Jared77
Garden Addicted
Anything you can produce is to your benefit sometimes we lose sight of things. Really it's not the size of the accomplishment but the accomplishment itself. Good job you should be proud.
Don't laugh... I grew these myself!
- Thread starter rebbetzin
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Pulsegleaner
Garden Master
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That's one way to look at it, and it is certainly a valid one. On the other hand one has to factor in what one is getting out of it. For a casual gardener, the accomplishment is probably indeed all that is needed. But if you were/are actually growing for your survival, and you consistently fall short there probably comes a point where your pride in having it from your own hands no longer outweighs the loss of actual food. Pride of accomplishment is a wonderful thing, but even IT needs a certain degree of perspective.
In my own case there is also the matter of how that decision affects others. Most of the seed I plant I have found/selected myself, and I am painfully aware of how rare some of it is, and (though conversations on sites like this) how valuable it's unusual genes often are. Knowing this, there is, and probably always will be a little niggling voice in the back of my head that says that, given that I know that 99% of any growing plans I have are always going to result in total failure, and that 99% of the ones that SUCEED would be adjudged as "failures" as well by any objective party (in that I come out of the planting with a total amount of seed that is only a tiny fraction of the amount I put in, and that only if I never actually make use of any of the plants for anything but seed increase.) that continuing to insist on trying is, well, wicked. I share what I find when I feel I have a sufficient amount to do so, but there is a part of m that says that that is really no where near enough, that what I really should do; am morally obligated to do is to give ALL my seed away as soon as I get it, that as someone with a skill for finding but not growing, that my job is to see the thing I find get into the best hands and that those hands by definition are not and never can be, mine.
In my own case there is also the matter of how that decision affects others. Most of the seed I plant I have found/selected myself, and I am painfully aware of how rare some of it is, and (though conversations on sites like this) how valuable it's unusual genes often are. Knowing this, there is, and probably always will be a little niggling voice in the back of my head that says that, given that I know that 99% of any growing plans I have are always going to result in total failure, and that 99% of the ones that SUCEED would be adjudged as "failures" as well by any objective party (in that I come out of the planting with a total amount of seed that is only a tiny fraction of the amount I put in, and that only if I never actually make use of any of the plants for anything but seed increase.) that continuing to insist on trying is, well, wicked. I share what I find when I feel I have a sufficient amount to do so, but there is a part of m that says that that is really no where near enough, that what I really should do; am morally obligated to do is to give ALL my seed away as soon as I get it, that as someone with a skill for finding but not growing, that my job is to see the thing I find get into the best hands and that those hands by definition are not and never can be, mine.
Smart Red
Garden Master
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Why would you feel anything but successful. You took what most people would consider 'garbage', planted it, and now have a decent meal of the best sort of potato -- new potatoes. How successful is that! Way to go!
baymule
Garden Master
Potato soup!! The little ones are sooooo tender!!
so lucky
Garden Master
@Pulsegleaner, you have spoken several times about failing to produce anything. Are you trying to grow really rare items, or something that is not suitable for your climate? Can you grow lettuce, beans, tomatoes?
baymule
Garden Master
Okay, @Pulsegleaner you must start lurking around remodeling or tear down construction sites so you can get used windows. Then get a big pile of them, build a "custom frame" (read that--VERY irregular shaped) and hang your windows. VIOLA' !!!!! Your very own greenhouse to extend your growing season!
I have a pile of windows that I will be moving to our new place so I can build a greenhouse for my winter tomatoes. for the last 4-5 years, I have had a plastic wrapped PVC frame wrapped in plastic. Ugly, but it has worked.
I have a pile of windows that I will be moving to our new place so I can build a greenhouse for my winter tomatoes. for the last 4-5 years, I have had a plastic wrapped PVC frame wrapped in plastic. Ugly, but it has worked.
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rebbetzin
Garden Addicted
Pulsegleaner, your profile doesn't say what zone you are in, but maybe like me, it is FIGHT to keep things alive. My husband tells me "Heidi, you try to have a better garden than God in the Sonoran Desert." And he is right, I want a nice green garden in 100+ temperatures for months at a time. It is getting too expensive here in the summer to attempt to have a vegetable garden. When I get back from my visit with my son and grandkids, I am going to be making some drastic changes in my garden.
I'll keep you guys posted as to my "water saving" landscape ideas.
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- #18
rebbetzin
Garden Addicted
You are s
You are so right!! I did something quite wonderful with what would have gone in the compost pile!! I have been planting the root ends of green onions.. and they make whole new green onions!! Of course, the ones that are now in full sun are pretty "stressed out." But the ones in the shade are doing great!!
How successful is that! Way to go!
You are so right!! I did something quite wonderful with what would have gone in the compost pile!! I have been planting the root ends of green onions.. and they make whole new green onions!! Of course, the ones that are now in full sun are pretty "stressed out." But the ones in the shade are doing great!!
digitS'
Garden Master
There are valuable garden crops just from the perspective of the produce aisle. Highly perishable usually spells high cost.
Many of these do not require great doses of water. They are quick growing. Then. You have your pounds!
We may take a special joy in growing winter squash. Still, I can't justify it from a dollar value. Their season is too long and, since they can be shipped and stored easily, they are cheap in the stores. Well, just don't try to stop me!
@Pulsegleaner is a city dweller with very little gardening room, I believe. I've got the dirty green digitS but lots of things get away from me. I was talking to a retired big time farmer today. Neither of us know why my cabbage is doing poorly.
Steve
Many of these do not require great doses of water. They are quick growing. Then. You have your pounds!
We may take a special joy in growing winter squash. Still, I can't justify it from a dollar value. Their season is too long and, since they can be shipped and stored easily, they are cheap in the stores. Well, just don't try to stop me!
@Pulsegleaner is a city dweller with very little gardening room, I believe. I've got the dirty green digitS but lots of things get away from me. I was talking to a retired big time farmer today. Neither of us know why my cabbage is doing poorly.
Steve
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- #20
rebbetzin
Garden Addicted
The best place to grow cabbage is in Alaska!!
http://asf-wp.amicro.biz/blog/archives/2185
http://www.adn.com/2009/09/04/923340/127-pound-cabbage-breaks-world.html
