Similar to ccp gardener. I was four or five, (1944/45) when I began gardening, if you can call it that. Helping or hindering my Dad to lift the spuds. During the years that followed, I work the allotment the size of a football pitch, all work done by hand, no machinery.
My career as a traffic cop ended suddenly due to ill-health.I joined the then London County Council's parks dept, having passed the medical A1 !!!????. Five years later I left having gained my exams including the groundsman one all with 1St class passes. During the time spent with the LCC now the GLC I had risen to Deputy. Park Supt. HM Gov. had decided to scrap the GLC and to hand over to the local boroughs all the parks and gardens. There was no guarantee that I nor my staff would have safe employment. I left.
My new employer was the Civil Service/MOD. I was given a free hand. The job offered security, which proved invaluable later on. The salary was poor, but I enjoyed my work and did some lecturing and advising (gratis).
I mentioned security. This proved a life saver. 1984 The government decided my job could go. I left under a medical retirement. Since then I have received my full pension plus a bit of government benefit, for the condition of. Gross Degenerative disease of the spine.
So back to the original question.
IMO. Books are beneficial for learning in part, the valid experience of others. To-date the advent of the Internet has been of great benefit'
My present qualifications are. Non horticultural. I read medicine for three years. I studied and can practice homeopathy. I am in addition to the aforementioned. A plant pathologist. A member of the British Society of Plant Pathology. A Fellow of the RHS since 1958. A Fellow of the Linnean Socy' London. A Member of the Royal Microscopical Society and the European Microscopical Socy;
That is why I said "sometimes" 
