How can I make this happen?
I need some help, I have this really big goal but I don't know I'm going to make it all happen and I was hoping others on ReachOut could help me with some direction and ideas, we could come up with stuff together or something. Here's the basic idea:
i'd like to open my own landscaping business. Alongside the regular landscaping stuff I've got a few things I'd really like to aim to do, as part of that business.
- Creating sensory and therapeutic gardens for those who especially need an outdoor space to relax
- Teaching and mentoring children, young people and families in basic garden care as I feel getting outdoors and the accomplishment and pride when seeing your garden come alive can really help with mental health issues and general wellbeing.
- Sort of leading on from the previous, educating children, young people and families on planting and growing fresh food.
So far I'm well over half way to completing my landscaping and construction apprenticeship, so that's a start.
now I just need help on how to put these goals and dreams into action!
And I guess I'm interested in the education side of things because I grew up in a family where neither of my parents worked, there wasn't much money and we ate junk, but I guess there's a lot more to it than that.
A lot of people think that's the way it has to be though, but cheap and easy doesn't necessarily mean unhealthy, the more people we can get growing and eating their own food the better - not only does it develop skills, the feeling of accomplishment but it'll create healthier lifestyles. Start small, show somebody how to plant a tomato plant in a pot - they then might spend the 3 or 4 dollars to buy more seedlings and plant something else in their garden and it grows into something, and it's something to be proud of @Nat8 Starting it from a grassroots level seems to be much more effective, you get the kids interested in it through schools, they might take the idea home, some won't click into it, others might, but the school vegie patches are still there if they don't do it at home. The school can then give these things they've grown out to families or use them in cooking classes. And when they go out to families it can come with information about how easy it to grow your own things and it's not time costly either, yeah it might take a little bit to set up but maintenance isn't difficult especially if you get the kids interested which can be done through schools etc
But in saying all this I think sometimes we focus too much on the small stuff and the how, like I always see people focussing on things like where did you get that food from? Are you supporting our Aussie farmers instead of big corporations? If you have time to go to different places and check out the sources that's good, good for you but a lot of people don't especially families. If they grab their fruit and veggies in their weekly shop at Coles or Woolworths well isn't that better than nothing at all? We continue to say eat healthy but then we throw other conditions in the mix, you should eat fresh food but it has to be from here, it has be without this, all these things to make people feel guilty even though they are doing what they can. Let people do the minimum because for them it might be their maximum. Then eventually maybe things will change, they might have more time, they might have more money, they might learn more about these things, or they won't and that's ok too. You have to give people some praise for trying their best.
@j95 Forgive me, because in the sea of my emails - mostly from RO lets be real :P, I lost your response and so never saw it.
The reason you want to turn things around and start at the grassroots is exactly the same as mine. when you give people something they know what it is but never look or think further and that boundary is the one I want to challenge. You're right some people don't click in but after awhile there are enough people where you get to the point where you don't have to keep it at grassroots bc everyone does it.
Don't ever not be proud of where are after all you got through @j95 the way you speak clearly displays your passion and that in itself is commendable and something you should be extremely proud of. 🙂
@j95 Thought of you and this thread when I read this 🙂 (also I had to make the picture massive so you can actually read it lol)
Yeah those sound like some pretty cool times. I'm glad you got that opportunity and I'm guessing that influenced the landscaping interest?
My sister has autism as well as some of my other siblings having sensory processing difficulties and behavioural conditions and I think they could benefit from this sort of thing. I could too, especially when I was younger
I'm sure you're close to the end and that must make this idea so much better from that perspective.
I will say I always thought it was fun when you flipped the perspective for other outside "our world" of disabilities (not my fav word to describe it but anyway) and challenged them to live in the world of someone who had the condition like, sitting in front of the lava lamp type of machines whilst doing math problems. I always thought it was cool to do this when showing people why it was important.
Schools are always good if you have contacts there. Or even children's foundations in your local area.
Workshops are good as I know from experience that often families with members who need care need a personal space or time to chill so give it a crack even if its not for the person cared for! Tip- anything tactile (Like gardening) usually goes down an absolute treat!
Hopefully it goes well for you and keep me posted!
i also have contacts a local primary school - they've put me as a sponsor in their newsletter and i could do some work with them too @Nat8
As a nursing student (completely different, I know) and a person with experience in chronic illness and conditions since childhood this is something I wish I could do and also educate more people on the other side about how to break down stigmas and perceptions in order to open up social perspectives so definitely admire you for using your trade to do this @j95!
Ever thought about getting in touch with disability groups or after school programs? Disability groups are often open to new experiences and learning opportunities and its all about finding people as passionate as you are about opening doors.
Do you mean like do a bit of market research? I can do that, great advice!
You click responses in the form, then click "create sheet" then click across to the form and click "tools" and then "notification rules"
You can set it up to sling you an email every time someone sends you a form 🙂
Hmm let me know if the steps in this tutorial thing work:
https://support.google.com/docs/answer/87809?hl=en
Or just go here and have a crack at it 🙂
When you're done, click send and then click the "< >" option, that'll give you the code you need to embed it in a web page 🙂
You'll probably be able to work out when i figured out how to do this by when Infobus forms started getting embedded @j95😛
ok great thanks, I'm looking now, do you know if theres an option for a drop down box where the options disappear once they have been selected? so for booking times etc if 4:15 is taken I dont want it show up anymore if thats a thing i can do @Ben-RO
