Proverbs 13:4 ESV The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied.
In my early years, God blessed me with the desire to work hard.
In 1977, as a 15-year-old, I took on a summer job at a vitamin factory, processing orders for health food stores. Every lunch break, as I stepped outside, the sunlight would make me question, "Is spending my summer indoors really for me?" The allure of the outdoors was undeniable. By 16, hoping to merge work with my love for nature, I ventured into landscaping.
As I stepped outside, the sunlight would make me question, "Is spending my summer indoors really for me?
By the following spring, I started a gardening company. My initial offering was a simple lawn fertilisation service, introduced to my neighbors through a modest flyer. To my surprise, the response was overwhelming. One particularly busy weekend, with the help of my mother's car, I managed to serve all my clients. The earnings from that weekend allowed me to invest in an old van and basic gardening tools, expanding my services.
Towards the end of that summer, a client presented an unexpected request: planting a hedge. Although I hadn't done it before, their trust in me was motivating. This experience unveiled a newfound passion for planting, leading me to consider landscape construction. The next summer, "Sabra Landscaping" came to life.
With guidance from a landscape designer acquainted with my mother, I reached out to homeowners in newly developed areas. The response was beyond my expectations. As requests poured in, I realised the need for expertise in landscape installations. Fortunately, students from the University of Guelph's landscape architecture program joined my team, bringing their skills to the table.
Juggling high school, client meetings, and overseeing projects was a challenge. My days were long, filled with studies, school, and ensuring the quality of our work. This routine continued for four years, even as I transitioned to university.
After university, and after bidding farewell to Sabra Landscaping, I spent about a decade with established landscaping firms, absorbing invaluable lessons. This journey eventually led to the inception of "Green Apple Landscaping" 28 years ago, a venture I'm humbled to still lead today.
Below is an article written in 1982 by the North York Mirror on my venture.
1982 Article in North York Mirror