A few questions...

Last post 08-09-2011 2:42 PM by MyGardenSchool. 3 replies.

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26/08/2011 09:05 AM
anna Location: salisbury Joined on: 25 Aug 2011 Posts: 1	Reply \| Contact Hi Guys, I'm new here, been reading a lot of the posts which have been very helpful. I'm 29 and I've been a town planner for the last 6 years and I'm about to leave my job. Have been fed up with it for a while, but decided to take the plunge and change career (it feels a bit like walking off a cliff!) My plan is to study for the RHS level 2 diploma. I did think about doing a foundation degree in garden design at another local college until i realised the fees would be £2250 a year for three years, which isn't really an option. What I'm wanting to find out, is whether i have to do all three parts at the same place, or whether I can study the practical section at my local college, and do the two theory sections distance learning? would this be a problem? Its so much cheaper to do the distance learning for the theory than at college as well. The RHS courses seem to be very thorough and I want to learn as much as i can. I'm hoping to start the practical course in the next couple of weeks, and I've found a national trust place nearby who are happy for me to volunteer in gardening one day a week, plus working on my allotment, and the plan is to get some kind of part time job to keep earning a bit of money. Some of my friends think i'm mad, but i've had enough of sitting behind a computer feeling miserable and wishing i was outside. The long term plan is to perhaps start working somewhere as a gardener, or perhaps set up my own business. My very understanding boyfriend has been really supportive, which has been a great help. my last question is about the distance learning courses. I'm torn between HCC and learning curve as everyone seems to be. The learning curve one seems to provide text books, where as i'm assuming the HCC one sends you all the paperwork you need. does anyone have a list of books supplied by the learning curve for the two level 2 theory sections (principles of plant growth etc and principles of garden planning)? HCC is the cheaper of the two, and i suppose i could pick up text books on amazon. thanks for reading my very long post - any comments would be greatly appreciated! Anna I just wanted some reassurance

26/08/2011 09:05 AM

anna
Location:
salisbury
Joined on:
25 Aug 2011
Posts:
1

Reply | Contact

Hi Guys,

I'm new here, been reading a lot of the posts which have been very helpful. I'm 29 and I've been a town planner for the last 6 years and I'm about to leave my job. Have been fed up with it for a while, but decided to take the plunge and change career (it feels a bit like walking off a cliff!) My plan is to study for the RHS level 2 diploma. I did think about doing a foundation degree in garden design at another local college until i realised the fees would be £2250 a year for three years, which isn't really an option. What I'm wanting to find out, is whether i have to do all three parts at the same place, or whether I can study the practical section at my local college, and do the two theory sections distance learning? would this be a problem? Its so much cheaper to do the distance learning for the theory than at college as well. The RHS courses seem to be very thorough and I want to learn as much as i can.

I'm hoping to start the practical course in the next couple of weeks, and I've found a national trust place nearby who are happy for me to volunteer in gardening one day a week, plus working on my allotment, and the plan is to get some kind of part time job to keep earning a bit of money. Some of my friends think i'm mad, but i've had enough of sitting behind a computer feeling miserable and wishing i was outside. The long term plan is to perhaps start working somewhere as a gardener, or perhaps set up my own business. My very understanding boyfriend has been really supportive, which has been a great help.

my last question is about the distance learning courses. I'm torn between HCC and learning curve as everyone seems to be. The learning curve one seems to provide text books, where as i'm assuming the HCC one sends you all the paperwork you need. does anyone have a list of books supplied by the learning curve for the two level 2 theory sections (principles of plant growth etc and principles of garden planning)? HCC is the cheaper of the two, and i suppose i could pick up text books on amazon.

thanks for reading my very long post - any comments would be greatly appreciated!

Anna

I just wanted some reassurance

29/08/2011 11:10 PM	In reply to
AlexS Location: Reading Joined on: 06 Sep 2009 Posts: 500	Reply \| Contact Hi Anna, Welcome to the forum. Congratulations on having the initiative, and the gumption, to change direction and set out on a path which is your heart's desire. I worked in offices and warehouses and the like for far too long before turning to gardening 11 years ago, and have since had the best time of my life. Wish I'd gone for it when I was your age! So glad to hear you have your boyfriend's support. That really helps. Don't let anyone put you off, when they haven't got the courage or the imagination to leave an unfulfilling job and strike out on their own. And you'll find it isn't like walking off a cliff at all - in fact it sounds to me like your feet are firmly on the ground. Can't answer your specific questions, but just wanted to offer some encouragement. Cheers, Alex Alex

29/08/2011 11:10 PM

In reply to

AlexS
Location:
Reading
Joined on:
06 Sep 2009
Posts:
500

Reply | Contact

Hi Anna,

Welcome to the forum. Congratulations on having the initiative, and the gumption, to change direction and set out on a path which is your heart's desire. I worked in offices and warehouses and the like for far too long before turning to gardening 11 years ago, and have since had the best time of my life. Wish I'd gone for it when I was your age!

So glad to hear you have your boyfriend's support. That really helps. Don't let anyone put you off, when they haven't got the courage or the imagination to leave an unfulfilling job and strike out on their own. And you'll find it isn't like walking off a cliff at all - in fact it sounds to me like your feet are firmly on the ground.

Can't answer your specific questions, but just wanted to offer some encouragement. Cheers, Alex

Alex

31/08/2011 10:13 AM	In reply to
Bevboots Location: Bolton, Lancs Joined on: 26 Jul 2011 Posts: 6	Reply \| Contact Hi Anna Welcome to the forum! I recently have undertaken the distance learning course with Learning Curve - RHS Level 2 Principles in Horticulture. It is really enjoyable. I am working full time in a dull admin job and like you want to change career, so went for this learning distance course so I can work on it in the evenings/weekends. I got the RHS Principles of Horticulture book and a garden design one in the pack. They sent it out very quickly (to my work address) and you also get a lever arch file with 4 modules in to start you off. I have a tutor who I can email when I want and she is very friendly and replies to my questions promptly. Just trying to learn now, getting my head around plant cell structure! I too am tying to get some voluntary work and am heading to a community garden centre in Manchester on Sunday to check them out. Good luck with everything, just ask if you have any more questions re Learning Curve - I will do my best to answer your questions. Take care Bev

31/08/2011 10:13 AM

In reply to

Bevboots
Location:
Bolton, Lancs
Joined on:
26 Jul 2011
Posts:
6

Reply | Contact

Hi Anna

Welcome to the forum!

I recently have undertaken the distance learning course with Learning Curve - RHS Level 2 Principles in Horticulture.

It is really enjoyable. I am working full time in a dull admin job and like you want to change career, so went for this learning distance course so I can work on it in the evenings/weekends. I got the RHS Principles of Horticulture book and a garden design one in the pack. They sent it out very quickly (to my work address) and you also get a lever arch file with 4 modules in to start you off. I have a tutor who I can email when I want and she is very friendly and replies to my questions promptly.

Just trying to learn now, getting my head around plant cell structure!

I too am tying to get some voluntary work and am heading to a community garden centre in Manchester on Sunday to check them out.

Good luck with everything, just ask if you have any more questions re Learning Curve - I will do my best to answer your questions.

Take care

Bev

08/09/2011 02:42 PM	In reply to
MyGardenSchool Location: www.my-garden-school.com Joined on: 08 Sep 2011 Posts: 9	Reply \| Contact In answer to distance learning - there is a difference between distance learning and online learning which you might like to try. Distance learning can be, for some people, a little isolating, and you have to be very driven to do all the reading. However if you want more of a classroom experience from home - I'd be happy to answer any questions about online learning (at www.my-garden-school.com you get a virtual classroom and personal contact with the experts). Sorry this isn't meant to be a plug - but thought it might help to consider the alternatives. Especially when some of the world's top horticulturalists are teaching at www.my-garden-school.com Kind regards Elspeth http://www.my-garden-school.com/welcome-rhs-members Online gardening courses

08/09/2011 02:42 PM

In reply to

MyGardenSchool
Location:
www.my-garden-school.com
Joined on:
08 Sep 2011
Posts:
9

Reply | Contact

In answer to distance learning - there is a difference between distance learning and online learning which you might like to try. Distance learning can be, for some people, a little isolating, and you have to be very driven to do all the reading. However if you want more of a classroom experience from home - I'd be happy to answer any questions about online learning (at www.my-garden-school.com you get a virtual classroom and personal contact with the experts). Sorry this isn't meant to be a plug - but thought it might help to consider the alternatives. Especially when some of the world's top horticulturalists are teaching at www.my-garden-school.com Kind regards Elspeth

http://www.my-garden-school.com/welcome-rhs-members
Online gardening courses

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