Garden "consultant"
I want to establish a backyard garden and I have an idea of what I want to plant but I'm totally at square one in terms of my gardening knowledge. I'm hoping to find someone with expertise who can come look at my space and help me develop a plan (what to plant where and when, how to take care of it over time, etc). I'm not looking for anything fancy or expensive, just some basic knowledge to get me started and, hopefully, increase my chances of being successful. I live in North Berkeley, a few blocks east of the BART station. TIA for your recommendations!!
Jun 23, 2020
Parent Replies
Unfortunately I don't have recommendations but I want to suggest that when you do find names to call, you ask up front about their pricing. I contacted a local landscaper who promoted herself as great for small projects and shoestring budgets; it was my first time doing this in the Bay Area and I didn't think to mention a budget, nor did she. Only after she came to my house did she tell me that her minimum was $20,000. She seemed incredulous that I didn't know that this is "common knowledge." We ended up hiring a contractor for some clean-up and planter building, then did the rest ourselves via trial and error. Local nurseries like Annie's Annuals and Berkeley Horticultural Nursery have knowledgeable staff who can answer questions. One other thought, local school gardening programs have obviously closed down so the people who run them may be available. My neighbor is one such person and I could try to put you in touch with her if this possibility appeals to you.
Enjoy your garden!
Enjoy your garden!
We're working with Ingrid at Earthly Sites and love working with her! She's very conscious of our needs, including budget constraints and extremely thoughtful. https://www.yelp.com/biz/earthly-sites-oakland-2