How could the internet/social networking/technology help more people to plant gardens of their own?

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Permalink Reply by Michelle Becker on April 2, 2009 at 12:53pm

Lesser Goldfinches? Don't tell them that.

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Permalink Reply by Katy Nicolich on February 14, 2009 at 3:19pm

Here's an idea: KGI/Internet could promote home gardening by helping gardeners find each other and form local KGI clubs. There are lots of would-be gardeners who are inexperienced, intimidated and short on time. There are also lots of experienced gardeners with know-how and willingness to share information. By working together in each other's gardens, beginners and old hands (and anybody else who wants to join it) could share the knowledge, labor, garden space, costs, harvest and fun!!

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Permalink Reply by Phillip on February 14, 2009 at 3:32pm

Local chapters are a good idea, however there are locations like mine that have so few resources a local chapter would be maybe three people. There are only 230 people my town and 1300 within 10 miles either way. As someone else pointed out the dispersion of people is significant in some areas.

This information does not shoot down your idea. I thought that was a good idea back when I joined and the list was less than 200 members. I mentioned the population and rural development so that there can be several programs considered. Local chapters will be just the thing for some areas, others will need a different approach.

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Permalink Reply by Pema on February 14, 2009 at 4:16pm

I am a newbie gardener and live in Maui, HI at sea level. I am lucky to have a neighbor with some gardening experience however she is the "rows in the dirt" type of gardener. I am attempting square foot raised bed style a la Mel Bartholomew. I love the idea of local KGI chapters; even if there were only 3 people. The thing I run up against is most references in books and on-line give growing charts and info that doesn't apply here where I don't get frost or have any real seasons so I love Phillips idea of an on-line reference about planting what/when that could include both hot and cool (ocean vs mountain) Hawaii. So far I'm finding this gardening thingto be a great experiment and am so grateful that I found KGI, especially since I do work and have limited time to be on-line.

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Permalink Reply by John Walker on February 16, 2009 at 8:29am

That's what we did with kgb.
Its slow progress
see edible gardening series at The Arboretum
http://www.ca.uky.edu/arboretum/cal_events.php
pax
John

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Permalink Reply by Katherine Turcotte on February 14, 2009 at 9:20pm

You all have many many good ideas here! I feel that reviving the Victory Garden as in Roger's Eat the View has put things off to a grand start- and if it does put a garden on the grounds of the White House I do feel it will cause a revival of home and community gardening.
I also feel that people should become aware that gardening does not necessarily mean we have to run out and buy fancy named plants/vegetables but should become familiar with what plants are native to your particular area. Also, I think people need to be reconnected to 'weeds' - not to say we should be encouraging crab grass - but there are useful plants already growing in our yards/property that are nutritious - chickweed, nettles, mullein, wild berries such as wineberries, wild blackberries. With native plants we are also helping to balance the ecosystem. Educate people in the uses of backyard weeds - teach them the medicinal properties of herbs.
Education - this is key - people need to know which plants are endangered and learn how they can help. There are so many organizations out there that it can seem overwhelming - but I feel that by offering free talks at local Senior Citizens centers, or the local library - the local garden club - start a KGI garden group - a great great idea.
Try to see if you can get others in your neighborhood to start a community garden. I think we need to take on some of the responsibility as well as our local government.
Kathy of the Enchanted Wood

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Permalink Reply by Phillip on February 14, 2009 at 9:54pm

Katherine:
Glad to hear from you again. I am a BIG proponent of the Victory Garden. I do agree with you, though we need to come up with some other answers, regarding the weeds as you put it. The idea of total eradication for weeds or pests was from the fire hazards in many areas. Whole towns have been wiped off the map due to fire and dry weeds. The education that I think needs to occur is "control" or manage vs gone forever. The concept of eradication stops many a would be gardener from starting. Like pain managment, get the problem down to a tolerable level, gone totally is not an achievable goal. Along the same thought is size of project. Beginning gardeners will start if they sense success that will make a difference without total life overhaul. Along your lines of thought perhaps teaching the beginner to grow their own herbs. Spices and herbs are the most expensive items on the shelf (per pound) and yet some of the easier plants to grow. Teaching little steps to grow into big steps. I feed my family of eight salads and vegetables that I grow year around, some outside some in my greenhouse. That did not happen overnight as you are well aware, but if we can get them started somewhere who know when it will end if it does end at all.

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Permalink Reply by Penelope on February 15, 2009 at 9:11am

I send seed packets to my grandchildren. Free seeds to kids in schools may get many of them started on a lifelong pursuit of green and sustainability.

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Permalink Reply by Chris Bocchino on February 15, 2009 at 2:21pm

I agree with penelope about trying to get free seeds to schools. Getting kids involved I think is the key to this issue. I am starting by having my sons boyscout troup over to my house to help in my garden. This way I can show them how to prep the soil, sow the seeds, ect. I am also planning on giving all the kids a jiffy pot with a seed in it for them to take home and watch it grow. I think I am going to have a contest to see what child can produce the most harvest or who has the biggest plant and have a prize for the winner(s). This way I can tap into the competitive nature that children have but doing so with vegetables. I am hoping I can get all the parents on board with this idea...........Chris

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Permalink Reply by Phillip on February 15, 2009 at 2:43pm

As a former Scoutmaster-Cubmaster-Campmaster and council committee member -- Horay! This is great! you might want to sign up with the troop or council as a merit badge counselor. I have been out of scouting for a few years, and I am not sure if they still have skill awards, but there was a skill award of the environment and community gardens was one part of earning that award. Suggestion: Make a special award like a tree planted at school with the patrol name on a small sign, for the patrol that brings back the most sucessful pots with plants. What you do in particular is not important, it is working with the troop and getting a patrol competition going. Don't forget 4H groups, Girlscouts, and homeschool clubs.

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Permalink Reply by Penelope on February 15, 2009 at 3:46pm

Let's see: electronic media --> to soil
print media --> to soil
human mentors --> to soil

We can't distribute electronic messages to people who don't own computers, etc. But we can spread words to key people who can give out hard copies of garden plans, advice, seeds, etc. Teach like John (the Welsh guy) what's-his-name does in Kentucky at the library . . -

Contact our local libraries perhaps and suggest they suggest the KGI and other garden sites to people seeking garden advice/books/magazines when people come in to use the computers/Internet.

Personally, I love photos of gardens of all kinds, in books or on the net or in people's private collections. I've always found them inspirational, as inspirational as the Celestial Seasonings initial visual ad campaign/package art design. Beautiful Posters???

I remember being profoundly inspired by a photograph in Life Magazine a million years ago of a wooden bowl full of various kinds of home made, whole grain breads -- it made me want to produce as much healthy food on my own for my kids as possible, and luckily we raised wheat and barleyand oats at the time and hand/personal grain grinders were just being marketed. I still have my hand grinder. I paid $10 for it circa 1972, and it came from south america. I used the photograph on the cover of a scrapbook I kept of recipes and ideas which has somehow disappeared over the years, not surprising since I was forced to move 12 times in 12 years. Exhausting transitional period.

Gardeners are in my experience probably visually inspired and hands on types. Those of us who are too philosophical tend to let the weeds take over :-).

So we're talking about translating highly sophisticated electronic media into healthy productive dirt/soil/compost/plants/food.

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Permalink Reply by Phillip on February 15, 2009 at 4:36pm

You do bring up a good point. Most internet businesses have had to find someway to direct the customer to their site, and print or broadcast media has by default become the access point of choice. I do believe that beginner advice and files like "How to start a seed indoors" or "making a rooted cutting" or any subject that a beginner would want to know in a searchable index (sort of like a help file) and open access to anyone that signs up with KGI. Using your poster or photograph ideas, and some sort of catch phrase like "Want low cost healthy food from property you already have?" go to www.KGI and then the main sign up page appears, which will open the index, to the world of gardening. Each indexed subject could post the avatar or photo of the author like the KGI list does (encouraging more authors) and the newbie can navigate on into the vortex of gardening. Did I say vortex? I mean universe of wonderful botanical paradise.
Has anyone thought of our own KGI repackaged and labeled seeds? Many companies will sell seeds under a private label that can be sold as is or inserted in a greeting card, "Growing a great friendship" and it is a flower seed pack or vegetable seeds. The front can have a KGI header and web site information. Members can buy them to support the site and give away a nice gift as well. Which would bring more visitors to the knowledge base index, and into KGI and on and on. If Roger or anyone else is interested I can help. I am a graphic designer of 20+ years.
Good ideas Penelope!

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