” I like your way of gardening! Not much hassle but great rewards.”
“I love your common-sense approach to gardening.”
“—that’s why I’m a reader here – no “overwhelm” just practical advice – that works.”
“I’ve been gardening for over 30 years but have learned so much from your posts. I appreciate your thoroughness and orderliness. Thanks so much.”
“Gardening is so much easier and productive since I’ve met you, Theresa. I really mean that–you have helped me so much! I used to break my back fighting weeds, poor soil, etc. Not any more!”
“—you are providing others with invaluable help. — Tending My Garden is a fantastic resource – and (the feedback) is the proof. I feel so thankful to have found it.”
“I’ve just come across your website and found so much information on onion growing it’s amazing! –”
” I came across your site searching for why my cucumber plants were wilting mid-afternoon and whether I should water them. I have not stopped reading your posts since then. —- very addictive —–will be my go-to site for my gardening needs.”
“I’m so glad I found your website!! The info is exactly what I’ve been looking for! —– more than just the typical stuff you find posted everywhere. While landscape design is my profession Vegetable gardening is a passion. I can’t wait to read more of the past posts!!”
“These days, I am no longer googling for my gardening needs. I am TMGing.”
“One of the things that sets you apart is that you know the difference between tried and true advice as opposed to the stuff we read in those ‘generic’ learn-to-garden books. I have stopped worrying about so many things since I began reading TMG.”
“The way you communicate with your readers is just marvelous! You provide such a wealth of gardening information! I am so glad to have found your blog, I`m learning so many new things here!”
“— your blog was instrumental in getting me past the ‘paralysis of over-analysis’ phase of my balcony garden…I was intimidated and lacked the knowledge I needed to get started. Your ‘can-do’ style inspired me to get started and see my summer-fall season as an experimental phase of ‘research and development’…”
“—This is the most in depth, informative blog on gardening I’ve seen.”
“—–This is what folks need to hear and it is exactly what is missing at the book stores as well. —-With all of the books, videos, encyclopedias, and google searches I could get my hands on, THIS SITE is my #1 source and a benchmark to which all other sources are compared and measured.”
“You have changed my whole gardening life! ”
“I love gardening and would never stop my subscription (to TMG). I’m learning more from you than I have in years of trying it by myself.”
” I am just so encouraged by all that I am reading from you. I can’t make myself leave your site!”
“My garden has doubled in productivity since I started reading here.”
“I wanted to let you know that from your guidance, I have discovered that ‘less is more.’ I was planting the old fashioned way–rows with lots of weeds to take care of–. Then I learned your secret of mulching heavily with straw and/or leaves. What an amazing difference. The soil is always ready for a seed or two in an empty spot and weeding is minimal. Last year we harvested twice as much produce in half the space.”
“Theresa, I’ve been gardening for about 40 years, and in the last 10 or so have tried my hand at gardening organically. I bought the books, read the websites, took the magazines, etc., but have been largely overwhelmed and discouraged. I happened upon TMG and have been reading for around 3 months. Now I know I can really do this!!! Thank you so very much for being so realistic and practical. And also for being so open, willing, and giving. You are a blessing!”
“I have learned so much, actually far more from you than from any gardening magazine I have ever subscribed to.”
“— I’m in the process of switching from chemical-based gardening to organic gardening and your website has helped me tremendously. There’s so much info on organic gardening – some of it very conflicting. You present stuff in an easy to understand, logical way.”
“Every time I hear something “out there” about gardening, I think…….wait that sounds too complicated, Theresa keeps it simple…….do what she does. Lol. You have kept me from jumping on the crazy train! ”
“I discovered your blog just last week while searching the web for information on raised bed gardening. I was actually pricing rough-cut lumber from a local saw mill, and looking for design ideas for wooden boxes when I stumbled upon your post “Contained Raised Beds? NO WAY!” I have not left your blog since!
I am so impressed with the information I have found here, as well as how much you put into it. I appreciate how you respond so thoughtfully to your readers’ questions and comments. And of course I LOVE your “common sense” approach.”
“This is only my 3rd or 4th season (of gardening). (Because of TMG) I am literally years ahead of my time in terms of being an accomplished gardener! ”
“Your wonderful blog and the manner in which you handle explaining things in incremental steps is just amazing. I am on a steering committee for a local community garden effort and your blog will be my recommendation to anyone who gets involved.”
“I just found your site —- when I was checking for what to do with onions. I have never seen so much useful information in one place. — What a wonderful site! I learned more in just a few minutes than I have ever gotten elsewhere. Thank you!!!”
“Finding your site thanks to Diane’s flowers has helped continue my education but in a very easy manner. I’ve found that your experience has confirmed that heritage gardening does not have to be exhaustive but more fun. I find your thinking about gardening assured me that my “maybe I’ll just let nature do the work” is ok and now I’m learning why.”
“Just read your post on Garden diversity- as always excellent, thorough and you have this ability to give all the information one might need in a nutshell – keeping the reader engaged all through.”
“I wish I had found your blog years ago. It would have saved me lots of money spent on gardening books & magazines.”
“Even tho I am on the other side of the world and the seasons are reversed, your insight, knowledge and experience are so valuable to me as a starting out organic gardener.”
“I directly credit the MAJOR increase in productivity in my garden to you. —-(it) is amazing compared to how my garden used to operate.”
“I have learned invaluable lessons and methods from you, have found you to be very well researched, very well thought out, and very methodical. And so easy to learn from.”
“— you infuse encouragement and heart into your website and I greatly receive these gifts.”
” I read each post you write as though I am a sponge; sucking up every last word you write, and holding onto it tightly. … your philosophy on gardening is inspiring. I feel light years ahead of some of my friends who have been gardening for much longer than I, and it is all thanks to you and your easy to read, vital information.”
“I just read your post on using straw once sprayed with 2-4D. Then I read a few more snippets … I think I’m in love…just to find an organic gardener blogging in such a practical way.
It is a fact that we live in a world with more than a few undesirable chemicals infiltrating the world we live in, but we have to understand what will decompose, what is persistent, and how to proceed. … reading your commonsense words just made my day. ”
“I can’t imagine not having TMG for reference and inspiration. It’s one of the few sites I go back to every year for specifics — I hope everyone who reads here, in particular newer readers, understand just what gold is buried in (TMG’s) archives. There’s nowhere else to read some of the things I’ve learned here on TMG, and I’m in NO way overstating.”
” I think there are more people than you know who would love to garden with your ideas – they just don’t know it’s possible.”
“just a note to say thanks again for doing what you do…your gardening updates are like a welcomed letter from a distant relative or a long lost friend. I’ve been veg gardening for 40 years and I continue to use your site as a great reference! ”
“Your postings ALWAYS shed light in a slightly different way —. It’s like taking a walk around the garden with a favorite friend who can be relied on to share the truth.”
(I want) ” to tell you how much I enjoy your blog, your style of writing, the clarity of the information you provide and the very obvious expertise you have achieved.
Reading your blog and the information about your book has given me hope that I can try again (to garden), this time with much greater success and a lot less work.”
“Your information has always been the best out there. The style of your writing is informative but also interesting, honest and humorous at times. You always make me smile and want to get back out there and try something new.”
“Last fall I found TMG and purchased your book. I took to heart your wisdom and applied it to my garden. I added lots of leaves and organic matter. After I planted my garden and applied lots of mulch I have done nothing but harvest. My garden is not perfect but my family is eating, tomatoes, potatoes, squash, okra, cucumbers and swiss chard. That is a complete 180 (degrees) from the previous 2 years. Real soil works, mulch works! If you are a new reader to TMG …unplug from Big Food and the chemical marketing matrix!”
“I have finished your book and am so excited to get to work on preparing my vegetable garden — Your book is full of such great information and takes so much of the “mystery” of gardening out of the equation.”
“What I’ve learned here has proven to be a major life changing part of our lives over the past 5 years.”
“—and I love reading your posts and using them as my garden encyclopedia.”
“I finished reading your book! Thank you so much! It was well worth the price and the shipping! ” (This reader is from Japan and her shipping cost was $25)
“After discovering you and TMG several years ago, I’m happy to say this has changed the way I garden in many ways…and all for the better. You’ve made me think out of the box and question why I’m doing things the way I am, many times the changed behavior results in higher yield with less effort.”
“You have inspired and taught me so much over the years! I thank you most of all for removing the stress out of my garden activities.”
‘Those that have found you are very fortunate to discover how to garden in a healthful, less costly, natural way for us and planet earth.”
Thank you so much, Theresa! This makes perfect sense to me!
I am a big list maker – it is the only way I can set things aside from my overactive brain. I have just started my “gardening” lists for the year, it is going to take me days this year to get settled.
My innate tendency is to live in the past, or the future – and not now. So I work extra hard to make sure each year is better than the last, and corral myself almost daily to return to the present. You are so right – we can’t stay the same – but sometimes I wish it was not so hard to always strive forward. And, as I have gotten older, I appreciate the days when I just chuck it all and wallow.
You are an inspiration!! May God bless you during this difficult time. You are a courageous woman
God has given you many talents. One is gardening, one is teaching, one is writing, and another is being an inspiration to those around you that need to be uplifted. To share your life, hopes, dreams, hurts, joys, and knowledge can come from only Him who wants us to be more than conquerors. God Bless and keep up the “good work”.
Ideas from unlikely places:Talking with a friend recovering from surgery, I complimented her for her ‘patience and persistence one minute at a time’ and then realized that could have been my mantra last year. So now I repeat it to myself daily, especially with exercises that made such a difference last summer in the garden. Just this morning facing a new year, I asked myself,”Self, what are you ‘in training’ for?” The answer that I ‘heard’ was, “I’m in training for old age.” I really do want to stay as fit as I’m able for as long as I’m able. I learned enough from your book and blogs to last several more seasons! The gardener’s lament: ‘well, there’s always next year,’ may not be true, but seeing the garden growing keeps me active and eating better. Wishing you Love and Light as you practice ‘patience and persistence’ during these grey days. In one sense, the longest and darkest night is behind us for this year, getting lighter every day 2 minutes at a time. Actually,I look forward to the day after the Winter Solstice for that very reason.
Happy New Year Theresa,
I would like to fix this post into audio and play it in my ear every morning as I’ve slumped into becoming “less and less” as I age. You always give me a lift and just the right amount of motivation.
Thank you,
Toni
Wonderfully inspiring post. Thank you.
Happy New Year! God Bless you…keep on keeping on Theresa
Sending wishes for a productive New Year my dear gardening friend and thank you for the positive reinforcemnet you have provided.
Theresa,
Thank you for another inspiring post. May your every day be filled with light and love.
I am going to be making lists and going over them each evening before I turn in…and I will be thinking of you as I do so. I like the idea of refining as you go along.
Peace,
Gail
God bless you, woman!
Best attitude toward Life to have, yes! I’ve drawn inspiration from you some with a little “Desert Greens” newsletter of my own (which I’ve let languish. And maybe now with encouragement and the New Year and I can pick back up on it.
Again, God Bless! And Happy New Year to you!
Happy New Year to you too, Theresa. May it be your best also. I have no doubt that you will find yourself “more” at its end than at its beginning.
Thanks for this reminder about lists. I know that due to your encouragement to keep lists – I keep them on my computer – I have had one of my most successful gardening seasons to date. Another valuable lesson that ties right in with this – especially for those who have less time, or less physical strength, is your post on the power of a little. Those two, in combination are unbeatable and they have helped me put one foot in front of the other on the days where everything seemed to be falling to bits.
Oh, Theresa! Thank you for this encouraging post! I read it when I most needed it! Hugs!
Your blog is the only one I follow because it is based on “tried and true” and it focuses on the garden and the gardener. You are very inspiring and I am continually amazed by you. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and insight.
Another beautiful and inspirational post Theresa!
Wishing you peace in the coming year.
I am a firm believer in the saying “A short pencil is better than a long memory”. One of the most important lists I compile each year is what I title, “Things Not to do in Next Year’s Garden”. I also make specific goals for next year’s garden such as trying something new. On a monthly basis during the summer, I also prepare a “State of the Garden” note specific to each planting area in my garden. All of these lists serve me well while planning my next garden season.
Theresa,
I cannot garden much anymore due to health issues but I love reading your blog. You have been so positive and inspiring and that helps me to remember to think that way also. I especially need that now in times of yet another transition in my life–moving to a retirement community (absolutely the right thing to do for us). Thanks so much for sharing your journey with us all. Love to you!