IS anybody Happy?

I love the work that I do, I’m generally positive towards the profession. But, it is not without its faults. The current employment crisis has little to do with the profession itself, its not it’s fault. Rather, poor legislation from congress and lax oversite of banks cause the housing bubble, which, of course, burst. Almost every profession faces difficult times, the AEC industry rides decade-long waves.

I think what aggravates many of us is the perception of the industry. It is very often watered down into landscape design. ASLA hasn’t really pushed the issue, and has kind of “missed” on many opportunites, such as pushing LAs into prominent planning roles, LEED, and, in general, the health of the profession. Kudos on finally getting the 50th state with licensure, though. Having spoken with many prominent LAs, the sense of self confidence, and EGO is sorely lacking. The allied professions just don’t see much value in what we do. And those within offices of those professions do little to advance the field. We are just no aggressive enough.

There WILL be a light at the end of the tunnel. It may be a train, it may be daylight. But it will come.

I hate to say this and when I do many of you are going to be angry with me. My first observation is that many of these comments and concerns are as old as the profession. They have, at least, been around since I graduated in 1977. The title, Landscape Architecture, equals LANDSCAPER and a landscaper is a person who picked up a shovel after he lost his job. This is the extreme but it is based in some reality. Grab a phone directory and look at the Landscape Architecture listing. I bet you will find many listings of firms and individuals who are landscapers and NOT landscape architects. Hollywood productions show landscapers as immigrants of different flavors. In a very large city I use to live in the firemen would work long shifts and be “landscapers” for extra money on their time off. As I have said many times in these posts when people see my business card they quickly say, “Oh, you’re a landscaper.” It’s an image we are stuck with and I don’t think there is anything we can do about it.
The other observation I have is with regard to the postings. These postings are written by people who are suppose to have college educations. They forgot to learn proper grammar. We are suppose to be reel edjecated

To clarify, I’m not placing this all on ASLA. It is an individual struggle as well (I’m trying to do my part). But it’s the industry association, it represents us all. They have been doing better, but could be doing more for the obscene dues we pay. I’ve seen the “industry promotion” thing as a priority of theirs for years, but see little result.

I absolutely agree with your addage regarding we have to take on the initiative ourselves. Its a tough row-to-hoe (oh, crap, a gardening reference, sorry).

I like yor posts, Rick.

I stopped getting bogged down in the “Public Perception” of landscape architecture a long time ago. The people who think it is “this” or “that” are people who will only understand “this” or “that”. Having those people know that there are other aspects to landscape architecture does not really matter that much because if they were going to be doing other things they’d know that some landscape architects cover those other things. It is like trying to sell caviar to the fast food crowd – a wasted effort. BUT, some landscape architects ARE providing “this” and “that” and are part of the profession just the same.

Those developers who do the big involved projects are not often first time developers. They know who does what and have their preferences on who they want to be involved in their projects, for better or worse. It is not because they are the “uneducated public”.

“Landscaper” as an image that we are stuck with is really much the same as above. The people who have any higher level of understanding do not see us as “landscapers”. If we are trying to work a demographic that does not have a well developed understanding of what we do, we are probably not going to be finding much work even if we do enlighten them.

Quite simply, if they don’t know what we do, it is because they don’t have either a need or want for what we do. Making them know what we do might make us feel better, but those peolple are still not going to use us anymore than without that lesson.

And yes, I am happy. I’d like the economy to heat up and have more choices, but I am currently happy to deal with reality.

Ah, grammar is spelled with an “a.” I may be old but I still keep a dictionary handy so I will not perpetuate ignorance.

I’m about to graduate (this Friday!). I have no job. I’m moving to another state due to family circumstances, so I’m not going to know anybody there. I’m happy though. I’m happy because I’ve been doing my thesis research in a city in Russia and after studying the city topo map for a couple of weeks I realized that they haven’t invented swales. None. In the entire city. Yes. And they wonder about inundation and flooding issues they are having (there is no underground stormwater sewer either).
I love design and fancy conceptual stuff but the idea that I can be of use to somebody just because I know about swales – yey! – is mesmerizing! Not even because there is any chance of me getting hired to do that for them. I’m happy because these simple things we know of can make a huge difference for somebody. And the right job will show up. I’m staying optimistic.

I would like to say that I am happy but then again I am also very frustrated. Yes the financial crisis has hit us hard and it will be a long and slow recovery and we are not there yet. I do agree with Jason’s comments in regards to the association’s response. I was hoping to get more out of them during this time but somehow they have failed to provide, I think. And most of all I feel a bit of ignorance from their part, lack of acceptance of where landscape architecture is… but then again, part of our frustration is finding someone to blame.
I do believe that the profession needs a stronger presence. A few years back we started to see more LA firms acting as the prime which was a big step – and challenge as well… but with all these we will continue to be subs to architects or planners and that will put us a bit behind. So I just hope that with time we get atop and start being the bosses on many jobs.