Best way to find a gardener in Sioux City, Iowa

I recently moved to London but I have a house in Sioux City, Iowa where my mother lives.

She is getting a little too old to handle the yard, her flowers and strawberry patch on her own, so I thought I'd try to find a student, organic hobbyist or professional gardener who would like to care for her yard.

Beyond posting here or in the local newspaper, does anyone have any suggestions? I'm not a gardener myself, so I don't know what to ask for, what sort of work needs to be done at various times of year, or what I should expect to pay.

Thanks for your help!

Doug
gardening@douglasheld.net

I recently came across this service: Flora Personnel, Inc. - http://www.florapersonnel.com/ which claims to specialize in placing qualified people in the horticulture/gardening industry. I don't know how much they charge, or anything about them, other than what I read on their site ;o)

My sister lives in Sioux City!
I'll check with her.

Sioux City is a 'big college town', so I'm wondering if they have any horticultural programs in any of those colleges?
You could check with the colleges themselves....their student services people would probably have lists of persons interested in such a job.

Sorry I don't know the names of any of the colleges, though.

Edited to say..I just emailed her, so providing she checks her email soon, she'll either get back to me or email you directly.

This message was edited Oct 12, 2005 3:07 PM

Doug, look in the member lists to see of any DG folks live there. (Go up top to Member list, then scroll down and click on the state, then click on subscribers only.) Personal contact/dMails might turn up something. (Dmails are easily accomplished by clicking on their name and a box will apprae to click on send an email)

Yes, Merigold lives in Sioux City. She planned to come to IA RU last year but then lost a family member and couldn t make it.

Colleges are Morningside, and I just went blank. duh! I'm about 65 miles north. Let me get the SC phne book and see what I can find. Back in a bit.

You can also go to http://davesgarden.com/pf/zipbyzip.php ,put your DM's zip code in, then look who put the zip code reports in that come up. D-mail them.
Good Luck
Sidney

Ok, got the phone book.

Colleges:
Morningside College, 712-274-5100 or 800-831-0806 www.morningside.edu
Briar Cliff College, 712-279-5200 800-662-3303 www.briar-cliff.edu
Western Iowa Tech Comm. Col., 712-274-6400 800-352-4649 www.witcc.com

Yellow Pages listings under Lawn & Ground Maintenance: (all 712 area code)
Ace Lawn Service/Snow Removal 258-9370
Ames Lawn Service 277-8757
Batcheller's Harry Farm Store 258-3593
Greenway Lawn Care 239-2654
Ground FX 255-0100
Hollands Lawn Care 255-1866
Jansen Lawn Service Inc. 276-8061
Jay-Lan Inc 252-5252
Kurth Lawn Care 255-7750
Midwest Lawn Care 233-2323
Pure Green Lawns 258-3333
Siouxland Lawn Care 494-3793

Here's the link for DG Subscribers in Iowa. I don't know the geography so don't know what's close to Souix City...

http://davesgarden.com/memberlist/viewby.php?area=state&arg1=ia&showonlysubbers=1

I don't have any elp for you on the gardening in Iowa ....except I have met some really nice people there....but just wanted to say...Welcome to Dave's Garden, Doug...I don't garden either...but sure do enjoy this place! LOL Jo

Thanks to everybody who helped with your input!
Nan, Kooger and Terry, special thanks for the extra steps you've taken.

I'll get to work finding my first class gardener now:-)

Doug