Side-job hustler

Always be grinding! That’s the advice. When landscape side work is available you have to jump on it. It means extra cash and practice. But it isn’t always pretty. Let’s openly say it. Some of the side-work is uninspiring but we are helping real clients with real problems. That feels good.

This is what it’s really like on the ground for side-hustlers.

A) Bad access soil install

I love soil installs. The site gets an instant fresh look and the client appreciates the change. But when you have to bucket the stuff over a wall and up stairs, it gets old. After two hours the client started texting me from inside her house. Am I close to finishing? Yes, madam. Can I install some soil out front? What? I had asked her about this before I started and the answer was no.

B) Weeds

Round 1 was weeding complete wilderness. I actually uncovered a rhododendron buried under bramble. The client’s son had NEVER played in the backyard. Good parenting. Bad landscaping.

Round 2 was much easier except for the apples in varying stages of decomposition. I sent my work completion text to my client who was in Whistler. He was glad the bitch work got done. On budget.

C) Tent caterpillars

Caterpillar tents look creepy only the first time. They don’t usually destroy their host tree. The branch might get chewed up. The caterpillars eventually leave to hang their cocoons so they can later emerge as moths. I don’t mind moths. For most female clients this is an emergency.

D) Nasty mowing

Mowing a meadow sounds like easy cash but don’t forget you have to line trim the meadow first and then mow. Or mow it twice. Walk the meadow first to check for projectiles and other hazards. This particular lawn was very uneven.

How about trampolines? It’s time consuming having to reposition a trampoline just to complete the cut. The contraption is heavy and sliding it on the lawn can leave marks.

The client also has to be reminded to avoid lawn shading by periodically moving his trampoline.

This is real life for landscape side hustlers. Next: torching bramble behind the fence with brush cutters. I can’t wait. It’s what I do. Always be grinding.