It's hard to list all the things I've gained. It started with IDs for plants I acquired unlabelled, ideas for plants that might work in my garden, and developed into reading views and information that help me to form my own ideas on wide ranging subjects that go well beyond gardening. It's a place to say 'out loud' things that I find hard to talk about 'in real life', and to get some reassurance that when my garden is not behaving as I'd like that it's OK and a bit of chaos is normal (ref GoS). And in general, some new people to 'talk' to, who are grown up enough to disagree and not go off in a huff. It's invaluable
Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
I'm late to the party so can't do much more than agree with nearly everything others have said. I recognise that I am more than a little obsessive about my garden, so it is great to be able to chat with other people who regard that as normal
My garden is what has kept me going through some difficult years, but it has benefited from things I have learned on here and the plants I grow and how I grow them owe a lot to that.
I love dipping into the Forum on and off through the day to find out what everyone is up to, finding out about some very different gardens and things to think about.
On a more serious note, I read an article recently about the benefits of a social life for good health and it said that good forums could meet this need. Nice to know because my social life is practically non-existant otherwise!
Just really bobbing in to say a massive thank you to everyone for the kindness and patience shown by you all. I have been 'messing around in the garden' for years and literally still learn something new every day!
What a lovely thread @Dovefromabove. I found this forum when I really got back into gardening during lockdown. I had been v.keen before when I lived in Twickenham and created a pretty garden there, as well as having an allotment. They were both on heavy clay and when we moved here to Suffolk I was delighted to find that both the garden and allotment (since given up) were oh-so-easy to work sand. But oh-so-hungry as well! Here, like so many, I and my garden have benefitted from all the excellent advice, not just given to me - but advice to others benefits all of us.
While I can't get out in the garden as much as I'd like to - and nowhere near the level I enjoyed during lockdown (it was kind to us here), this forum keeps me connected and I do like hanging out with everyone in the potting shed!
I dip into the forum from time to time, en passant. I will continue to think about my answer tothis thresd, but in stages.
I'm pleased about all tne human contact and meet-ups that have resulted from the forums,. And here was me concerned about revealing my identity just for seed exchange.
Up to now I thought the typical forum user was older, XX female , saddos, cut off from human contact, time to waste, friendly (to a fault), generous, polite, easily offended, and aiming for 10,000 posts a year. I am revising this.
My needs can be reduce to: concisely answer posters questions helpfully , ditto mine.
When I first started with the forum, ± Aug 2021, I was not made welcome. The established question answerers at the time seemed to resent my intrusion. They objected to my left of field answers and my challenging of establishe authority. Although this was based on practice not theory. More recently critism has been personal, pedantic and has challenged my experience in a negative, unqualified manner..
location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand. "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Posts
“It's still magic even if you know how it's done.”
Here, like so many, I and my garden have benefitted from all the excellent advice, not just given to me - but advice to others benefits all of us.
While I can't get out in the garden as much as I'd like to - and nowhere near the level I enjoyed during lockdown (it was kind to us here), this forum keeps me connected and I do like hanging out with everyone in the potting shed!
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
I dip into the forum from time to time, en passant. I will continue to think about my answer tothis thresd, but in stages.
I'm pleased about all tne human contact and meet-ups that have resulted from the forums,. And here was me concerned about revealing my identity just for seed exchange.
Up to now I thought the typical forum user was older, XX female , saddos, cut off from human contact, time to waste, friendly (to a fault), generous, polite, easily offended, and aiming for 10,000 posts a year. I am revising this.
My needs can be reduce to: concisely answer posters questions helpfully , ditto mine.
When I first started with the forum, ± Aug 2021, I was not made welcome. The established question answerers at the time seemed to resent my intrusion. They objected to my left of field answers and my challenging of establishe authority. Although this was based on practice not theory. More recently critism has been personal, pedantic and has challenged my experience in a negative, unqualified manner..
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
Reported. But what good will it do?
"Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border