The Worst Job I Ever Took — And Why I’d Still Do It Again

dantepruden174
Jun 1
3 min read

Updated: Jun 2

“Can you handle this lot and the overgrowth?”

That’s what the municipality asked me.

We were just starting out. The kind of “starting out” where you’re still borrowing equipment from your grandpa, your weed eaters are more plastic than power, and you’re praying nothing breaks — because if it does, you’re screwed.

But I wasn’t about to say no. Back then, municipal jobs were gold, and the idea of turning one down? Felt like turning my back on a golden ticket.

Too Good to Be True… Or Was It?

I got the job through my website — an email offering up to 30 jobs a month, each one paying well over my standard rate. I thought it was a scam. It sat in my inbox for days while I debated whether or not to answer.

Eventually I said screw it — what’s the worst that could happen?

Turned out… it was very real. And it was my first big break.

I told myself, whatever they throw at me, I’ll get it done. No excuses.

Famous last words.

What 5 Feet of Overgrowth Taught Me

The lot was about 4,000 sq. ft. and looked like it hadn’t been touched in years. Weeds taller than my shoulders. Thick, tangled, and wild. I thought I could run a push mower through it.

I was dead wrong.

But I brought backup — my cousins and some co-workers from the fire department.

Brandon on the homeowner-grade John Deere ride-on with the yellow seat — courtesy of Grandpa.

Shylo with a basic weed eater that looked like it came free with a patio set — also courtesy of Grandpa.
Koda, our rover, helping wherever he could.
I had the only commercial weed eater we owned — a tool I had saved every dime for.
And our trusty Yardwork's push mower… which turned into a grass-clogged paperweight within minutes.

The Day Fell Apart — Literally

Nothing was working.

The push mower stalled every few feet.
The homeowner-grade weed eater ate more line than grass.
The commercial trimmer ripped — but I was re-spooling it every 10 minutes (because no one else could figure out how). I became “The Re-Spooler.”
Only Brandon on the John Deere was making any real progress.

Until we heard it.

A loud crash. The belt screaming like a banshee. We looked over and saw Brandon’s face — eyes wide, mouth open, hands frozen on the wheel.

He had driven up a 4-foot piece of buried concrete and rebar.

It shredded the blade. The belt was toast. Our one reliable machine — dead.

We Thought About Quitting

No one would’ve blamed us. But something kicked in — maybe pride, maybe stubbornness. We rotated shifts on the trimmers.

We sweated through 5 hours in the Alberta summer sun, cutting through jungle, dust, and heat stroke. We didn’t walk off the job. We finished. Together as a team.

We came home 3 shades darker, sunburnt, dehydrated, and destroyed — but we got it done.

Beers were on me that night. They earned every one of them.

What That Job Taught Me

Never underestimate a job — especially one that pays well.
Bring better equipment… or bring a damn good team.
Say yes — but know what “yes” will cost you.
Appreciate your crew when they grind with you, even when everything’s stacked against you.

Would I do it again? Honestly — yeah. That day tested us. But it also built us.

What Acres Stands For

Firefighter mentality: No quit, no excuses, just get it done.
Indigenous-owned, Alberta-built: Our roots go deeper than turf.
Family, community, and showing up — even when everything breaks.

Want a Team That Doesn’t Fold When It Gets Tough?

We’ve been through worse. And we’ve come out stronger every time. If you want real results from people who show up and finish the job, even when it’s ugly — we’re your crew.