So how did they make a living? Who paid them?
Weren't they self employed sleuths?
I see they were roommates too but how did they make money? I mean how realistic it was for the people they gardened for gave them room and board, idk
They made their living by taking on various gardening jobs. They either stayed at a place provided by the person that hired them or they would stay at a local hotel. They usually stumbled upon the sleuthing while doing their actual job of gardening.
I've got a jar of dirt!!
I agree with above response. Also, Rosemary was a professor before she was terminated. With no spouse or children, I'd like to think she saved a bit of that money. Laura was separated, pending divorce, so I assume she received some kind of alimony after 27 years marriage.
shareThey also comment often about how they are struggling financially. (They buy the tent to save on B&B costs while on a job. They took the job working for the tv program due to 'hunger.')
But they are, presumably, well paid for the jobs they take on -- they aren't just random gardeners; they diagnose and treat sick plants, and design/restore gardens.
Added to what mjd_subs2 has already enumerated, in the third or fourth episode, Laura's son brings her the deed to the house which both she and her husband have to sign in order to take advantage of a offer. That means they split ownership of the house and after 27 years of marriage, they probably have considerable equity invested in it.
Laura gets her share of that, too.