New Gardener

I am a beginning gardener who is looking for more experience.  I moved to Asheville in August to begin my schooling at Daoist Traditions School of Classical Chinese medicine.  I am learning about acupuncture and Chinese medicinal herbs.  I have worked in the herb garden we have at school but would like to get more experience gardening.  I would really like to find a job gardening and have put an application in at a few of the gardens I found on the Internet.  Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I could find a job in gardening or good places to start? Thank you.