Landscaper Ras John – enhancing the beauty of SVG

His mother named him Edroy Aster, but he has long been known simply as Ras John.

The aster is a Chinese flower “so it come like my mom already knew from small … I was going to be a landscaper, so she gave me the right name,” Ras John says with a chuckle.

John, a resident of upper Lowmans Windward, speaks of his days growing up in “a community where my mom and my dad were doing farming, and we going to church, and the Almighty tell you about the Garden of Eden and how important the Garden of Eden was.”

He figures that where beauty is concerned, this country “could be a Garden of Eden, but we have to take care of it, because the Almighty already give us the inspiration to take care of the earth.”

Ras John is therefore doing his bit to enhance the beauty of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) through his work as a landscaper/gardener, an occupation to which he is passionately committed.

The start was a bit of a struggle, landing only a few small jobs, until he did some work for a member of the legal profession.

Ras John explains how he “[threw] off a real creative piece of landscaping with waterfall, bridge, and turned a swamp into a nice lawn” that earned him commendation from the owner, who motivated him to do more with his business, given his level of creativity.

That boost came almost 20 years ago and Ras John’s creative genius has since worked its own magic at a number of private residences and businesses, as well as public spaces on the mainland and in the Grenadines.

Here is a man who practises what he preaches. His front yard is a garden of vibrant, luscious blooms – including the aster flower – overlooked by a handful of caged budgies, and colourful fish in the small stream, fed by the artificial waterfall which Ras John created.

Nearby, a nursery houses a variety of flowering plants, ferns, palms and shrubs, which are used on the various sites where Ras John and his six full-time employees do landscaping jobs.  

Large plants, including palms, are kept at another location on four acres of land. Clients may purchase plants, top soil or compost from Ras John’s Creative Gardening business.

While noting that the current economic situation may be a limiting factor for some persons who may desire to have a professional landscaping job done, Ras John nevertheless acknowledges that business for him has not been bad.

“Because of my performance, a lot of people who have … nice houses and want to see their yard look nice, they will call me because I am reasonable; I am not an expensive guy to work with.”

Charges can begin as low as $300 and climb, depending on the client’s needs.

In the Best of SVG 2017 awards, Ras John’s work was applauded by the public who voted him Best Landscaper/Gardener.

He’s as happy being named top man in landscaping as he is when he sees that clients are putting in the effort to take care of the landscaping projects he has carried out for them.

“When I picture how far we come from and where we get to, I am so proud; that was a very nice thing to win the award,” Ras John tells SEARCHLIGHT.

And it all goes right back to his vision of the country.

“I like to see my country come better and better. I want to see St Vincent be the best place in the Caribbean; we have the potential.”

Ras John can be contacted at telephone: 531-3511 or at cgal_83@yahoo.com