 Todd Davis |
I actively seek out the old fogeys of the nursery business, and not just because I aspire to be one someday.
No, I do it because they have the best advice and insight around.
“Give this shrub an extra shot of fertilizer in July, and you’ll get an extra flush in August.”
“Never prune the leader on this tree or you’ll lose a whole season of growth.”
“Don’t pick at that. It might get infected.”
But there’s commonality that I’m finding amongst all the fogeys of the industry. And unfortunately it’s not a good thing.
It’s hard to find a person who’s been around this business for a long time that hasn’t had to deal with skin cancer. We spend a lot of time in the sun, and it takes a toll.
During this winter’s trade show season, one person after another I met had skin cancer tales. Scars and bandages seemed to stare back from faces everywhere I looked.
No laughing matter
And here’s what bothers me most: People in the nursery industry aren’t taking skin cancer seriously. Check out the following facts, provided by the Skin Cancer Foundation.
More than 2 million Americans are diagnosed with skin cancer every year. One in every five Americans will be diagnosed with skin cancer in their lifetimes.
About 65 percent of melanoma cases (one of three main types of skin cancer) are attributed to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. An estimated 114,900 new cases of melanoma were diagnosed in the United States in 2010, and 8,700 resulted in death.
But too many nursery folks consider themselves tough guys (and gals) and feel no need to protect themselves from the sun. Yes, I’ve heard these people say:
“I’ve worked outside my whole life. I haven’t been sunburned since I was three years old, my skin is as tough as shoe leather, and you could strike a match off my earlobe.”
Wake up, friends. This means you’re even more likely to contract skin cancer.
Slap it on
Many of you out there refuse to wear sun block. It’s time to change that. Just because you don’t burn, doesn’t mean you don’t need it.
And it doesn’t make you a sissy.
And for crying out loud, put on a hat. And not just a ball cap. Get one with a brim that shades your ears and neck. These are some of the most common areas where skin cancers occur.
Check your skin regularly for suspicious spots. Keep in mind they might be painless, but no less dangerous. Go to www.skincancer.org for an extensive list of skin cancer signs.
We need more old fogeys in this industry, and we all won’t make it there if we don’t start protecting ourselves better.
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