In the Garden Online - Comments

carolyn: The Problem With Gardening

nospam@example.com (carolyn) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 14:09:16 -0700

Doug - I too am experiementing w/ whether I can make the commitment of garden tweeting. As a landscape designer in my early 30s, I'm starting to have clients close to my own age, and yes, we're all busy and interested in controlling the content that comes in. But I'm hopeful, b/c like Suzy, I've been installing a lot of little vegetable plots and edible perennials, berries, etc. tucked into otherwise ornamental, keep-up-w/-the-Joneses type gardens. Even busy young parents want a little corner of earth to care for themselves, and even more so now that their budgets are more challenging. Curious whether the economy will actually cause a return to gardening w/ more time at home and the realization that home-grown is cheaper, safer, and tastier.

Anne: Gifts for the Gardener---Are They Kidding??

nospam@example.com (Anne) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:35:50 -0700

I'm with you. If someone decided to spend a grand on a piece of jewelry like this (which I can't imagine anyone I know doing), I would have to have a serious chat with them about my priorities. I can't even imagine all the garden stuff and plants I could get for that much money!

joey: The Problem With Gardening

nospam@example.com (joey) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 00:58:56 -0700

Interesting post, Colleen! I find that my children, now grown, want to garden but time becomes an issue as Nancy stated above. I have helped design their gardens, carefree as possible ... joy looking out of each window. My goal is not only to get this 'time crunched' market not only into the garden but back into the kitchen ... it takes 30 minutes to order take out yet that 30 minutes can be productively spent handling and communicating preparing simple healthy food. I don't know what the answer is because 'I' barely have time to watch TV or read! Retiring 'Baby boomers' are maybe the nitch ... plenty of us realize what a wonderful hobby gardening is for not only feeding the soul but our aging bodies ... much more rewarding than walking on an inside treadmill. Perhaps showing by example ... I know this somewhat works when 'the kids' visit and try to emulate, encouraging me to join facebook to show off the garden, photos, and share recipes. The feedback from them is amazing since I know they want to be part of 'the gracious way of living' but again, it seems to be the issue of time. Regarding marketing, it's all about the mighty $$$ and our inploding economy!

Mary Schier: Wordy Wednesday--Essential Reading for Writers

nospam@example.com (Mary Schier) — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 18:36:25 -0700

Good list. I haven't read your No. 1 and 2 books, but the ones you list as 5, 4, and 3 are among my favorites. If you like a directed approach to writing, try to find "A Writer's Time" (Kenneth Atchity) on a used book site or in a store. It's the one writing book I have that is completely filled with underlining and my own notes.

Curtis: The Problem With Gardening

nospam@example.com (Curtis) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:03:32 -0700

Great Post Colleen, I have sent emails to hGtv over the years about their station not having many gardening shows in it. To no response. Gardening shows are few on tv but it good to see folks doing gardening videos online.

Colleen Vanderlinden: The Problem With Gardening

nospam@example.com (Colleen Vanderlinden) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:36:39 -0700

Hi OldRoses!

Exactly! It's all about reaching them where they are. When we started, TV, newspapers, and magazines were the norm. That's just not the way it is anymore

Thanks for stopping by!

Colleen Vanderlinden: The Problem With Gardening

nospam@example.com (Colleen Vanderlinden) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:34:58 -0700

Thanks for the response, Doug. I was trying to remember who did garden podcasts already---I'm glad to hear that your experience with podcasting has been a positive one. The money part is always the issue in the end, isn't it? Our advantage is that we have the ability to self-produce and broadcast our "shows" without waiting for some network bigwig or sponsor to give the OK. I have to believe that, eventually, the money will follow. Keep up the good fight!

Doug Green: The Problem With Gardening

nospam@example.com (Doug Green) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 10:26:09 -0700

Great post and response Colleen. The numbers I'm seeing in response to the videos I do are encouraging enough to continue (and indeed expand) on this. I"m also chatting with some 30-something gardeners on a regular basis right now and they do indeed look at the world in a different way. Give it to me quick - give it to me fast and to the point - my way - my time - my technology. The only problem of course is figuring out a way to actually deliver this material and make money doing it. (a trifling problem I'm sure)

Chookie: The Problem With Gardening

nospam@example.com (Chookie) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:48:56 -0700

You have forgotten another element. Gardening is doing all right in Australia thanks to some really strong and able personalities, one of whom is Jamie Durie. Jamie Durie gets a lot of viewers, particularly female ones -- you might catch him on The Victory Garden on PBS to see why! So all we need is a few more sexy people involved in gardening, and it'll all come up roses...

OldRoses: The Problem With Gardening

nospam@example.com (OldRoses) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 18:12:17 -0700

Great insights! I agree that the best way to reach a tech savvy generation is right where they live: on the internet using the tools (podcasts, microblogs) that they use. I'm quite sure that if something interests them enough, like gardening, they will find time to do it. Haven't we?