Every once in a while I catch my dad in his office, at his desk, and we have an e-mail conversation. This morning it was about his Strawberry plants.
You see, in addition to loving animals, my dad loves to garden. That said, he is in no means a "farmer." Not even close. His interest in gardening doesn't involve heavy machinery or various kinds of produce. Rather, it is limited to a select number of crops: tomatoes, apples, squash (my mom's really) and... berries.
Nine years ago I found myself surfing the web rather than working on my thesis. I happened upon a wonderful gardening site that would allow me to specify a particular climate and soil type to find the perfect vegetation. On a whim, I looked to see if there was a strawberry (a family favorite) that would grow where my parents live - clay soil, very dry climate, on the side of a mountain range. Lo and behold, I not only found him strawberries, but raspberries as well!
That year I gave my dad the best father's day present I ever found for him. He had a wonderful time building a bed and caring for these berries. His hard work paid off - and he had berries year round, which was amazing. And these just weren't small garden berries but the huge juicy berries that we all dream about throughout the winter. The kind that fill your mouth with pleasure from the very first bite.
This morning I asked my dad about his berries. Despite the arid climate and the clay soil, he is having problems with moss. He can't get rid of the moss and the man at the nursery doesn't have any ideas.
(here is where the title of the post starts to come in)
So I started doing some research. Of course I had work I could be doing but, finding an answer for my dad and his strawberry/moss issue seemed more interesting.
I found an answer for him and a great site where he could (or I could for Father's day) order more berries!
And here is where I think I might have missed my calling.
No, I should not have been a nursery manager or even a gardener, but perhaps a telephone operator or even one of those that answers the 411 calls might have been a good fit for me.
I love helping people. I love solving problems or finding answers.
You e-mail me a question, and I get so very excited... not only do I love answering questions, but I love, even more, trying to find answers and providing information.
I received an e-mail a while back asking about information on Ireland.
Can, I, just, tell, you...this made my day.
I could expound upon Ireland for hours on end - and I had to stop myself from sending such an e-mail in response. Instead, I am relishing in digging up the information that I can to help the fellow traveler (possibly) in the Irish adventure planned.
Perhaps I should open a hotline? Call or e-mail me with your questions and I will find potential answers or provide the required information?
I wonder if I could make any money doing it - after all, it is what I love to do...and we are supposed to be able to live from our passions?
7 comments:
Growing up we lived walking distance to huge strawberry fields :)
Scotty - Now that isn't fair! I have always wanted to go and pick my fill of strawberries when the farmers open their fields as they often do.
"I wonder if I could make any money doing it[?]"
Walk away, just walk away. I make a living helping people. I've often said that I should never talk to people that don't have V.P., Pres. and C.E.O. after their names. I spend an inordinant amount of time answering questions from friends and friends of friends.
I wish it weren't interesting or at least that I were a better business person.
Oh, strawberries, when I got out of high school my family move to the northwestern part of lower Michigan. We live next door to acres and acres and acres of strawberries. During the season, our neighbor delivered mulitple lugs (either 32 or 40 pounds, I can't remember) of the berries. You haven't lived until you've sprinkled fresh cut berries with some sugar on just about anything. I won't talk about the cherries just up the road.
How do you think Dear Abby and Ann Landers started? I'm not sure if it included strawberries, but there are many jobs that you would be able to help others.
Of course, many people take those burdens on as their own.
But, you know, you already do help others by being part of this community known as the blogosphere, and sharing your wisdom and fears and "youness." That, as the American Express ads say, is priceless ....
Kat is right. No surprise there, she usually is.
As for the strawberries, only one thing I can think of that's better. (Ok, maybe two but let's not go there.)
In our area we have wild strawberries. They grow all over the place. Unlike the tame sorts the berries are very small. (A thumbnail sized one is considered large.)
When it comes to taste they are unmatched. To imagine the difference between tame strawberries and wild, think about the taste difference between canned pineapple and fresh. Yep, the wild ones are that much better.
TAG
Yeah, you missed your calling. You should have worked for Google: http://answers.google.com/answers/ :D
I got the itch to build a bee hive yesterday. I think I'm going to look up plans and do it. You know, because every 30yr old with less than a 1/3rd acre yard should keep bees.
And you ARE very good at this!
And I am going to email with more questions-- promise! (All info is good info at this point!) :)
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