I'm not going to learn anything potting pansys. I'll learn something working with mandragora, or devils snare.

At least putting together a watering system, I can use my engineering knowledge in a practical way. Other than tinkering with bits of car engine that I can only be sure that work when I get home to use them.

Because let's face it. your system is old, and only being kept together with magic in in places, probably. And here's me, offering a free service to get it up to date and in better working order than you currently have. Who would turn that down?