, working in greenspaces is known to alleviate symptoms of depression, improve breathing, boost immune function, and lower your chances of developing near-sightedness. If you don’t think those are great reasons to pursue an outdoor career, we don’t know what to tell you!
#3 Learn More About the World Around You
By immersing yourself in nature and spending your 9-5 learning about the natural world, you’ll develop a much deeper understanding (and appreciation) of how incredible the earth really is! Outdoor careers really are the best for giving yourself a fresh perspective.
#4 Work in Beautiful Environments
What would you prefer? Working in a bland office space or spending 8 hours per day in the great outdoors? The latter? We thought as much.
#5 Sleep Peacefully
It’s proven that being exposed to natural light (as opposed to the nasty artificial blue light given off by our devices) can actually help regulate your sleep cycles! So, if you’re prone to sleepless nights, a horticulture career or agriculture career might be just what the doctor ordered!
Discover a World of Outdoor Careers
We’re pretty sure that we’ve convinced you to give an outdoor career a go, and so it’s time to start thinking about which roles might appeal to you! To get you started, we’ve compiled a list of interesting nature-based careers that you’ll want to check out (but if these don’t get you excited, just keep looking; this is by no means an exhaustive list)!
- Florist
- Vineyard Worker
- Farm Labourer
- Landscaper
- Horticulturist
- Gardner
- Ecologist
- Arborist
- Landscape Architect
- Environmental Engineer
Education Pathways for Outdoor Careers
One of the best parts about outdoor careers is that not all of them require a degree. That’s right, there are plenty that you could start today!
However, if you want to give yourself a leg up in this competitive job market, or if you want to get into the more scientific side of horticulture and agriculture, check out these education pathways:
TAFE
Length: One Semester
What You’ll Learn: Discover how to manage large projects, prepare estimates and quotes, select plants, develop landscape solutions, manage plant health, and much, much more! Whether you plan on starting up your own horticulture business or work for someone else’s, you’ll be set up with the tools to build a long and successful outdoor career and do what you love!
Potential Career Paths:
- Horticulturist
- Landscape Gardener
- Plant Nursery Manager
University
Length: Three Years Full-Time
What You’ll Learn: By studying a Bachelor of Agriculture, you’ll learn how to harness science, technology and business skills to tackle sustainability issues and feed Australia’s growing population! The best part? You’ll never be bored: most universities that offer agricultural degrees allow you to learn in the lab and in the field, which makes for a super dynamic degree!
Potential Career Paths:
- Farm Advisor
- Agronomist
- Sustainability Officer
- Biosecurity Officer
And if you can’t decide between your education options, check out our handy guide on choosing between university and TAFE!
Sow A Green Future Today
Now that you’re equipped with some super in-depth knowledge about horticulture careers, agriculture careers, and a tonne of other outdoors options, it’s time to take the next step! Head over to our industry page and lock in your dream job today!
