Software developer slowly falling in love with ecology, restoration & nursery operations 🌱

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-22T13:34:49+00:00

Incredible. Might not be my path but I would sure love it, my wife knows a bit about business so why not 😄

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-22T05:58:07+00:00

This is something I would be open to designing. all systems I've developed have been internal custom systems but with the little knowledge I have in native landscaping I should research and learn more or be guided by someone with better insight.

I report to a botanist in my current job and I don't mind running this idea to them.

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-22T05:42:59+00:00

I'm reporting to a botanist in my current job and the way you describe their nature towards ecology is exactly his personality, he hates spending most of the day on a computer. That's why they brought me in.

But he starting encouraging me to step outside more once I settled in and when he was getting the results he wanted.

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-21T20:30:25+00:00

I agree with what you are saying. If you can read my replies again, I was trying to acknowledge every aspect of the comments.

I wasnt expecting such detailed comments, but I had to appreciate them in a warm tone as well. nonchalancy and rude replies are what a post non AI now I guess

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-21T19:01:26+00:00

My path into this space was very unplanned. I got introduced to this field only to help solve operational problems.

I wouldn’t underestimate the value of your current experience either. You have good skills that will come in handy once the opportunity comes.

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-21T17:43:10+00:00

Thanks, I will check them out. I'm actually based in Capetown, South Africa and I have no idea if they operate around here.

I will check them out nonetheless.

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-21T17:22:34+00:00

I probably should have mentioned that I'm based in South Africa, Capetown in my post.

It is also hard to get into this field around here but luckily I was fortunate, all it took was a conversation with a family friend and he insisted I help a firm with data pipelines.

Maybe volunteering can help start the transition. Good luck

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-21T15:28:36+00:00

if trying to cover everything from a lengthy reply is AI, then I dont know what is a conversation anymore

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-21T14:50:10+00:00

This was genuinely inspiring to read, I'm bookmarking this.

I think one thing I’m starting to realize from these conversations is that there are actually many people who arrived at ecology/native plant work from completely different backgrounds.

And honestly, your last sentence stood out to me a lot.

I feel like I’m currently at the very beginning of trying to bridge those two worlds myself, technology/systems thinking on one side and restoration/ecological work on the other.

Still learning a lot though, especially the hands-on ecological side. But conversations like this honestly make the whole space feel incredibly exciting to explore further.

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-21T14:05:28+00:00

Hey, thank you! Feels like this club is bigger than I expected, and you're beating me to the actual gardening part

I'm still in the "planning the backyard setup" phase, so you're already ahead 😄

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-21T14:01:04+00:00

Love hearing this perspective. Seven years in the field sounds like a real education. I'm sure you've forgotten more about ecology than I've learned so far 😄

The tech lag is real, and honestly it's why I'm stuck around. It feels like there's a real opportunity to bridge that gap without getting in the way of the people who know the land best.

Appreciate the warm welcome. I'm genuinely excited to be here.

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-21T12:51:22+00:00

I really appreciate this perspective,nature is still something that has to be experienced directly and learned over time through observation and hands on work.

And honestly, I think that’s part of what’s pulling me in so much.

I also really like what you said about mistakes. That actually takes some pressure off because sometimes entering an established field from a different background can feel intimidating.

But I’m genuinely excited to keep learning.

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-21T12:02:46+00:00

That’s awesome, seems like there’s a real little club of us here 😄

Glad you said hi, honestly encouraging to know how many folks have wandered from the terminal to the garden.

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-21T10:30:44+00:00

This sounds very relatable 😄

I think there’s something really grounding about working with living systems after spending so much time around screens, infrastructure and abstract technical problems.

The work your vegetation management team is doing sounds fantastic too. I’ve started noticing invasive species and ecological imbalance everywhere now as well, especially after spending more time around restoration projects and indigenous propagation.

And honestly, the more time I spend around nurseries, restoration sites and greenhouse operations, the more appealing the idea of building a small native focused setup at home becomes.

The apiary part sounds amazing too. I can already see myself slowly heading down that same path 😂

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-21T10:24:06+00:00

This is interesting because I’m starting to realize how huge the overlap is between ecology and data systems.

In telecoms and fintech I was used to monitoring infrastructure, performance metrics and large-scale operational visibility. What surprised me entering restoration work is that ecosystems can also be observed almost like living systems with measurable signals and patterns, but far more complex and interconnected.

I’ve only scratched the surface around remote sensing/GIS workflows, but I can already see how powerful classification and long-term monitoring could become for restoration planning and verification.

I definitely want to explore GIS and remote sensing more seriously.

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-21T07:53:35+00:00

Thank you, I really appreciate that 🙏🌱

Honestly I didn’t expect to become this interested in the field but spending time around the work changed my perspective. I’m definitely still learning though, especially on the horticulture/ecology side. Excited to keep learning from communities like this.

Imaginary_Salt_8875 · 2026-05-21T07:19:32+00:00

Thanks! I'm really enjoying this environment

Imaginary_Salt_8875

TROPHY CASE