Looking for voluntary work in succulent nursery

[Urchin1987]

I am looking to do some voluntary work in a nursery specialising in succulents, specifically cacti. I am planning on starting a small nursery myself this year and really want to do some work in other nurseries to further my knowledge and experience. Specifically, I am looking to work upon my propagation skills, such as cuttings and grafting.

I am based in England but am not currently working as I have been volunteering in different plant nurseries and botanic gardens over the past six months; I am therefore not limited in when I can go or how long I can go for, but ideally it would be soon after the New Year. I would be happy to travel to other countries and would not be looking to be paid for the work, although some contribution towards accommodation would be helpful if is expensive i.e. not in Asia or S. America...

Does anybody here grow commercially that would be happy to have me come and work with them for a few weeks? Alternatively, can somebody point me in the right direction of a place who may?

Odd request I know... but thank you in advance

[DaveW]

Try emailing those nursery links on Cactus Mall asking if they are interested. It contains most of the specialist cactus nurseries worldwide.

http://www.cactus-mall.com/nursery.html

Also this BCSS map shows position of UK nurseries. The map will enlarge.

https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?ll ... z73WnY&z=4

As to cactus propagation, there is probably as much expertise regarding that in amateur hands as the trade, particularly on the Continent for seedling grafting. An amateur friend of mine went to Australia and a nurseryman there asked him to teach him how to do seedling and other grafting. British nurserymen are rather behind the Continent on the amount of grafting they do, but it is a quick way to propagate the new desireable species that can always be rooted down later. You will find plenty of instructional video's for cactus grafting on YouTube, just put in "cactus grafting", or "grafting on Pereskiopsis" etc. Read up on it then get yourself a few stocks, raise a few seedlings and practice yourself. It's too late in the year in the UK now though, you will need to wait until Spring. If you can are able to show you can graft plants, nurseries will be more interested in you.

http://www.kadasgarden.com/grafting2.html

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... s+grafting

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_ ... g+grafting

Also why not put an advert in Cactus Explorer asking for a nursery job since that Web magazine is widely read around the world now and Graham Charles puts in all adverts for free, therefore also carries quite a few nursery adverts. If you download the latest edition you will see and find Graham Charles email address to send to.

http://www.cactusexplorers.org.uk/journal6.htm

[Urchin1987]

That's really helpful - thank you.

I spent most of yesterday evening watching most of those videos on YouTube you recommend and also reading Kada's great guides - that is the main reason I want to go and get some more practical experience before I start myself in the spring. I know that this isn't a great time of year to be doing anything in the UK as most things will be dormant and so there isn't much to be doing, which I why I am happy to travel abroad. I have sent off a couple of emails to some UK nurseries anyway so will see what they say.

I have been through a lot of the website links for nurseries abroad on Cactus Mall but unfortunately many of the links no longer work. There are a couple of places in Spain which could work or I was thinking of getting in touch with Kada's Garden - I know he used to post here but not sure if he is around anymore. Taiwan has been on my travel list for a long time anyway!

The Cactus Explore advert is a great idea, especially if it is global, and I will definitely get onto this.

Really appreciate your ideas

[DaveW]

You should be OK in the EU whilst Britain is still a member, but for other countries you may need a work permit. They may consider being provided with accomodation, or any payment towards it, wages.

Google is a good tool for finding many things if you put in your queries then sort through the links.

https://www.google.co.uk/?gws_rd=ssl#q= ... s&start=10