Wishing someone could help weed one's garden is a common dream, especially as our knees age. The USA (also, judging by Rodger's note, Canada) is sadly lacking in such people. There are plenty who bill themselves as "garden designers" despite apparently having learned their trade by reading books written in entirely different parts of the continent; acquaintances of mine have fallen victim to these plausible poseurs. As for actual gardeners, there is little opportunity for young people to learn the trade. College horticulture programs focus on commercial "landscape" services and agriculture, not on private gardens. I know several brilliant working gardeners, but for a viable occupation they have had to work in public agencies, commercial nurseries, or gardens of the wealthy. When one of them retired recently, I wndered if he and his wife (both trained at Wisley) might teach their skills; don't know if they will. The only really good gardener who has worked for me now has a fulltime job in an environmental field and his own nursery too. Now I restrict my outsourcing to jobs requiring power equipment and brute force. As for me, back on two good legs for the present, this weekend is for cutting down the peonies and tomatoes, and doing something about the leaves before they smother the snowdrops (Galanthus reginae-olgae just putting up buds). Jane McGary Portland, Oregon, USA On 11/19/2015 8:45 AM, Rodger Whitlock wrote: > On 17 Nov 2015, at 21:24, Leo Martin wrote: > >> What I want is to hire somebody to use tools like this in my garden, but I >> want people who know what they're doing. > Then be prepared to pay a considerably higher wage than you would to some > itinerant guy-with-a-lawnmower. > > If this seems unreasonable, then just think: how many years has it taken you to > learn the skills you now have? (If you simply can't afford the money, perhaps > robbing a bank might be the ticket?) > >