SG559: Amp Up Your Gardening Skills (5 Ways You Can Get Started Today)
I was having a chat with a woman a few weeks ago who asked me about becoming a better gardener. I asked her how long she had been gardening, and she said five years. Looking embarrassed, she sort of looked down at the ground; as if this was not enough time to qualify her as a REAL gardener.
To me, the number of years spent gardening is not relevant in terms of overall gardening skills; what IS relevant is that you are engaged, curious, and committed to learning - and the sources of inspiration and information are everywhere.
Every gardener starts out knowing very little (unless gardening was a family affair). The truth is that gardening is a skill. Growing that skill definitely requires time in the garden. However, gardening skills can also be enhanced the way any number of skills grow - through a positive mindset, strategic planning, a critical perspective, and seeking out experts.
Sure, you can improve your gardening skill by just spending time in the garden. However, the value that comes from a strategic approach and meaningful activities?.... that’s what I’m most excited to share with you.
Help a gardener + their garden grow... Please Share this Episode
“Don't judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”
― Robert Louis Stevenson.
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Interview Questions
1. Create a Map
Time Stamp: 27:50
2. Be strategic about how you’re spending your time.
Time Stamp 37:40
3. Get Help
Time Stamp 1:01:40
4. Periphery Reading
Time Stamp 1:22:10
5. Pick a Signature Theme
Time Stamp 1:31:40
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The Still Growing Facebook Group Welcomes These New Members to the Listener Community:
Laura Ivan
Stephanie Hayward Buffetti
Angelica Casimiro
Jan Bujan
Cyndi Freilinger
Jennifer Elsaesser
Becky Freilinger
Kitty Meeds
Frank N Linda Gacioch
Kathy McKeown
Lisa Haggis
Ruth Foos
Jason Ricketts
Igor Skokin
Christina Woods Ricketts
Carla Shafer
Stepahine Wgscheid
Amy Jacobson Blaisdell
Marsha Olson
Colleen Diederich
Kerri Ann Montgomery
Cathi Janchan
Sara Bedient
Kerry Bellman Ginn
Winner of Joel Karsten’s Straw Bale Gardens:
Anne Wyden
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What listeners are saying...
I never write reviews but this is the best gardening podcast out there. Jennifer has interesting topics and guests and is not one bit annoying like some others are. I love that she involves her kids at the end of the podcast - usually with poetry or music. Really good podcast.
- Barbcfc, Mar 23, 2016
Still Growing is one of the reliably informative gardening podcasts from North America. The format consists of an intro (personal gardening status chat, seasonal remarks), an extended interview with a guest, and an outro with funny outtakes, side remarks, and some chatter (poems, readings) from the host's children. The podcast is focused on reliable knowledge - the guests are typically experts like academics, master gardeners, gardening entrepreneurs or public garden leaders. The intro and especially the outro give it a homey feel. Given I live in the high northern region, just a little below the Polar Circle, I'm always looking for more cold-weather oriented gardening information. Jennifer Ebeling is in Minnesota, so that's helpful to me! Vegetable gardening (my main interest) gets a good share, but is not predominant. Most topics transcend your specific gardening interest and are applicable to many styles: landscaping principles, vermicomposting, greenhouses. The episodes are typically an hour long, which is just fine for me.
- cwaigl, May 29, 2014
Best gardening podcast out there. Her preparedness leads to a good interaction with the guests and brings out the best in them. Very informative and yet personable.
- Corn bug, June 15, 2016
This is a great podcast. Really well produced and organized with good sound quality. I love the mix of information and personal touches. Jennifer has great guests and asks the best questions. You can tell she really does her homework. I listen to several gardening podcasts and this is my absolute favorite!
- So Cal Gardengirl, June 19,2016
Jennifer Ebeling
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