I could really use a gardening pep talk
Ang NC_7B
10 months ago
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I need a pep talk
Comments (23)Hi Three, I know your pain!!! All too well actually! But I concur with just about everyone else who has posted, gardens are perpetual works in progress with good days, bad days, good years, bad years and of course none of us post the ugly pics ;) One wise gardener on Gardenweb (actually she answered me on the organic forum when *I* was feeling hopeless) gently reminded me that the main reason I garden is for the journey, not the destination. Might sound corny to some but I think many on here understand what she meant. I know she nailed it for me! Keep your chin up and know you aren't alone. We've all been there and I'm sure we'll all end up there again, at least for a moment or two but it will pass. Its a cyclical thing;) But isn't it nice to know you can come here and share the good, the beautiful, the bad and the ugly? Michelle...See MoreI need a pep talk.
Comments (19)Well I guess by now you can see that you are not alone in thinking on giving it up. I too have the same problems, stink bugs, squash vine borers, whiteflies, squirrels, hot dry or hot humid stinkin weather. At times I can't bring myself to go outside in this stuff and do the gardening chores that are required. Every year I say I'm giving it up and buying from the farmer's market. But every year come February I start seeding. Why? It's not so much as the reaping as the love of gardening and the challenges that come with it. Every year it's a new challenge but every year there are a few successes. I keep asking myself what did I do right on the few successes that I didn't on the failures. After thinking about this in detail I came up with this answer....NOTHING! In our climate we are at the mercy of nature. Like the weather nothing is predictable in the garden...except one thing....I will do it again next year because it's the love of gardening and the hope that this will be the year that it will be a success. If you garden for any other reason (production, making money, bragging rights, etc.) you may want to consider giving it up. Look around Atlanta area, do you see any tomato, pepper, or any other major commercial vegetable farms? Most of the major production is done further south where they start earlier before the bugs begin and also plant later after the bugs are gone not to mention the use of agricultural pesticides and irrigation. Don't be discourage...just keep in mind that nothing is perfect when it comes to gardening and there is no secret, just the right conditions coming together at the right time...Good luck... gardening is as much for the soul as it is for taste!...See MoreAnyone care to give me a pep talk?
Comments (20)My happiest day was when dh installed the sink and dishwasher temporarily. Unfortunately, it looks like it's going to STAY that way. Ugh. Cabinets are still being installed, no counters, no fronts, etc. I can't believe how much cooking I've done with my pantry items on the living room floor, using the dining table as a worktop, etc. There are tools everywhere and some days it's just maddening. Right now I should be cooking and I don't. feel. like. it. Is it happy hour yet? You are in a tough place. You need that kitchen sink and dishwasher! Along the lines of Jadie's comment, I've lit a fire under dh's behind a few times when I have enthusiastically embraced projects that he KNOWS he'd do a better job at than I would. Suddenly he is VERY motivated. You know, it's never a good time to renovate. We've been in completely disarray since March 3. But who's counting?...See MoreI need a pep talk.
Comments (23)You guys are all wonderful. You enthusiasm is catching. I'm going to head back to BM tomorrow and get some samples of some of your suggestions. I'm a blue person. I can't seem to get away from it! I love all shades of blue. But I would like to think I could try something different and love it. Thank you for your lovely compliments about the paneling. 26 years ago we had a house fire here. We had loving restored this home on a young couple budget, raising 3 children, which means very little money!!so we started over in our early 30's putting our home back together again. When we got to our bedroom my husband said "what do you want for paneling in here?" I took a piece of chalk and drew on the sheathing boards the design I wanted and he built it for me! He even built the doors. Every board is hand planed,it was built in the room in one piece and stood up. Not one single nail holding it all together. I love this little house....See MoreCadence Nickelby
10 months agoBlue Mountain Girl Zone 7a Va
10 months agorosecanadian
10 months agoAng NC_7B
10 months agoKatie Zone 6b/7a NC Mountains
10 months agoUser
10 months agolast modified: 10 months agoIowa Blooms z 5
10 months agorosecanadian
10 months agoKrystalW 9b SoCal
10 months agolast modified: 10 months agoSteve_M in PA
10 months agojim1961 / Central Pennsylvania / Zone 6
10 months ago
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Moses, Pittsburgh, W. PA., zone 5/6, USA