1. How much do you garden?: a) I don't, dirt is icky, b) A little, I've never gotten into it (if so why not, time, space, etc), c) Gardening's a bit of a hobby, or d) Gardening is a passion
I'd assume d, though I know people who would make me feel like I was a c.
2. What Climate Zone do you live in? (US Zone Map and Europe Zone Map, both zoomable)
6a, according to the map anyway, I'm on a thin stretch by the lake
3. My actual gardening talent is best described as: a) My potted plants keep dying, b) So-so, or c) Green Thumb
C, moderate green thumb.
4. My gardening style is best characterized by: a) Flowers to the front yard, veggies to the back, b) A heavy emphasis on overall appearance, c) Rows of veggies, or similar chiefly functional layout, d) Total Chaos, or e) Other (please explain)
A. I usually go for appearance in the frontyard, functional in the back approach, I usually try to touch up the appearance of something that is specifically functional as opposed to put something it that is strictly for appearance.
4. Which plant or plants have you been most successful with?
Have always had a knack for potatoes, rhubarb, and tomatoes.
5. Do you view your approach to Gardening more as an art, a science, or a routine?
I'm actually not sure, I tend to approach most things in science or engineering terms though.
6. Do you tend to keep personal records, like local rainfall, which plants did poorly or well, yields, layout maps, etc?
Very much so
7. Your favorite time of day, or day of the week, to garden is?
Late Afternoon to early evening, weekends. Sunday afternoon has tended to be my traditional yard day.
8. Do you have any particular good luck charms or specific items like 'my gardening hat' or what amount to rituals that you make use of when gardening?
Had had a hat, but now that my hair is finally growing out long again I've mostly stopped wearing hats outdoors so I'll probably discontinue its use. I do tend to fuss over alignment more than appearance would justify, so I'm probably subconsciously convinced that the geometry will effect things. I generally don't wear gloves, and I'm seriously considering adopting a straw hat and coveralls with pocketed apron setup, as opposed to my usual jeans and a t-shirt.
9. The amount of space you garden with is: a) a few potted plants, b) Small: A couple square yards or meters, c) Medium: About a dozen square yards or meters, maybe two dozen, d) Medium-Large: A few dozen square Yards or meters, e) Large: Around a hundred Square yards or meters, f) Very Large: A decent fraction of an acre or hectare, or g) Basically small scale farming. For scale, a 10x20 foot garden is medium, about 20 sq. yd.
Medium Large, I use of a lot of 4x4 foot (1.5 sq yd) raised beds that account for around half, or maybe a third, of my gardening space and I have about ten of those.
10. You garden primarily for: a) Yard appearance, b) Relaxation, c) Food (or final product, so speak), d) Fresh Air and Exercise, e) A challenge and sense of accomplishment, or f) some combination thereof, something else, elaborate.
I imagine 'all of the above' with an emphasis on e) challenge and sense of accomplishment in the past, now more for the fresh air and exercise aspect.
11. Is there anything particularly radical or abnormal about your garden? Anything in particular you feel stands out?
I would say my big high-tunnel cold frame but 'stands out' wasn't the goal and I've rather deliberately placed vined arches and such in the way to obscure it from roadside view. To a gardener the most obvious thing that would stand out is the heavy use of raised beds and the pond near them that all scream "Bad Drainage issues" as opposed to a real preference.
12. What are you planning to plant this year? Anything in particular, different, new? Plans to construct a greenhouse, throw in some new drainage, start a new bed?
More looking for inspiration here, I haven't been able to think of anything new.
13. Do you tend to have a lot of infrastructure in your garden? Like raised beds, stone walls, greenhouses or cold frames, drainage ditches. If so what, and did you do it yourself or have it done by someone else?
All of the above except the stone retaining walls, I wish my yard was hilly enough to give me an excuse to put in retaining walls. All DIY stuff, generally pretty rough, random lumber and PVC pipe.
14. How did you get into gardening? Was there a particularly person (Mom, Dad, friend, etc) who you picked it up from?
Mother and maternal grandfather and one uncle, they all take or took it very seriously, mostly mother.
15. If you were asked by a new potential gardener to explain why you garden, or why gardening is good, what would you tell them? What advice would you give?
Kinda fishing for ideas here, trying to get some advice
The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind is a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
- Albert Einstein
King of Cairhien 20-7-2
Chancellor of the Landsraad, Archduke of Is'Mod
This message last edited by Isaac on 18/03/2011 at 07:57:18 PM
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