What emotional aspect the job has
“The Ohlsdorf cemetery where I work is a fantastically beautiful place to work. It’s a huge park. I don’t think much about the fact that there are coffins lying two meters deep. I am happy when I see deer, rabbits and birds and can enjoy nature when the weather is good. I imagine that I am working on small miniature gardens, the “last gardens” of the deceased.
At the same time, I am aware that the focus is on maintaining memories of someone’s death. This is how I deal with the topic of transience. I have become much more aware that it will affect us all. I don’t know if it really makes the whole thing easier. But I ask myself: How would I preserve the memory of my parents and my partner with dignity? How do I express this through plants? That can help.”
What my everyday working life looks like
“Everyday work depends on the time of year. In the spring I clean the graves of leaves and dirt from the winter. A little later the plants need to be fertilized and cut. During this time, customers often request new graves or redesign older facilities. I have to take a lot of things into account, for example how the light falls or what the floor is like. In summer I’m mostly busy watering, planting and cutting. It is similar in autumn, depending on the different trees. I also remove the leaves. In winter I lay down grave decorations and the graves are then either covered with fir or planted. Ordered bouquets are added on memorial days such as Remembrance Day or Sunday of the Dead.”
What qualities you need for the job
“What you should definitely bring with you is craftsmanship. As a cemetery gardener, you should be able to work delicately because the areas we work on are so small: a double grave only measures four square meters. You also need a lot of creativity and a good sense of shape and color. A connection to plants and nature is important. You should also be weatherproof. When the sun is shining, the work is wonderful, but sometimes hot. Of course it’s less fun in rain, snow and hail.
You definitely need empathy and empathy when talking to customers. At least now you’re taking care of the memories of a loved one.”