When You Start A Garden, THIS Is What You Learn

[@marytarpley8433]

Yes it is a good thing to have a Garden in Our backyard

[@j.m.b.greengardens968]

I have been gardening since I was, In my father's phrase, "Toe high to a grasshopper." Decades. Well over half a century by now. All your reasons are good reasons. (I also make many of my own clothes, and think more folks would do well to make at least a few items, maybe even just once, just to gain an understanding of what goes into it.) Adding to your comment about Jerusalem Artichokes, being able to raise varieties of common vegetables with flavors that far surpass store-bought - heirloom sweet peppers and eggplant come to mind. To your reasons I would add: The satisfaction of being able to go out to the garden and gather in produce of a quality you will be unlikely to find for any money. You will come to understand what produce is supposed to taste like, which tends to make you want to eat more of it, which is good for your health. Gardening is excellent, steady, long-term exercise, using your whole body, plus it gives you produce. Gardening teaches patience, and sharpens your powers of observation.. Gardening pulls you forward - giving hope in times when hope is a scarce commodity, providing a bit of optimism when that is thin on the ground - "A garden is never finished". " A garden is never as good as it will be next year." Tending to other living things is good for your emotional health. Lastly, a saying attributed to the Chinese - "If you want to be happy for an hour, get drunk. If you want to be happy for a day, kill your pig and eat it. If you want to be happy for a year, get married. If you want to be happy for the rest of your life, tend a garden."

[@quotekin3831]

Very informative! I like the historical input. And YES to the pollinators- they need our cooperation.

[@sonnyamoran7383]

This is my 2nd summer gardening in central Florida 9b. I garden year round thanks to our climate. And yes, there are a lot of things to learn and get wrong. But that's the fun of gardening. Doing it your way.

[@GoGreenCompost]

The learning process is definitely fun!

[@sonnyamoran7383]

I do use organic pesticides. However, I use both chemical and organic fertilizers. If I have the 3 plus months to wait for organic fertilizers to break down, I will use organic. But I rarely have an empty garden bed. I always have something ready for the ground. Science proves that vegetables don't taste differently or have more or less vitamins and minerals grown organically or with chemical fertilizers. There is no difference. And organic fertilizers don't break down in cooler temperatures. Bad news for our northern friends. I'm not trying to be a pill, just needed to tell you that. I needed to know that for myself as I started off totally organic. My garden is flourishing and produces so much food that it's unbelievable. I do make and use my own compost also and attribute that to my success.

[@GoGreenCompost]

It's not so much the quality of food when it comes to chemical fertilizers, but more the continuous dependence on inputs derived from fossil fuels. The use of chemical fertilizer does impede the creation of a healthy soil food web, and discourages the formation of mycorrhizal fungi networks. Not poo pooing them really, just not for me!