Not everyone has the opportunity to have a job they love and consider their hobby.

For Linfield maintenance worker Carol Gallagher she considers herself, “One of the lucky ones who get to do what I love.”

Gallagher has worked for 18 and a half years with Linfield’s maintenance team and has seen the college grow.

“One of the great things about this job is you get to see your results,” Gallagher said.

For Gallagher it is hard to think of any negative aspects related to her job.

“I don’t mind working hard all day … although I don’t really like shoveling snow or the days when it pours … rain gear helps,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher’s background is in horticulture. She worked as a landscaping assistant for a time and has also worked in a retail nursery.

“Gardening was my father’s hobby. I learned a lot of what I know from my father.”

Gallagher’s husband is also a landscape designer.

“Summer and spring are my favorite times of the year.” Gallagher can be seen mowing, blowing leaves, planting and maintaining the campus’s landscape near the academic quad, Walker Hall, the Oak grove and intramural field as well as other spots on campus.

“I try not to annoy people with my leave blower during the day … I try to mow and blow at the right times,” Gallagher said.

One of the more difficult parts of Gallagher’s job can be judging Oregon’s weather.

“The weather is always changing so it can be hard sometimes to figure out when to mow certain areas,” Gallagher said.

Gallagher gets to work with usually one or two student workers during the academic year.

She is assigned one full time student to work with during the summer months.

“I still keep in contact and am friends with past student workers I got to know over the summer.”

Being a part of the college campus atmosphere and feeling its energy is something that keeps Gallagher loving her job.

“I love getting to work with student workers … I feel lucky to be here. I love my job.”

Gallagher also mentioned she enjoys having freedom to maintain her own certain spots of the campus.

“The campus has grown a lot since I first started here. When I first started (as a group) we would all work in the same areas but as the campus grew it became difficult to do that anymore.”

Gallagher is working on designing a new flower garden next to Melrose Hall.

“I really enjoy getting to design and plant the large flower gardens,” Gallagher said. “I like having my own designated areas to work on.”

After working at Linfield for 18 years, Gallagher has a bounty of memories and laughs.

“People have said I could write a book about all the funny things that have happened over the years,” Gallagher said.