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Life lessons from your garden?

Hello there,

I wasn't sure where to put this, so bunging it into Problem Solving - hope that's OK. 

I'm a somewhat novice gardener living in the 'burbs of London, seriously at it for only a couple of years now, but becoming ever-more involved and passionate about plants and gardens.

I'm also really interested in having life-enhancing/interesting conversations (day job allows me to have many of these), and enjoy the process of recording and making these available for others to listen to.

The last project in which this happened was called Read Me Something You Love, which as the title has it, I would pop over to someone's home, they'd read me something they love, we'd chat about the poem/story, and then I'd release the results as a lovingly edited podcast. More of that here: http://readmesomethingyoulove.com/

I'm now planning a new project around gardens, which I'd really love if you might become involved in some way. My idea is that of an audio-visual version of the Guardian's How Does Your Garden Grow, but with an emphasis on Life Lessons you've learnt from your garden and gardening in general. 

What I would do, if you'd like to be involved in the project, is come and visit your garden/allotment/balcony and take lots of photographs of it, as well as interview you as an audio recording about the garden, and what part the garden plays in your life.

You don’t necessarily have to have any solemn and momentous “Life Lessons” to impart from the offset, so please don't feel weighted down by the title.Something interesting always comes up in the process of chatting about our gardens, I find. Here's an example of some life lessons that came out of a chat I had with Elayne and Jim recently about their garden: 

http://gardenlife.stevewasserman.co.uk/?p=775

I’ll be doing most of these recordings in and near London, but also happy to travel further afield too. Any season is fine for this, as I'll be doing the project throughout the next year or two.

My email for any queries, suggestions, or invites to visit your garden and have a chat is stevewasserman AT gmail.com.

I really hope this is something that might capture your imagination and you'd be happy to participate. The taping + interview shouldn't take longer than an hour and would occur at a time that suits you best. 

Warm wishes

Steve

 

Posts

  • That's a really good point pansyface. 

    I guess the fact that I have given my real name, which you can google, and that I have a responsible and ethically-binding job as a psychotherapist which abides by a set of very tight standards in terms of moral accountability might swing it for me image.

    One might equally wonder why one would invite a journalist, a BT electrician, or even a builder into one's home, but we all do. I suppose it also depends on the level of basic trust we have in our fellow human beings.

    Thank you for getting me to clarify this pansyface.

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,617
    One of the things I've learnt, is if I dont take a phone with me into the garden, I dont get interrupted by all those annoying men claiming my computer is faulty.

    Also if I'm really annoyed at something, taking a sharp pair of secateurs and chopping the heads off of something is very therapeutic. For big annoyances, like Anglian windows, loppers and leather gauntlets are useful.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    You've summed that up nicely pansyface and fidget...as always...image

    I'm also sensing a note of advertising here, or am I just an old cynic ...image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,445

    As one old cynic to another. Yes Fairyimage



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    You learn enough life lessons along the way, why broadcast it to all and sundry.
    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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