” 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.”
“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)
This article describes many people I know…lol…life gets so complicated and earning a living while caring for the family is exhausting I imagine.
I guess for me, it’s a matter of priorities…if you don’t make the time and put forth the effort, you will not achieve the results you desire.
This past couple of weeks have been so exhausting with the pain, etc. of health issues…but if I don’t put forth the effort for my lil balcony garden and caring for hubby, then I cannot achieve the goals I have purposed to accomplish.
We have just started house-hunting as well, the pre-approval process is over and we can start ‘house-hunting’…finally (yay!) The housing market in central Fl. is very fluid with houses being bought and sold everyday so we will have to act promptly if we see the one we favor.
I am trying to evaluate houses on so many levels (including the backyard orientation and the prices and condition of course) that I feel my head spinning at times. The lil balcony garden has only been watered because that’s the only thing I have time and energy for…lol…
Theresa, can you please advise me as to the preferred backyard orientations for a garden and other options…they use so many chemicals to ‘green’ the lawns around here that I am leaning towards a square-foot type and container type of garden in order to control the soil quality. Most of the houses we’ve seen are oriented with the backyard towards the north…we have not found one we truly like yet and we continue to look.
Your wise advice would alleviate my stress…any advice from others are welcome as well of course.
Thank you Theresa for your wonderful gardening blog and the insightful and encouraging wisdom you dispense…you’re a great blessing!
Big warm hug…Jen
Hi Jenny,
Hope just the right house with the perfect yard will come along soon.
I know it will be very exciting to be able to garden “in ground” as well as in containers.
Before I give you a bit of information on preferred orientation for gardens —-remember — whatever yard you end up with — you’ll make it work. Don’t get too wrapped up in what the “experts” say because you can find ways to deal with whatever orientation you end up with. If you can end up with the best —GREAT — but if you can’t — you’ll do just fine.
Lots of so called “experts” quote Alan Chadwick, a famous horticulturist and a pioneer for organic gardening in this country.
According to what I’ve read, his followers say that garden beds should be oriented north-south so that the sun will hit everything at least part of the day – even if taller crops are in adjacent beds. They usually go on to say that with beds running east-west it would be a “disaster” — because taller crops to the South would continuously shade lower-growing plants to the North.
For 35 years — in my previous garden and my current garden — by beds have been oriented east-west. I LOVE THEM! Never has been a problem at all — much less a disaster! 🙂
When I created each garden I did not think of whether it should run east-west or north-south. I just did what felt right. (Fortunately I didn’t know anything about what the experts said.)
When I finally found out that Alan Chadwick had said they should run N-S as opposed to what I had —- I gave it a lot of thought. My beds are so nice and so successful that I just can’t get my mind around why he said that.
So I think basically you can trust your gut feeling on this Jenny.
Keep me posted and let me know when you find a place. It’ll be so exciting!
Theresa
Thank you Theresa!…you always have the right words of encouragement to ease my worries…you are a gem…Hugs, Jen
I’m glad Jenny!
Hi Theresa,
This post was so timely. I am mother with 4 young children (6, 4, and twin boys who are 2). We homeschool and we do a large garden (probably close to an acre). We home can much of our garden and truly are self-sufficient when it comes to fruits and veggies. I do buy a little fresh during the long winter months as it keeps me going, but usually just use what we have preserved. My husband lost his hand in a farm accident 6 years ago and I am currently having some health problems.
All this to say, that most, ok all, of my friends who I talk to say they don’t know how I do it….They can’t keep their house clean, or they couldn’t ever homeschool their children, or they don’t have the time – all the excuses you gave plus some! I tell them that I do it out of necessity and a passion to serve my family, and they just look at me with a blank face. They say that even thinking about doing what I do they go crazy and they call me crazy…..It frustrates me because I don’t see myself as a super woman – I just see myself as someone who takes 1 step at a time trusting God and His plans for my life….
Well, call me crazy, but I do what I do because I have to. Anyway, all that to say, thank you so very much for your post. It was very encouraging to know I am doing the right thing…..Yes, I don’t spend hours on the phone or hours on the computer doing facebook or anything and my excuses are some of what you mentioned….BUT – I do what I have to to serve my family.
Thanks for the encouragement! Oh, and I brought in a few green tomatoes this year and even though they have all ripened at the same time, they are keeping very well and I am enjoying them still! Thanks for the tips on that! You are a gem like JennyA said!
Blessings!
Stephanie
Stephanie — that was a beautiful comment! I could so relate to what you said about “–I do what I do because I have to.”
And I’m so glad you do Stephanie. It makes you a very special person with the kind of strength in you that this country was founded by. A strength that seems to be a rare commodity in today’s age —- although you and some other of my readers are proof that it still exits.
As you said — 1 step at a time is all you need take. I think that fact escapes the vast majority of folks. Just that one step — taken one after the other takes us soooooo far down the road.
You are making a tremendous difference in the lives and health of your kids and husband by providing good food for them. And the fact that you are pretty much self-sufficient is excellent!
I am so glad to have you reading TMG and am delighted that I was able to give you encouragement as well as some practical tips that were helpful.
I hope you will keep in touch. I am so very appreciative that you let me know how you felt about the post. Thank you very much Stephanie for taking the time to do it.
Keep on keeping on! You are indeed a bright light!
Warmly,
Theresa
What a great post Theresa. It’s spot on
in every aspect of life..
Thanks Anniegi! Glad you liked it.
I hear that all the time! Another is, “because I don’t have the money for that”, which gets me more than any if them! lol I’m 26 years old with two young children and am finishing my degree with 18 hours a semester, all while working a part-time job. We fall under the “poverty line” in our state and live in government subsidized housing and receive food stamps. Most people, upon hearing these details, react with a gaped mouth and a “How in the world do you find time for plants?” and “Why in the world would you GROW food if you receive food stamps?” To the first, I don’t see my garden as simply “plants”. It is a way of life a darn good one, not to mention that it is a firm of self therapy. In fact, if it were not for my garden, I’m certain I would be a lot more stressed out than I tend to be, even though it does take time to do. I don’t see it as work, though. It’s fun for me and quite cathartic. To the latter response (which I can’t help but smirk at), I reply that I would rather use the help that I get for food to buy the things I cannot, at this time, provide for myself, such as meat, etc. Also, this year, our stores have been accepting food stamps for the purchase of seeds and vegetable plants, which I think is a wonderful thing and will hopefully give more people the opportunity to discover this glorious way of life! 😀
Thanks for such a wonderful post, as always! I can’t get enough!
I relate to what you are saying Brittany.
We never received any government help — but we were way below the poverty line for more than 20 years. We accomplished more without any money than most people accomplish with money.
As you know — it depends more on attitude and what you want — more than how much money you have.
Keep up the good work.
Theresa