Sep 19, 2008

Green Industry Partners Launch New Website For StudentsSource: ANLA

The American Nursery & Landscape Association (ANLA), the Professional Landcare Network (PLANET), the American Society for Horticulture Science (ASHS) and 28 state green industry associations have joined forces to raise awareness of green industry careers to junior high and high school students through the launch of a new website.

The site, www.thelandlovers.org, provides students with a comprehensive overview of the many career options available in the green industry, including arboriculture, garden center, gardening services, irrigation, landscape design, landscape installation, landscape management and lawn care, as well as nursery and greenhouse production. Each section includes a career path highlighting duties, educational requirements and pay scale. Visitors will also find video testimonials from current industry professionals who are passionate about their careers.

“This partnership represents a smart and effective way for the association community to work together in order to reach young students across the country, who are often unaware of the personally and financially rewarding professional careers our industry offers,” says ANLA President Greg Schaan.

Parents and guidance counselors can also find information debunking some of the current myths surrounding green industry careers. Parents, along with their students, can also learn where to pursue higher education for a career in the green industry and browse current job openings by state.

“Research shows that there are many myths surrounding careers in the green industry that may be contributing to the declining workforce,” says Bob Fitch, executive director of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, which serves as the coordinating organization for the site. “This website reveals industry truths in a fun and informative manner! It does a great job of selling our story and the great opportunities there are to enhance the environment and our country’s quality of life by choosing a career in the green industry.”

For more information, contact Cassie Larson, MNLA communications director, at (651) 633-4987.

Additional contacts: Anna Walraven, PLANET director of industry development, at (336) 273-5938 or annawalraven@landcarenetwork.org; Jonathan Bardzik, ANLA director of marketing and industry relations, at (202) 789-5980 ext. 3004 or jbardzik@anla.org; or Michael Neff, ASHS executive director, at (703) 836-4606 ext. 325 or mwneff@ashs.org.