Landscape & Permaculture Designer

Thinking about a career in the green or high-performance building space? We sat down to talk shop with Mainers from six different fields: solar, weatherizing and energy auditing, architecture, construction and landscape design. Read on to learn how they got started, their favorite parts of the job, training required and what it might take for you to get there. 

This interview has been edited for length and readability.

JENNIFER CUMMINGS, Landscape and permaculture designer, Full Circle Landscaping

Jennifer Cummings
Full Circle Landscaping

GHM: How did you get into this line of work?
JC: My former husband and I went back to school (Washington State University) where he studied landscape architecture and I studied interior design/architecture. When we moved back to Maine, I worked for an architectural firm in Portland and then started working in landscaping. It was a passion from the start! I loved everything about it. I took every class local nurseries offered as well as classes at SMCC. And I learned a lot from my then-husband, who had been landscaping for years.

GHM: What are some of the jobs you held before getting into your current field?
JC: My first degree is in veterinary technology. I worked for a large and small animal vet in NH before going back to school. I was on the Sugarloaf Ski Patrol for 7 years.

GHM: What training is required of the work you do?
JC: The more the better in most cases. You can learn by the seat of your pants as I did, but it takes more time. I’ve been doing this work for 35 years and am still learning. If you are going to call yourself a landscape architect, you must hold a degree in that field and be licensed by the state. I always recommend that people who want to get into this work get a job with an established landscaper to learn the ins and outs of the work. There are many ways to run a business — and if you’ve chosen a good mentor, you’ll soon learn the most efficient, best-practice methods for the care of plants in your area. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, go to seminars, get involved with permaculture groups and talk to others in the field who can help you get going.

GHM: What do you like best about your job? What is your favorite part of your workday?
JC: I love the variety of the work and the training of my crews who might go on to open their own businesses. There are so many options in the horticulture field — but being in a state with a significant winter season, one needs to figure out how to sustain oneself during that time of year. My favorite part of my workday is probably early morning at my desk when I put together what the day/week will look like, organize the crews/trucks and enjoy the quiet of my gardens out the window. It’s all so full of promise.

GHM: What challenges do you face on a daily basis in your job?
JC: The daily challenges are probably logistical in my company. So many moving parts because we do relatively small jobs these days, which means a constantly moving list of what plants to pick up, which truck is best to get mulch, transport crew, etc. Also, I never know what plants are in stock at the nursery until I call in my order, so there is often the need for reworking the lists to accommodate the client’s preferences and what works for the site.

GHM: In what ways is your industry growing, shrinking or changing in Maine?
JC: This field is growing quickly. Permaculture is being recognized by more and more people as the best way to care your local nursery people. They are a wealth of information and are always happy to help you.

GHM: How does this job help you make decisions about your own home?
JC: It doesn’t sometimes!!! Since I receive publications and go to nursery lectures, there are always new things to add to my gardens. I do wish I had more rocks and stonewalls in my yard AND SCULPTURES! — but they are expensive, and I choose other things instead. My job reminds me daily that to choose the right plant for the right place saves a lot of disappointment later. Don’t try to plant a Georgia peach in a Maine garden — go with a Maine peach. It may not be exactly what you wanted but it will survive, and you’ll be surprised how wonderful they are.

GHM: When you aren’t working, how do you spend your free time?
JC: Reading, hiking/walking, visiting other gardens, traveling to see kids in North Carolina and New Zealand, and resting!

This article first appeared in the Fall 2019/Winter 2020 edition of Green & Healthy Maine HOMES. Subscribe today!