Out in the Sun
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Johnny Ortega is a landscaper. In this passage, a reporter asks him about his job.
Reporter: What do you do as a landscaper?
Johnny Ortega: I design gardens. Most of the gardens I design are large.
Reporter: How did you get started?
Ortega: I started when I was a kid. I used to work with my mom. Every spring, we planted flowers in her garden. My mom taught me to love the land. She also taught me to love the things it can produce. Not a single day passes when I'm not amazed by the power of nature.
Reporter: What tools do you use on the job?
Ortega: I use four primary tools to do my job. First, I use a garden shovel to dig small holes. Second, I use a regular shovel to dig big holes. Third, I use a wheelbarrow to move dirt. Fourth, I use shears to cut plants. I use these tools every day, as I need them to do my job. They make it all possible.
Reporter: What is your favorite thing about your job?
Ortega: Working outside, without a doubt. I get to be out in the sun all day long, listening to the birds, feeling the wind against my back, watching the bees buzz from flower to flower. It's pretty great.
Reporter: What is the most important thing about your job?
Ortega: Planning. You must have a good plan before you start work. If you don't have a plan, then you won't know what to do, and you'll most likely end up making mistakes. The hardest mistakes to fix are the ones you notice at the end of the job.
Reporter: Do you ever get tired?
Ortega: Definitely! Landscaping is certainly very tiring. But it's great exercise. Some people go to the gym, but not me. I just spend the day working the land and I am sore the next morning. That's for sure!
Reporter: You have to work all day long. How do you maintain your energy?
Ortega: Well, there are a few ways I maintain my energy. I take breaks. I eat a healthy breakfast and lunch. I don't smoke. And I get a good sleep almost every night.