5 Things Gardeners Need to Do More and 5 Things Gardeners Need to Do Less

[@cynbdavis4243]

Luke it’s as if you heard me as I watched an online gardening course I purchased! The master gardener gave tips that were more preferences than recommendations. At times saying “don’t waste your time”. Gardening, as I realized after my first season, is about “wasting time” relaxing and enjoying yourself as you learn, winning and losing, and taking risks. Every failure is a lesson. I won’t say I didn’t learn anything from this course because I definitely did and I also learned that I don’t want to become that person.

[@theelpydimension]

Amen! I'm preaching the same, every failure, a lesson. Heck yeah!

[@annal3708]

👍👍😄☺️

[@amyashcraft98]

My 19 year old nephew and my brother both planted gardens in totally unprepared dirt. They did not fertilize, spray for pests or weed anything they looked like huge weed patches. The amount of produce they got was crazy they were bringing me tomatoes by the buckets and of course I made salsa and canned it. I thought it was great to see them get in the garden and just have fun .

[@annakaricole9368]

I am horrible at keeping weeds out, and I let random tomatoes and sunflowers grow all over my yard... not everyone is happy with me, but it's just me, and I am not very young anymore, so it's a lot of work with my life (caregiver). So, I feel like the goal is to get food, contribute to better quality of plants in the local area... and be happy.... and I totally get the crazy weeds problem. LOL It's the whole "you do you" thing the kids say these days. :)

[@sandy-rr1by]

@@annakaricole9368 my most successful plant is one i stuck in a small pot on front porch in case someone wanted it. it has sprawled so big that people walking by think i have an exotic plant!!! IT'S A TOMATO PLANT!!!!! HAAAA

[@cielrobinson]

one of my high school buddies replied to a post i made trying to share my excess a couple months back. they picked up a ton of cucumbers, kale, and rainbow chard that i had more of than i could use. they used it in the "food not bombs" program that serves hot, healthy meals downtown for the considerable homeless population here. i asked them to send pictures, and it was so gratifying to see my chard made into a part of a meal, a side of colorful stir fry helping get those who may need it most get those quality nutrients grown by my hand. hoping i can share some tomato sauce with them once we're done with our tomatoes for the year.

[@nocollarcrypto8851]

Back in february and march, when so many had their heads buried in the sand, me and my 10 year old son were digging garden beds, amending soil, ordering a chicken coop, putting up poultry fencing, buying seeds, etc. We slowly put together our first garden complete with laying hens. Yes we had struggles and failures, but we grew so many green beans and tomatoes that we had to learn to store them long term. And the journey continues. We build small raised beds with pallet wood, build a large raised bed with lumber and planter blocks, and now we also grow microgreens and even have winter wheat started. MI gardner channel helped us numerous times along the way. I feel like it was years ago when we started, and year 1 isnt even over yet. Thanks for your videos Luke. That’s my son’s name too. 🤘🏼

[@bananaboat805]

Start small: small problems from small projects lead to big lessons for large ones I started trying to take care of a $5 basil plant from the grocery store back in May. Didn't re-pot, just obsessed over trying to get the hang of watering. Was great for a while, but it got all woody, tall and sickly. (wasn't even aware of pruning) Then I graduated to a 20"x24" mini resin bed on wheels ($35 with dirt) in June (which apparently was the worst time to start growing in FL...smh) Let me tell you, I did EVERYTHING wrong, but I kept with it because I needed an excuse to be alone away from the family (whom I love, but come on) I now have a thriving-ish raised bed made from our old fence that a tornado blew down last year, a makeshift compost bin, and a half a dozen old containers that I saved from my dad's trash one day (dirt+fertilizer ~$80) It's not exactly easy to start from scratch, but even the lessons are addictive. I love that, aside from the plastic on the bags of dirt that I had to haul in, this hobby has no waste. Heck, even my mistakes/screw ups get tossed in the compost to turn into plant food. This time last year I had such a black thumb that I had corpses of dehydrated succulents sitting less than 12in from a sink. You can do it! Just start somewhere, anywhere!

[@theelpydimension]

I hear you! I do have a tendency to point out what I did wrong this year and what went wrong, but what a longer conversation will reveal is that even as I lost I GAINED SO MUCH knowledge and experience. So everything that happened in the garden this year was awesome. I found a tomato hornworm with parasitic wasp eggs on it (and some without, lol). I lost squash plants that were super promising to squash vine borer but I learned what to look out for and the importance of not procrastinating too much. I learned about what I liked growing and what I might prefer or like to try. I overplanted but I got so much and I learned that if you want to plant tomatoes closer than you're "supposed to", do prune them (assuming their indeterminate). I could go on but you get the gist. Oh wait and one of the coolest discoveries has been just how much I can grow in winter in the Midwest!

[@peterturner1582]

Tremendous advice.

[@amandavhb1630]

I am with you. Every house plant, succulent, and cactus I ever had died. But something about herbs and garden vegetables! I love it! I had a lot of errors this year but getting there little by little!

[@quincycuthbert5408]

I find gardening helped my anxiety. I love how resilent these veggies are even when I give them no love. I just found a new plant full of peppers. I didnt take care of it because I didnt know it was there and it blessed me anyway.

[@theelpydimension]

That's awesome. Anxiety can be a real struggle, it's beautiful to find relief and help. The garden is an amazing space to create good mental health. Props to you!

[@HigherInfluence]

Luke, this was my first year with a vegetable garden and it was a huge success in part to watching your (and others) videos. It was such a pleasure and everyone has benefited from my excess fruits and veg. I can't believe how successful and easy it was. The few failures I had has helped me for next season.

[@hillbillyhomestead1966]

You will always be learning im still

[@HigherInfluence]

@@hillbillyhomestead1966 We are so fortunate today because of all the learning resources we have out our disposal. I recall I became frustrated as a child trying to find out gardening info because I only had one small book and no internet. Now there is no excuse.

[@hillbillyhomestead1966]

@@HigherInfluence exactly only books when we grew up but its so awesome to keep on learning im a auto mechanic by trade but I love learning more and more

[@HigherInfluence]

Chris Rigos : Okay I’m going to brag a little. Started the season with nothing, very little knowledge no garden, i’m now starting to think about the winding down process for the season because i live in Canada. Some of the things i learned and did in this first year: built 3 massive raised beds, grew 4 varieties of tomatoes that produced approx 20 beautiful tomatoes a day at peek, grew rhubarb, beans, peppers, 3 varieties of lettuce, carrot, strawberries, watermelon, basal, herbs, beets, lemongrass, raspberries, blackberries, huge sunflowers, avocado tree from seed, mandarin tree from seed, lemon tree from seed and a bunch more. Prior to this year i knew almost nothing about gardening, thanks mainly to the youtube platform I learned so much and it was so much fun. Can’t wait until next April to get seeds started again.

[@WaffleNova]

Same!

[@oldsoul8265]

Doubled my garden size to 150 square feet this year and fenced it in. No lost plants to critters! I am also eating more veggies now than ever before (still working on that) and was able to share some peppers and tomatoes with some coworkers. Tried out a few new plants this year too. One of my most enjoyable years in the dirt ❤️

[@hillbillyhomestead1966]

Awesome 👌

[@MIgardener]

That is awesome!!! Congrats!

[@carolhamilton5164]

A pleasant surprise i had this year is that I took slips off my purchased sweet potatoes. I thought maybe they will grow. I put them in about an 8 inch pot in a window and they started growing. When the weather was good I took the pot dug a spot in my raised bed and put the contents of that pot in. I had beautiful sweet potato vines spreading outside the bed. I looked at the the center the other day and had sweet potatoes poping out. This was planted in one square foot or less other than the sprawling vines. I dug enough sweet potatoes to fill my old refrigerator deli tray (probably 12"x15"). All from about 4 or five sprouts on potatoes we had with a meal one day. So thrilled! the only thing I did was water that bed where I also got three broccoli rabe plants, some scarlet kale, a perennial petunia and a huge zinnia plant a volunteer tomato and pepper all in half of a 4x4x8inch deep bed.

[@mauryhill2552]

I am trying to grow sweet potatoes the same way! We have a lot of voles and moles and desert rats eating root veggies from beneath. I’ve got beautiful vines, too; but I’m pretty sure I used a too small pot. Thanks for your idea to transplant them...I never would have tried it (assuming any growth would stop in that process). But trying is learning, right?

[@augustrain5500]

Luke. Thank you so much for teaching me how to make and plant a garden in raised beds. Had been an in-ground gardener for years. The raised beds were so easy and so productive too! Not to mention no weeding! I encourage everyone to try this type of gardening. Nothing like home grown fruits and veggies! Thanks for taking the time to make all of your great videos! 👏👏❤️

[@janetobermann157]

Important discussion. Thank you! I grew a small, raised bed garden this year. Loved eating my own “home grown” cucumbers, tomatoes, peas, cabbage, and tons of basil!! I also planted 2 ground cherries plants in a little used area of my yard. They are amazing!! I’ve loved your videos, as well as others. Thank you so much for the inspiration and encouragement!

[@myconfusedmerriment]

I started working from home when the pandemic hit in March, and I had my biggest garden ever this year. It was really great for me physically and mentally to have that to work on, and I love having my own produce and enough left over to give away/donate. I've shared my successes on facebook, and noticed a lot of people who were complimenting me, but kind of getting down on themselves, like "wow you've got such a green thumb!! I only have a couple of plants/all my plants are dying!!" And I just want to tell them, that's okay!!! I've killed a lot of plants, lol!! I happened to be home with extra time on my hands and spent nearly every evening all summer doing something in the garden. I think people tend to get caught up comparing themselves to other gardeners, but not everybody has the time to take care of a big garden, and there's a lot to learn! I learn so much every season. Any size garden is fantastic, and your garden doesn't have to look like anyone else's. I do share this channel a lot, because it's a fantastic resource. Thank you Luke for all the content you make!! You are so positive and generous with your knowledge. :)

[@trishthehomesteader9873]

LOVE your user name! Thanks for the smile! 😁

[@corymercsak1754]

As a fellow Great Lakes area gardener I appreciate your insight, creativity, ingenuity, inspiration, positivity, and passion. Keep up the good fight and know that we appreciate what you do and that you make a difference. Thank you for your videos and assisting our gardens.

[@Minnesota_Mama_Bear]

Thank for bringing this up. I am on my 3rd year of gardening & I'm not all in on it. I'm just trying. I know very little about horticulture. I want to grow, but I don't have a lot of time or money. I use the term "experiment" with my husband when he's negative about my outcomes. I learn what works for me by experimenting. I love your information here. I constantly fight the negativity that creeps in to my head. That's an even harder battle when others are picking out your failures. Invasive plants are getting to be worse & worse. We never had wild cucumber in our area until about 3 years ago. Now it's all over & I see it choking out many evergreen type trees in farm groves. It's sad. Thank you again for this positive message. Love & Light

[@sarinhthach1251]

HI Mama Bear, you can only do your best and keep trying. To be honest I been gardening for about 10 years now, always doing and learning as I go and learn from my failing each season. After all these years I still fail a lot of time in my garden, but it's good as this keep me to learn more what go wrong and what I can do better.

[@susandowney7634]

Hello Luke. I want to thank you for getting me back into gardening. Last fall I watched one of your videos. Then started watching all of your MI Gardener videos over the years. I have learned so much. This past spring we built 3 raised beds. I had years of multi bins & chicken wire bins of composted veg & leaves. I had such wonderful results with core gardening. After seeing yours i also in August 2 fire rings & planted seeds for fall vegetables. THANK YOU so very much as your videos really encouraged me to get back into gardening with wonderful results. I'm going to also try to start a worm bin. Love to you & Mrs MI Gardener & your sweet daughter. I also ordered trifecter plus my plants took off. Your staff were so pleasant to deal with. Keep making videos. I encourage friends & family to watch your videos also.

[@theelpydimension]

Heck yeah congrats, that's a beautiful story. 😁 Luke's channel wasn't the first that got me going on a worm bin but I think the second and I'm hooked!

[@nanigoose]

My success this year ranges from humongous nasturtium plants that are currently taking over the beds. Then I had bumper crops of Russian kale and Swiss chard, both which we eat and feed to the chickens. My Amish paste tomatoes had a rough start but are still producing. Finally, my two zinnia beds attracted pollinators that visited my veggies throughout the summer. I did have some failures which I made note in my gardening journal for changes next year. In all, I raised delicious food and loved being in my gardens! Thanks Luke for all the good advice.

[@blackpackhomesteadchrisand7337]

You sound like you have some happy chickens.

[@nanigoose]

@@blackpackhomesteadchrisand7337 They are very happy hens!

[@blackpackhomesteadchrisand7337]

@@nanigoose Good scraps make for good eggs. Blessings.

[@that_auntceleste5848]

That's wonderful! For me the winners this year were butternut squash and bush beans. Plus more okra and habaneros than I know what to do with!

[@traciperkins637]

Luke, thanks so much for always being there! Your smile, your encouragement, your positive attitude, and your passionate love for garden is like food to our hungry souls. I've been gardening for longer than you have been alive, but I can't tell you how much I appreciate every video you put out. Your positive, encouraging, smiling face keeps me going. I especially love and agree with your positive attitude! Yes, we totally need to celebrate our successes more. You can never fail if you never quit! Like Thomas Edison, our failures actually help us learn and become better. Nothing is lost. They are actually stepping stones to a higher level of proficiency. I agree we should share your videos more. I love that it doesn't require a ton of my time to help someone who asks me a question. I can just send them a link to one of your videos. I wish you lived closer cuz I'd love to teach you how to raise bunnies and give your daughter one. She would be in little girl heaven and you'd have even greater food security and wonderful, free, slow released fertilizer. 😄 Best wishes to you and your sweet family!

[@UrbanHomesteadMomma]

This has been such a strange year, but overall quite successful, for us... so many things didn’t grow well and then some things that don’t normally do great did amazing. Which honestly has been good. I was able to put up things in bulk that should last us 2 years. And then next year I’ll focus my garden efforts on growing more of what we didn’t get a lot of this year. And I completely agree that gardening does NOT need to be hard! I use a no till method with lots of mulch and dense plantings... I have mobility, and back issues... if it was “hard” I couldn’t do it. 🤷‍♀️

[@cathyd1013]

Sharing with soup kitchens and community is a great way to spread abundance.

[@wrafflelol610]

If I remember right from past videos he does exactly that. My garden for my first year was too small to have a major surplus but I was so happy to see so many gardens this year in my town that the food bank and homeless shelters were flush with fresh produce. Especially summer squash and zucchini

[@LovelyAndTrue]

@@wrafflelol610 I remember way back getting squash at food pantries and throwing it away bc I had no idea what to do with it. Fresh food from the garden was foreign to me!

[@charlottecmgh3791]

Especially onions, potatoes, tomatoes and cabbage.

[@wrafflelol610]

@@charlottecmgh3791 winter squashes are also really great since most can be hardened off and last for almost a year with out turning bad, depending on how you store it

[@dr.froghopper6711]

Believe it or not, our local food banks won’t accept our excess garden produce. They cite liability issues and their insurance policies. The soup kitchen wouldn’t take it for the same reason. Churches are far more accepting but they complain about storage and waste. Pigs however can take waste vegetation of all sorts and turn it into bacon, ham, that other white meat and premium, high quality compostable fertilizer! JADAM gardening allows you to make your own fertilizer. Bokashi composting has produced some amazing peppers for us this year and we really didn’t know what we were doing. The peppers didn’t complain and this was a particularly difficult, hot year in New Mexico. We’ll be continuing to improve.

[@arios8121]

I have been doing raised bed gardening for 2 years for my grandkids and learned a lot from Luke and feel free to roam and look at other gardeners. Experimenting and finding out what works best for me in my area. This was a great talk! You have only been encouraging Luke! Keep it up!

[@dailychaos8741]

I have a view of how my garden should look but I have seen so many people have beautiful gardens that are so different from mine. To see plants grow is so beautiful no matter how it is done and I have learned from others who learned differently than me and have enjoyed all I have learned. This is a wonderful message and more people should garden if they can regardless of how they garden.

[@aardyn8564]

I find gardening very fun until August hits lol. I don't succeed in everything I grow but I do have fun trying. This year after 3 years in a row I managed to not kill off my cucumber plants, so of course I had a ridiculous number of cucumber because I planted so many extra expecting them to die :P The easiest things for me to grow so far it seems are peas (which is awesome because I love them) and beans. My tomatoes do okay but not great just yet still working on them. And as for the people telling me not to have raised beds gardens they can come over and do my gardening for me. My raised beds are necessary as I have to sit in a chair when planting and weeding my garden or I can't garden, I have a very bad back, knees and neck from a motorcycle accident.

[@hillbillyhomestead1966]

Gardening is very relaxing for me and always learn new tricks of the trade

[@leynaabbey]

Raised beds are the way I garden. In my 30s but have rheumatoid arthritis, so raised is preferred for me... we also have heavy clay soil. My pap-pap had the best in ground garden, it suited him and his land. He always told me no matter HOW you garden, if you treat your land (soil) right, you'll always have success. He practiced companion planting too to help control weeds, and have other delicious foods in less space.

[@kat6084]

I love your optimism. one of the reasons I follow your channel. The way you share what your doing in your garden feels like I'm talking to my neighbor. p.s. finally got cantaloupe this year. Tastes so much better when you grow it yourself!

[@brandonbatz3147]

Well said Luke! You have been a tremendous influence and have helped motivate my family and I to have our best garden yet! It creates more and more excitement for us every year and with a little one on the way it'll give us something the whole family can enjoy.

[@trackee2024]

Great tips! I’m new to gardening this year and feel like I’ve been hit with every pest or issue I could possibly get! Good reminder to celebrate what we accomplished this year!

[@theelpydimension]

No doubt you learned A LOT from all your experience. 😁

[@karengrice2303]

Anything that is worth while in life is hard work. Growing your own food may be a lot of work, but it is very rewarding when you have healthy fresh food at your fingertips. 😊 I love your enthusiasm!

[@theelpydimension]

Amen!

[@TheBusyHoneyBee]

I am starting gardening on a alotment Very far from my home. I didn't put in any ifrasteucture yeat (no watering sistem, no fences, no raised bed, no electicity no compost pile), It is all in a to do list waiting for me to save money. But I realy wanted some flowers there, so I started by putting some sunflower seeds in the grownd last week. I didn't even water them in, because I thought rain would eventualy do Its job. I scattered ten seed Packets accounting for some chickens of the neigbour allotment might find and eat a lot of them. If I get one sunflower It Will be a success for me. First thing to Go in is a fence...

[@joyceday2823]

I'm glad you think of others! It so refreshing! That's why I've wanted a garden and of course to feed my household. With my job I watch people who can't afford everything all the time. Especially the elderly and disabled. Thank you for sharing!

[@frankbarnwell____]

Was near heat exhaustion in Texas. Looks perfect in Mi! Many people at "my" store are all about time. I say okay eat canned peas 40 days, then eat them 10ft from back door. Decide

[@beverleysimmons7885]

Great video. Great information. Do what works for you and makes you happy. Learn from others regardless of their stride. I have spent quite a bit of time this summer showing, suggesting and moving young 30 year olds into growing their own. It has been wonderful to see them send pictures of how things have turned out. Learning to laugh at our crop failures and figuring out what could have gone wrong has been just as rewarding. Gardening big or small can teach anyone the gift of patience and just thought. Keep up your fabulous work Luke. 💝🇨🇦

[@jacquelinetremblay4166]

This year I got my first real "grocery store size" veggie return but my garden makes me happy even in the past years when I only got one palm-sized bell pepper and a few handfuls of cherry tomatoes (that I had to share with the birds) but for me creating and growing really helps with my depression, even if I don't get to eat a lot of crops. Investing my time in learning how to help them grow this year has made my larger harvest this year even more uplifting. I give to them, they give to me. It's like tending to a pet really. I love gardening, and I can't wait to keep watching your videos to learn more and keep growing my mind and plants!

[@trowbridgetina]

Great comments here about SHARING!!! We will very soon see that we all need to share with each other. I see EVERY yard becoming just like yours, growing food out of NECESSITY!!!! Thank you for all you do. Old Lady Boomer here from SW Michigan!!!

[@jennifergermain7131]

thank you Luke, I have a very small container garden, enough for my small family but my neighbor brought in her grapes to the food bank, trying to convince my other neighbor to do the same with his apples and pears, he doesn't eat them unfortunately but it is such a waste. I have been watching all year, appreciate the help with vegetables that I had never grown before. I do however appreciate the "ways that didn't work" honestly not everything turns out every year but gives me the urge to maybe try again.

[@PaleGhost69]

I hope one of these is make a food forest. We need more food forests everywhere. Public and private.

[@coleweede1953]

I think the issue with food forests is that people understand that propagating fruit trees is not easy. So most people with plants charge an arm and a leg because they deserve to be paid for their labor.

[@PaleGhost69]

@@coleweede1953 Taking cuttings, roots and shoots is extremely easy. That's the reason food forest hits a point of explosive growth. The forest reproduces itself. We can easy make dozens of food forests from a single established forest in a single year. Each of those can make dozens more. Exponential growth with little work. Accumulate more biodiversity and cultivars, which spreads throughout existing food forests. It is not a difficult or expensive project to undertake when you already have the infrastructure in place.

[@no-one-u-know]

@@PaleGhost69 This is so true. It doesn't have to cost a lot in terms of money, but it will cost a lot in terms of time - to become a mature, productive food forest. That's why it's so important to start it today. Sadly, a large part of the population just can't seem to get past their need for "immediate gratification" and consequently won't invest their time wisely now.

[@that_auntceleste5848]

Simple but profound advice. These lessons can be applied in many areas, not just gardening. *Let people enjoy doing things their way (even if it's not your way) *Share your successes. *Share your wealth (of produce) with those who need it "Share information (including video links!) with those who are learning. The world needs this positivity. Especially now.

[@mikelow4734]

I donate about half of my backyard production and I pick up production from our community garden and distribute to 9 food pantries every week. This serves rural communities in Missouri that might not otherwise have these things to distribute to their mostly senior customers. It is gratifying!!!

[@joannretherford1144]

I have called myself a (wanna be gardener) for a while. Through watching your channel and several other garden channels I’ve been encouraged to keep on trying. I have lots of bell peppers growing on my pepper plants I’m very excited about. This is the first time I’ve ever been successful with bell peppers. I’m also growing butternut squash that I started with seeds I’ve saved I’m very excited about that too. If it wasn’t for the encouragement I received from these channels I wouldn’t have even tried. So there you go. I’ve shared my story for you. Thanks for the help :)

[@thegreatoutdoors959]

Migardener I couldn’t agree more with everything you said. I tend to put to much stress on myself in the garden and needed that reminder. Our one habanero plant we planted this year (orange) produced well over 200 peppers! Not sure the potential of what it can grow but my wife and I were amazed by it. Thank you for another great video. Enjoy the rest of the season!

[@johnmay8852]

people listen this is good young man

[@hillbillyhomestead1966]

I'm always looking for other idea's and tricks

[@johnmay8852]

@Jason Snooks bought a lot of seeds from him they look good time will tell

[@richardgore2000]

I used home cut Bamboo canes to make a 10*12 raised bed this year. Tried Square foot gardening and interplanting, pigeons did not get the brassicas within the flower beds, veg plot was strip in a day! All worked well although the interplanting did make it difficult to sometimes see what was growing from the path. Richard, Colchester, UK

[@theresadiaz7716]

You are a good person, thank you. I had never heard of plant swap groups. It never occurred to me that people who trade or sell invasive species, something to be aware of.

[@joycemiller7908]

I live in Portland Oregon and I'm jealous of your clear air; you can breathe and go outside and garden. But my Poona Kheera cucumbers I got from you are still highly productive in the gloom and ash. They've been amazing!

[@kathyleclaire4669]

I love watching your videos, I planted my first garden this year and we had a few fails but we are trying our fall garden now. Thank you Luke

[@theelpydimension]

I had a bunch of fails too but they're not really fails, they're lessons and I'm stoked about the knowledge and experience I gained. I'm psyched for next year! Hoping the same for you.

[@whitemageFFXI]

Thank you for your optimism! You've been inspiring me all year, and I've had fun trying gardening for the first time.

[@TheMrAshley2010]

Stopping the video to THANK YOU for starting with 'the thing we need to stop doing'. I'm almost a 'throw seeds on the ground and see what happens' gardener because I work 2 jobs and don't have time to do better...now. But what I'm learning now will really pay off when I retire and have time to do things better. In the meantime I grow stuff that requires little to no attending, and end up with more than I can eat by myself, and enjoy giving some of it away as an encouragement for others to do the same thing.

[@MarianaDee22]

Me too, Scott. I’m new and doing the best that I can.

[@sarinhthach1251]

I wish I can grow things and give little attention. If i do like that..my garden won't produce anything but weeds!

[@countrymonkOSB]

God, I love this guy and his positive way at looking at this craft. Luke has helped me so much since I began gardening a few months ago. What a blessing to have someone who stays positive and helpful in a social climate where it seems all we can do is criticize and hate. Thumbs up, Luke, and keep the good stuff coming.

[@brandonniebur768]

Thank you very much for this, all your advice thus far, and especially your first two points of this video in my opinion. I've been very reluctant to share how I'm growing my first garden from the negativity I've received. "Shouldnt buy from stores who support certain companies or vendors" ; "wrong growing medium and method" etc. I know nothing about companies practices and policies, nor do I care to know the ever changing negative opinions, so much so, that no matter what, someone has something bad to say about every aspect of anything. All I know is....I see pretty plant....plant safe to grow....I want!! So again, from the bottom of my heart and the roots of my garden, thank you for taking on the garden bullies!! Also to your point of the plant trading problem, that was something I was completely unaware of, I do hope it's only ignorance and not intentional and education controls this. You mentioned looking up my states quarantine regulations, do these regulations include illegal or banned species or is that something I need to research separately?

[@ashleeboivin4338]

Hey there. Wanted to reach out to you amd your crew to say thankyou! Your videos(along with roots and refuge) started the gardening addiction for me. I recently placed another order with you and there was a mix up.(accidentally was sent wrong package) not only did you guys reply within a day, but y'all also apologized, told me to keep the package, and that my order would be sent out soon. Thank you guys helping. And truly helping so many people learn about this amazing hobby. Much love to y'all

[@freakygardener8033]

Another fantastic video! I have a total of about $50 invested so far, in starter trays, and soil. I'm using FREE buckets, and pots given by a neighbor! Using gardening as "quiet me time", and as a learning experience. I'm hoping to get some good veg for my family, but I'm looking at that as being a bonus at the end of my summer of experimenting. Wish me luck. 👍👍

[@kimiyemlsmallgardendream8115]

Why are ppl alway putting other down. Gardening is a personal experience. Each individual is a gardener in their own right and education. So glad you addressed this, so sad ppl can’t just garden and enjoy. 😥😘❤️🤷‍♀️🍅🍠🌽

[@marikapaprika5833]

Nice one Luke, some really valid points here, especially the point about negativity. After the deaths of my Mom, my beloved Grandad and my best friend from high school (all within three years) my garden has become my sanctuary - my place of peace and healing. It exists not only in my backyard but also in my head and I don’t want negativity to creep into these spaces. The world is negative and cruel enough as it is thank you very much. Keep up the good work, you are making a difference!

[@MarianaDee22]

Luke, this is your best video yet. You’ve inspired me to make a list of my favorite gardening advice videos. Now instead of just saying, "Hey check out the KZbin videos" when someone on Facebook needs help I can just copy and paste my list as a comment and help a fellow newbie gardener.

[@mauryhill2552]

Great idea!

[@craighalle7892]

Great video Luke. I have been suggesting, sharing, recommending, and excited about your channel and videos. Nobody has ever responded, and said they have watched and learned from them. Makes me feel like I am ignored and disregarded, but worse yet so are you. I appreciate what you are doing and luckily so do a few hundred thousand others. Keep it up. Love you buddy. God bless you and yours

[@sarinhthach1251]

If people ignore your sharing and your recommending, they don't know what they missing Craig. You did your best and try to help them and that is all you can do really. Stay safe and keep up being an amazing person!

[@craighalle7892]

@@sarinhthach1251 thank you and God bless you!

[@chaunceyboo]

This was such a simple yet important video. We can apply your message positivity towards everything beyond just gardening.

[@trishthehomesteader9873]

My sis and I swap garden stories all the time.💜 Our gardening styles are very different. Her garden is always pretty without a weed in sight. Mine - not so much.😆 Those dandelions in the lawn might be dinner or dried for their medicinal properties. I don't think of gardening as work. What other pastime is it acceptable to get your hands dirty?! How much fun is that?! ☺️ Being in the garden gives me ... balance. The rest of the day can be hurried and stressful but the time in the garden connects me to the earth, the seasons, and the flavor and aroma of real food. A little bit of heaven in my own backyard.🙂

[@michellelloyd6256]

I just wanted to say thank you. I have Sjogrens and since the disease has progressed I am limited in what I can do, especially in the garden or anything outside. So i ripped out all my shrubs and planted a bunch of different seeds. In doing so, I found out what grows well and where. What's worth doing again next. Also, I needed to amend the soil. But most of all, I got to teach my granddaughter, who's 5, how to garden. True we some serious failures but we had amazing success 💞

[@mauryhill2552]

Michelle cookie. You’re teaching your granddaughter more than gardening- you’re teaching her how to adjust to hardships in health and charging ahead into different area of learning! Ripping out shrubs is symbolically cleaning out the” old and dusty” to replace with new possibilities and room for new growth! I applaud your approach in turning “ apples to oranges “ (is that the phrase?) and showing your granddaughter how to charge into the future without focusing on your advancing symptoms.

[@tammibolender3785]

I am really big on sharing videos to help people learn. I shared your video on saving tomato seeds in a gardening group, I have shared tons of videos to my friend, who is learning gardening, and I share crochet videos to my crochet friends. Videos are a great way to learn. I also listen to videos while I work because it helps keep me focused on work.

[@jjcousin1]

Just wanted to say thanks for all the advice over the time I've been subscribed. I've learned so much. I recently picked my first pineapple and It was so worth growing my own. I watched your video on how to grow it and years later I am rewarded by your teachings. From experience I also totally understand the negativity and expectations others are spreading around (I see it frequently). I can say I appreciate you for what you do and who you are. Great job at motivating others, like me!

[@kjrchannel1480]

I agree if someone wants to grow a tomato that cost $1000 then it is there choice. I think it is good to talk about pests to the point of developing insight on what works to control them, or even to know conditions that might have led to them being so many. There are plants sold in the stores I wish weren't available because they spread more than one might think. I will never say gardening is hard work, but it does reflect on the effort you put into it to take care of it as most of us know. Sad but true, there will always be people in the world that nitpick things different than their opinion of correct way and wrong way. The best way to be positive is learn how to evolve into a better gardener from the ups and downs you might encounter.

[@duanemcguffey9483]

Love your channel. Found it on a post on reddit r/gardening. I agree 100% with everything you said in this video with one exception. I WANT to hear about fellow gardeners' challenges/failures as well as their successes. It not only let's me know I'm not alone in my garden's imperfections but it usually also gives me information on how to minimize problems.

[@mauryhill2552]

Yes! It may seem at first to be negative; but seeing possible solutions helps me, too! I’m all for positivity-but we have to let people know as they are gardening that “personal growth and moving forward” is important in growing our souls and veggies are an accompanying success!

[@melanie-gk4kk]

You are awesome. Thank you for doing what you do w/all the authenticity & genuine intentions. Grow on!

[@markdraeger4721]

I have been part of your channel for years and i just want to say you my friend kick serious a@@!! You never stop being just an incredible human being!! Thanks!!!

[@amandavhb1630]

I feel like people think they need to have an instant garden. Its ok to build it over time. I am adding raised beds a little at a time and bought raised bed corner bricks at lowes so I didn't have to invest in tools. I just had to pop in the wood slats... It cost me about $45 per 6ftx2ft/ 12 inch tall bed. I am lasagna gardening (composting) in my beds this winter so I can garden in them next year. Its slower but more affordable for me. And I am going to try growing seedlings indoors this winter. Its exciting!

[@trishthehomesteader9873]

That's pretty much where I am too. I put in 3 raised beds but only had enough dirt and compost for 2 (some dirt but not enough). I've been doing the lasagna in the 3rd bed since. I hope to have it filled once the leaves fall. I'll mulch them and pick them up with the mower, dump them on top and, hopefully, it be ready next spring.

[@amandavhb1630]

@@trishthehomesteader9873 I like the lasagna composting idea because I don't have room for a large compost setup and I like not throwing stuff away. I hope your project works at well too!

[@trishthehomesteader9873]

@@amandavhb1630 I'm so with you about not throwing stuff away. I like sending it back from whence it came. 🙂 Have fun in your garden! Get your hands dirty! ☺️

[@sarinhthach1251]

@@trishthehomesteader9873 Me too Trish lol..I normally use things until I can't use it anymore before I even think about throw it away..Your way of garden sound easy Trish.

[@trishthehomesteader9873]

@@sarinhthach1251 It's as easy as I can make it because as I'm getting older it needs to be. Thus, the raised beds. ☺️

[@1LindaJMacKay]

You know what they say Luke- People can't ruin what they don't know about! 😊 I share the progress of my plants and veggies on FB, but never ask for advice because I need encouragement, not naysayers! Thank you for being a bright spot of encouragement 😊 Had the best year for tomatoes and peppers, and planted cukes, lettuce and other veggies that were so successful! 🥰 Thank you for sharing, teaching and encouraging! 😊

[@leynaabbey]

Nope. Cold here too. Gray, and wet too ugh. Lol. Gardening is as easy or as hard as an individual makes it. Love this video btw. You always make my heart happy. Thank you Luke.

[@sandy-rr1by]

my mediocre first year garden was expensive this year to get started, but next year won't cost much at all. i've learned a lot this year & it's been so much fun!

[@elenacuthbertson2954]

Off topic here. I really like your new glasses they work for you ☺️ I totally agree with you regarding all the negativity. I garden to make me happy. I feel happy because I speak to God while I’m gardening and it makes me feel closer to God. And the food is a great benefit. I just started gardening again after 20+ years and did not have a very productive garden, however, it was a great re-learning and fun time.

[@mauryhill2552]

I so AGREE!!!

[@conniedavidson1807]

My first garden this year has been a so so experience. Mine was all in containers because of my age and space. At 110 degrees in Texas, most everything was struggling to stay alive. My squash and zucchini are just starting to bear fruit in Sept. My tomatoes are covered in blooms and my bell peppers have little peppers just starting. My okra has been my biggest hit so far. Having fun, learning and planting my winter garden now.

[@projectionv.accountability1010]

I'm having a similar experience in Las Vegas! I finally broke down last winter and put in a garden, and the sun & heat & brutal wind said "Nice try..." to many plants. Really hoping for cool weather garden success! Good luck!

[@conniedavidson1807]

@@projectionv.accountability1010 Hope we both have success for the winter planting. I got some shade cloth for next summer to try my luck with that.

[@projectionv.accountability1010]

@@conniedavidson1807 I'm looking to do the same thing for next year! This was such a rough Summer, next year can benefit from many learning experiences ;) At least I know now that, if all else fails, tomatoes grow like crazy here... even when hornworms do their best to prove otherwise haha For now, I'm so looking forward to gardening in under 100 degree weather! Much gardening success to you!

[@hs4good1]

Luke, thank you for your influence. You make gardening more enjoyable. I can see how your message is going to spread even more next year! Hope to get over there and get seeds and Trifecta next year!

[@kd1318]

I couldn't love this enough! Yes to each their own, what works for one might not work for another 🤎 I have just recently started growing broccoli / lettuce in containers...so far so good.

[@agrarianarc]

Luke, you're a libertarian aren't you: live and let live! Love it, friend! You're one of the best things that's happened to the online gardening community, I've been watching for years! Thank you for all you do.

[@ericag2233]

You have changed my life by showing me how to grow food with joy. Thank you.

[@brandyantonelli5423]

Watching from East Tennessee. Thank you for all the advice on my gardening journey . I've learned so much from your channel.

[@newgardner]

Hello! New to your channel. You will hear from me more often. Currently, starting my first time gardening at 'home' and started seeding early Sept hahaha We shall see what happens.

[@angelaguilar9222]

Enjoy your weather where I'm at its 95°F and there's ask and smoke everywhere. But thanks for the video and I agree.

[@harvestenthusiast4519]

Positivity 🥰 it's good for your heart and soul. All those abundant possibilities, in the tiny spout from just a tiny seed. So beautiful 😍.

[@lindakangas1045]

Great advice. My success this summer was due in part to drip tape. Yes there was work involved but if it was too easy it wouldn't give you such a sense of achievement.

[@TheElias99]

Thank Luke, I started gardening this year and learned a lot from your channel as I went along. Very excited to start next season from scratch

[@elisabethsikie]

Thank you. Very good work. Also gardening is just plain enjoyable, healing and it is revelatory in educating us in just how abundant this sacred earth really is. Tx! Bless!

[@michaelmarchione3408]

We gave away about 60 golden delicious squash and about 80% of our peppers to our neighbors for the last few years and all the eggplant. We all in the country, but we are the one who have the gardens. It is a great feeling. I could easily set up a roadside stand, but we enjoy this more. It brings and keeps our little part of the world together.

[@rebeccarodriguez3183]

Thank you for this. I needed to hear this, I’m a new gardener and have been very discouraged lately due to negative comments I have been getting in a group on another social media platform .

[@beverlydanahy6964]

So positive, all the time. I sure look forward to your videos!

[@happytreefriends1fan]

You guys are great, keep up the good work. I meant to send an email letting you know but I recieved the correction on a recent order thanks so much for the great customer service, I order often so I have extra seed to share and put back to try things again without reordering and this is the first ever mistake on an order. Thanks again from TN!

[@pamelacorsi]

My mom and dad both gardened but had opposite styles and I learned from both. My dad had perfect, formal rose and flower gardens he used chemicals and spent hours pruning and fussing. My mom had a chaotic vegetable garden. She got elephant manure every fall from the circus when it came to town ( this was many years ago). She actually did throw seeds in and she didn't stake her tomatoes letting them fall all over the ground. It was full and lush. Sometimes she weeded. I have great memories of both gardens and I learned from both.

[@anniecochrane3359]

Thank you Luke for being so out there with stuff that really matters!!!!!!

[@denisenj7648]

I'm growing a ton of seeds in a big shoe box on the balcony with a grocery bag liner and potting soil. So happy with my baby salad greens!

[@kdwhineygirl5551]

This was my first year gardening edibles. Your videos, and those of a few others, were invaluable to my education. I had mostly successes, with a few failures (learning experiences). Love your positivity, and I get a chuckle when you are quite adamant about something. Best to you and your family this Fall and Winter!

[@cetriyasArtnComicsChannel]

Gardening is hard, that's not negative, it is what it is, especially in certain climates. I'm in zone 9b and very tropical and it's my first year ... But most good things are hard and fulfilling. I already know bell peppers and purple basil is a no go but the Asian sweet potatos, basil and hot peppers do well. My tomatos got burnt but learn to put shade. I'm sure once I get more experience, itll be easier as it goes

[@SuperPKinney]

I just want to THANK YOU SO MUCH for all the jews you stay dropping. You always have awesome energy and I appreciate you so much for letting us into your personal life. Hope you have a great day!!

[@Yiriyah]

WE DO want to hear the downside as well. Different zones have its challenges and whatever helps: the good AND the bad equally interests me.

[@susieclark1498]

Just get dirty and have fun with YOUR special garden. You and Roots and Refuge Farms have taught me so much. I like to see others issues and how they fixed them, that's not negative at all.

[@publiclikeafrog9194]

Thanks for this. I've had older family members make comments and probably the only reason I'm still growing things is because of people on youtube saying it's ok to just stick a seed in some dirt and see what happens.

[@highlandscommunityclub1160]

What I love about gardening? It’s a skill I can hone for a lifetime that presents different options and challenges with constant variables. It’s physical and mindful, and a hobby that gives back in a real way to my whole family. Plus, there’s always something to do!

[@sarinhthach1251]

I feel the same way! Garden is good for our mind and body and also nothing beat then home grown food, I trying every day by giving my family real food from the garden.

[@anitaevers2119]

I absolutely ❤️composting, gone from one pallet made bin to four bins, and it makes it so easy to turn. This year my peppers, tomatoes, beets, beans, grew like crazy, four plantings of cucumbers all failed as did squash, melons! Tried planting in various sites, pots. Help, I want to make dill pickles so bad! Oh, my dill plants did very well.

[@katythriftyunder35homeowne57]

I know its officially fall because of the signature coat! Your channel is awesome. The longevity and quality of the content you provide is much-appreciated. So many people these days are just doing vlogs and those really frustrate me because I just don't have the time to enjoy the longer videos these days.

[@pranitalakeram9443]

Truly appreciate your openness and contribution to the community . Stay safe ❤

[@ben-iw5gz]

Hey man I really appreciate your videos, I'm a new gardener and I've learned a lot from you. I recommend people to your channel all the time.

[@whitemageFFXI]

I love hearing about people's success stories! I get so excited for them!

[@beltrams]

Purple loosestrife......here in eastern Massachusetts, that stuff was a big problem 20 or so years ago, but it seems to have faded. I used to see it around our neighborhood pond, but now the cattails are back and yet I'm not sure why. We didn't do anything.

[@wdtaut5650]

Gardening does not have to be expensive. Just think about what you want. One of the reasons we went organic is -- it cost less! Our kitchen waste makes compost -- less money to trash disposal, less money for fertilizer. Our leaves make mulch. Less money for watering. Hand control costs less than insecticides. You can make your own insecticides that are safer and way less expensive than store-bought. Organic fertilizers are free when you know where to look. Just a few ideas.