Burnout in the Green Industry, Revisited

There is an irony that comes with working in our industry; it was always there under the surface, but I think it became especially clear to us throughout the Covid era and in the years since. The mental health benefits of gardening and plants have now been widely studied and promoted by institutions around the world; from the University of Technology in Sydney, to the Center for Environment, Health, and Field Sciences in Japan, to the National Institutes of Health in the U.S., studies have shown that exposure to plants and green spaces is effective at lowering levels of stress and anxiety, boosting motivation, improving focus, and, essentially, increasing happiness. This is a big part of why our industry experienced so much growth during the pandemic. But, at the same time, it had quite the opposite effect on the mental health of so many of us who make our living in the green industry.

I think that’s why a return to more sustainable levels of growth in recent years has come as a relief in many ways. Don’t get me wrong; I loved the rush of adrenaline that came from the unprecedented demand for plant material we saw during those years, the excitement of selling out of crops before they had even been planted, and the satisfaction of giving every ounce of energy to an industry that we’re passionate about. But, for the very same reasons, those years also took a toll on us mentally and physically. For some of us, this impact wasn’t fully realized until we had time to stop, take a breath, and reflect.  

I learned a lot of lessons from that experience and in the years since (many of them deeply personal). It’s probably fitting that this topic has been on my mind recently, as we’re on the cusp of entering into what’s sure to be another chaotic spring. Because anyone reading this knows that spring is spelled with a capital “S”; it means something different for us than it does for anyone outside our industry. So, as the temperatures begin to warm up and the landscapes turn from brown to green this spring season, we should remember to check in on those around us. Whether it’s our coworkers, our employees, our managers, or our friends and acquaintances in the industry, it’s important that we look out for one another.

Of course, the pressures inherent in our industry aren’t confined to spring. They’re felt just as strongly (or possibly more so) when we hit a bump in the road, when we have a rainy Mother’s Day weekend, when a summer drought brings landscape projects to a screeching halt, or when sales slow down for reasons frustratingly unknown. And all this is happening in addition to the stresses of our everyday lives. Burnout is real, and it’s worth acknowledging this openly as we work to attract new generations of young people to our industry, and to retain those who are already a part of it.

As we close out our winter trade show season at iLandscape, I think we’ll be reminded once again of the unique resilience, optimism, and camaraderie of our industry. And what better way to start off the spring season? If we can find ways to harness this sentiment when the parties are over and things begin to get tough this spring, I think we can minimize the contradiction that exists between what our industry means to others, and what it means to us.