Another rainy friday

Another rainy day, with more to come. Now we hear that it may rain right through March, which doesn’t surprise this California native. Not so great for business, but in horticulture you have to roll with what Mother nature provides. Seen it rain right through May, and this would be the year it might happen again. This is now our rainiest winter, ever.

Here is a link to Ian Baldwins, “Reading the 2017 Tea Leaves”, concerning the up-coming year in garden retail. I found this quote most enlightening, “simply put, the biggest, most expensive end of the range of almost everything, sold out first. It didn’t matter whether it was wreaths for the front door, ‘everlasting’ Christmas trees or swag for the mantle, the most expensive selection sold out first. The $2000 everlasting tree sold before the $800 one, the new clever lighting set sold before the cheaper one designed five years ago and the biggest table-runners went first.” This has to be evidence from the most wealthy sections of our country? This is not what’s happening in central California outside the Bay Area, at least in my observations. I do wonder if we sometimes forget the part of the state that really hasn’t seen this kind of business. Do these various garden surveys tend to skew towards the more wealthy enclaves in the country?

Here is a video of a young horticulturist and her business in Britain. I like the enthusiasm and the pride of trade she exhibits. We need more young people to take up horticulture, and work in the garden.

Not much going on here at the garden center as it’s raining, and everyone around here is hunkered down waiting out the next storm, which the weather service named “Lucifer”. Sounds like trouble. I’ll let you know.

A new morning (or, “I’m alive!”)

After a few days of sunny and mild weather, the rain has returned for what appears to be the upcoming week, and beyond. It’s nice to have had a break in the rain, as we are now in record  breaking territory for the wettest year on record. However, the drought is not over according to the powers that be. Southern California, that oasis in the desert, has not gotten the required amount of rain to pull them out of drought. They don’t need to worry, since we have their water safely impounded behind secure dams, like Oroville. 

A Upworthy video popped up on my Facebook feed extolling the virtues of urban Gardening for food production. Most of these videos have a hopeful feel that we can feed the growing populations in the if we just bring food production closer to the people eating the food. It all sound great, and you might think we are making some headway here but, ¼ of all front gardens in Great Britain are being paved over for automobiles. Seems the idea of moving to the city and taking part in the public transportation system doesn’t fly when you have a car. Lot’s of hopeful wishes and happy videos out there.

We got ripped off a few weeks ago. Someone drove in, cut the lock on the gate, and drove off with 100’s of bags of our soils, drip irrigation equipment, etc. Amazingly the stuff was spotted by an alert deputy and much of it returned. The crook who took it is on the run, but the deputy seemed confident they will eventually be caught. So we have had to install security cameras, motion detecting equipment, and extra lighting. While I don’t like this kind of stuff, what can we do? No when the motion detector goes off I can quickly see, via our smartphone, all the different areas of the nursery. Seems thieving has been on the up-rise around here.

That’s all for today. Just waiting for the rains to let up so we can start planting for spring. It’s always too much, or too little water at planting season. Just the way it is, and what makes horticulture and gardening a challenge.

“Nearly one in four front gardens in the UK is completely paved

"Nearly one in four front gardens in the UK is completely paved over" according to The BBC. When did this happen? A country once filled with gardeners, and now ¼ of all front gardens are paved over? This despite evidence of the environmental, and health benefits, of gardens? The horticulture trade is partly responsible for this by feeding into the “instant gratification" desire.

When I started in the nursery business back in the early 80’s flowers were sold without blooms. We sold flats and flats of flowers with not one bloom, just a sign with a picture of what the flower would look like. People bought these, and patiently waited for the blooms, which came along quickly. Then the first flats of blooming flowers started showing up in the later 80’s. People naturally gravitated towards these flats of flowers as you could plant them, and voila, “instant” color. No more waiting for the blooms to come naturally, no planning ahead, just buy already blooming flowers. Problem? They don’t grow! They have been treated with PGR’s.

PGR’s, or “plant growth regulators” are used by growers to stunt the growth of the vegetative part of the plant, to promote earlier flowering. PGR's are applied as a spray, or dip. Growers have seen the results of selling these flats with already blooming flowers. Unknowing customers buy them up! Their lives seem so busy, and there is no time for patience, and they demand instant gratification. However, the plants don’t grow like they did in Grandma’s garden. The little flowers have blooms, but the alyssum doesn’t cascade over the wall like grandmas did. The marigolds never gain any height. The flowers bloom, but seem stunted. People figure they are doing something wrong, don’t have a “green thumb”, and give up.

Growth regulators are also used so the plants stay small enough to fit on the racks of the large semi-trucks that deliver the flowers. Uniformity of growth for transport overshadows growing healthy, various sized flowering plants. Again, this sells plants at the nursery, but doesn’t build a lifelong love affair with the garden. Hence, in our efforts to satisfy the ever demanding public, we have cut corners, and taken much of joy out of a once joyful hobby.

There is hope as some smaller growers do not use PGR's , and promote that. These healthier non-treated flowers will grow better, and flower longer. Most important the gardener will have success, and benefit from the patience that the garden use to teach those that listen. In the long run we may grow a whole new population of gardeners, who fall in love with the garden and continue that relationship far into the future, instead of paving that future over with asphalt.  

BBC article: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-38772477

Change the world in the garden

"The climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too". This is the theme for the UN's "World Food Day", celebrated today. You might ask, what can I, one person do?

You can change your world by immersing yourself in green. Feed yourself, as well as your community by growing a garden. This simple act changes your surroundings, and your feelings. People who garden naturally feel better than those who do not. When you eat from your own garden you know exactly how the plants were grown. The energy put into growing those plants is given back to you in the form of nutritious food. Weeding, watering, and tending the garden all require a nimbler body and mind, and the plants know this! This is the symbiotic relationship you will enter into with the plants when you garden.

The picture shows a section of our food garden. We use natural methods and avoid any synthetic pesticides, or fertilizers. We improve our soil by adding a layer of compost right on top. We no longer till it in. The "no-till" method it's called. Saves our backs as well. It interesting that the less "hard" we work, the better the results. I think for the longest time people have been under the impression that the garden was "hard work". If it is, you doing it wrong.

Here are some ideas for growing your own organic food garden.

1. Size of the garden is not important, intent is. Be it a small container garden on an apartment balcony, or a five acre truck farm, doing is most important.

2. Visit your garden daily. Besides being a moving meditation, it allows you to see the gardens progress, and nip in the bud any potential problems before they get out of hand.

3. Feed your garden organic nutrients on a regular basis. This is especially important in raised beds, or containers. Usually every couple of weeks we apply a dry fertilizer to our plants. Unlike synthetic nutrients that bypass the soil and feed plants directly, we want to feed the soil, thus feed the plants. Organic nutrients can be made at home from compost, or purchased from a local garden shop.

4. Remove the negatives from the garden. We are not engaged in a "war on weeds", or "battling pests". To receive the healthy benefits of gardening we work with the weeds and pests to keep them at a healthy minimum. Besides, some plants considered weeds are actually tasty vegetables. The often maligned dandelion is a great green to eat. The garden snail? Escargot!

5. Be different! Grow strange and unusual vegetables from all over the world. Just 15 years ago most people only knew of a few tomato varieties. Now we have access to 100's of varieties of heirloom types with flavors unique! Learn to grow exotic mushrooms! We are experimenting with growing our first shiitake mushrooms on tree stumps. "Find the others", means find like minded people who share your interest in gardening. The Internet is very useful in that regard. You'll soon find that their are others working in their gardens, just like you.

#WorldFoodDay
#garden
#gardening

Use the garden as a refuge from the digital world

At  MindBodyGreen, 9 reasons Gardening is the Ultimate Mind Body Workout. "According to the Centers for Disease Control, gardening is compared to “moderate cardiovascular exercise.” Gardening 30 to 45 minutes a day can burn 150 to 300 calories. This isn't just standing there watering the flowers, but weeding, digging, hoeing, raking and planting. And there's nothing like being at one with nature to help create a calming, relaxed state of mind while you let go of the pressures and anxiety of everyday life."

The calories burned is a nice benefit, but for myself the real pleasure of gardening is in the mind and soul. We are all so connected and digitized these days that is becoming harder and harder to become "mindful". By "mindful" I mean living in the moment, and taking notice or the world your in. Not worrying about the future or past, but just being. The garden should be a refuge from all the buzz, a place where you can reconnect with nature.

Leave the phone in the house and use the garden entrance as a doorway to another world. A world where you can focus on the moment, and let your mind take a break. Plus, you will reap the rewards of fresh, delicious, healthy food. 

Quit trying so hard

This photo of community gardening in Switzerland was taken by Yann Athus-Bertrand. It is of Allotments in the Avanchets estate, Geneva, Suisse (46°12’N, 6°09’E). What a marvelous display of community gardening. This ability to share across borders and languages will continue to shape and change horticulture. 

At times we can find ourselves stuck in an echo chamber based around our shared trade. We talk to, and hear from others in the trade. We use the various social media platforms to "sell" stuff, rather than to learn and enjoy. I believe conversation, and the sharing of ideas is the new advertising. It's not advertising in the traditional sense, which is good, since the traditional way of promoting products and services is dying.

Rather than advertising the new way is to be "out there" enjoying and sharing stuff we love. Have a interest in history? Join some history groups on Google +, or Facebook. Want to broaden your interests from horticulture to the larger world of science? There are people doing stuff there that will blow your mind. Interestingly, it's outside our traditional area of expertise that many great ideas can be found that ultimately will benefit us.  Do it without the intent to build your business, or brand. People are developing an aversion to the "sales pitch" anyway. Conversations and sharing are the way forward for business.

Who would want to start gardening after reading this?

There is a “Great British Garden Revival” going on! To help novice gardeners The Telegraph published some timely tips from The RHS (Royal Horticultural Society). It’s titled, “What to do in the garden in December”. Let’s get started looking at it from a novices point of view.

"Feed the birds! Although they benefit from having food put out for them all year round, birds need a high-fat boost to their diet during the winter. Feed regularly so they will not waste vital energy visiting your garden when there is nothing for them.”  It is a new garden so there is not much in it. I don’t want the birds to go hungry and die. Let's pick up some seed later. Next!

“Wage war on aphids. Some species remain active in mild winters or on indoor plants. But most overwinter as eggs, often on dormant deciduous fruit trees and bushes. These can be treated with a plant oil winter wash (Growing Success Winter Tree Wash or Vitax Winter Tree Wash).” Good grief! I don’t want dying birds, and I hate war. What are aphids, and how does washing my trees do any good? They seem clean enough. Next!

“Christmas trees, are now available. Choose from a cut, container-grown or containerised specimen. Those grown on in pots may only live for a few years – they are not naturally suited to permanent pot cultivation.” Specimens? That sounds like an unpleasant trip to the doctor. I wanted to buy a live Christmas tree to plant in my new garden, but if they only live a few years? I’ll just pick up a dying one at the supermarket. This gardening stuff sure is time consuming, and confusing. There’s more?

“If you want to move established deciduous trees and shrubs to another part of the garden, now is a good time. Choose a calm, dull day to help prevent roots from drying out.” I have to wait for a “dull day”? Why can’t I do it on a beautiful day? Deciduous? Next!

“Check recommended times for pruning trees, shrubs and climbers. Prune ornamental and edible grape vines, hornbeam, walnut and mulberry, and if necessary, maple and birch before Christmas to prevent bleeding from pruning cuts.” Before Christmas!?! How do I know if it's necessary to prune maples and birch? That does it. I am not going to spend a dull day, washing the trees, only to watch them bleed. Meanwhile the birds are falling to the ground because I forgot to feed them? Gardening with “specimens”? No thank you.  I wanted to participate, but this garden revival stuff sounds like a bunch of hard, miserable work. War? You know, my husband wants to pave over the front yard and be done with it. I wonder…

I am sure the folks at The RHS mean well, but if this is what is recommended to the public is it any wonder Britain needs a "garden revival”? I am not picking on The British, as we have the same issues here in The States. Perhaps we just need to quit being so helpful, and trying to include every last thing someone could do? Start with changing the horticultural terms like “containerized specimen”, bleeding trees”, “plant oil winter wash”, "deciduous", and “ornamental”. “Waging war” is a term best left at the garden gate. “Permanent pot cultivation”? Maybe people just wanted to grow a little pot during the summer, not permanently?  To encourage people into the garden, we need to look at how we describe what we do in the garden. Step back, and look at gardening from the novices point of view. Let’s not scare them away with war, specimens, and hungry birds.

Great British Garden Revival?

Did you hear about the new BBC series “Great British Garden Revival”?  Those of us in the garden businesses need to keep each other "cheered up" as we await spring, and a chance for the cash flow to start flowing our way again. So it's off to Britain where everyone in the business of gardening is talking about it! We will have to wait to see what the target audience "the public" thinks later.

The Guardian reports that “A new gardening TV show hit our screens last night, but what did Twitter make of it?” To The Internet! The Telegraph's Ed Cumming declared, “The series is hardly revolutionary, but there was plenty of sensible advice and lovely shots”.  Another Twitter user says, “So enjoyed half of #gardenrevival tonight. It was marred by bad practice and ill conceived dumbing down as are most gardening programmes.”  Everyone has an opinion and is willing to share it. If your interested you can follow the chatter on  Twitter at #gardenrevival.

It seems that even in Britain gardening is less popular than it was in the past. That's why the series is called "The Great British Garden Revival".  According to The BBC, "more and more front and back gardens are paved over - for development, for parking spaces, or because families don’t have the time or inclination to manage these spaces." The first show in the series dealt with "Wildflowers" and "Front Gardens". The wildflower segment seems to have helped "Seedball", a company that promotes, "a simple way to create beautiful native wildflower gardens & help wildlife too." Apparently "98 per cent of wild flower meadows in Britain have been lost". The next segment "Front Gardens", tells us that in" the past, our front gardens were highly valued and we used them to show off our gardening prowess, but sadly over time, front gardens have been paved over for parking and turned into a no-man’s land between the street and front door." Good luck!

As one person on Twitter expressed, “Thanks all for horti tweets this eve, had trouble keeping up w/ them all! At least #gardenrevival has got us all fired up again”. That's what I see as the greatest benefit of the series. It keeps those of us in the trades excited and talking during the off season. Really, I don't think a garden revival is in the cards for Britain, or here for that matter. There are just too many other things for people to do with their time and money. However, if those of us in the trades can reach the enthusiastic few through our passion and social media, it can make a difference. It should be enough to keep those of us still in business, in business. Seeing that passion expressed did put a bounce in my step this cold, bleak morning. As for TV shows about gardening? Not so sure, but we can always go to The Internet to find out.

Free yourself to think more clearly

The future of the garden and gardening is malleable and not a given. As such the future of the garden center, garden shop, or whatever we wish to call it is open to a myriad of possibilities. The old order seems to be dying, and a new one has yet to emerge. I suggest there is no one “new order” to arise, but many, many choices available.

It’s this change that frightens us. Will everyone shop only at box stores and their kind? Is the future of gardening businesses just to get bigger and bigger? We hear that one way to be successful in this field is to serve food, or coffee along with our plant offerings. Some stores have found success doing this, while others have not. We are also told that to be successful in this new world we must have attendant business attached to our business. How can we possibly appeal to the new generation of gardeners is we don’t offer more and more choices when they arrive at our store? How can we not offer free Wi-Fi or QR codes to scan? Will everyone simply buy online, leaving the physical store behind?

It’s so difficult to predict the future of gardening, and the gardening related businesses. Everything is possible, and without a guidepost we feel lost and unsure how to proceed. When I started in the business the path “seemed” clearer. Now it would seem we have so many different paths that can be followed. Which is the correct one that will lead to our ability to stay in business and thrive? There is no lack of well meaning people, publications, and organizations ready to help. Who do we listen to?

It seems that with The Internet the amount of information increases daily. You get what you focus on, and with so much “information” coming your way, how can you focus? My suggestion is to limit how much information you digest on any given day. You might think you’ll miss something important if you don’t receive all that information. What if the “future of gardening” is published and you’re the last to find out? Someone else will reap the benefits, and leave you in the dust.

I suggest that you turn off much if not most of that noise. I have cancelled most of my subscriptions to well meaning newsletters, and publications. Not that someone else won’t enjoy them and reap benefits. I find for myself, focusing on a much smaller diet of “positive news” makes a huge difference. There is so much negativity all around that it might seem impossible, but it’s not. This includes The Internet, which can be one of the biggest time sucks there is. Interestingly, when I turned off 90% of “The News” I found that my “online time” shrunk to about 10% of what I had been spending with it before. My outlook has improved and I don’t feel lost or left out. Pick your “trusted resources”, and turn off the others. You’ll free up your mind to focus on what’s really important. You won’t miss a thing and you just might discover the proper path for you follow.

Making gardening hip or cool?

 

According to Ball Publishing, "The Berry Family of Nurseries (BFN) announces the launch of a line of products aimed at the urban dweller. Berry is teaming with internationally recognized landscape designer, author and garden personality Jaime Durie. The partnership is designed to engage the up and coming gardeners and gardeners to be."

In a You Tube interview Jamie say's, " “We’re going to make gardening hip again...and were going to make it fun.”  That's a pretty amazing feat for one man, and one nursery. I remember when we we're told Suzie Coelho (remember her?) was going to do that.  It might work a bit, but when you say "we are going to make gardening hip again...and we are going to make it fun" that's a lot to promise.

Gardening doesn't need to be made hip and fun.  What happens when people find out it's not always "fun" or decide some other hobby is more hip? They feel let down and less likely to return to gardening. Rather than trying to make gardening hip and fun, we should be focusing on the rewards we receive from gardening. Beauty, health, food to eat, and a connection to the earth.

The British are worried about horticulture

It appears the British are concerned because, "research has suggested that many teenagers believe careers in the sector (horticulture) are for those who have failed academically." According to The BBC, "72% of horticulture firms cannot find skilled workers, with teens viewing the job as 'unskilled'".

A hopeful sign was the last paragraph from the article. According to a spokesman for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, "through our 'Future of Farming Initiative' we are working with the industry to help more talented, entrepreneurial young people build careers across the agriculture sector, including horticulture."

Just wording it , "The Future of Farming" is a good start.  We need to show that horticulture also includes the future of what we eat. Then the young people will show more interest. They are not necessarily interested in ornamental horticulture as much their parents we're. If the younger generation can understand that by becoming involved in horticulture they can change the world, then they might show interest. If they think horticulture is only about the perennial beds,  foundation shrubs, or lawn care, we won’t get the interest.

Get them hooked on the food side of horticulture, then the ornamental side may show more promise to them.  And forget about initiatives that are government supported. That will just bog the whole thing down. The trade needs to see what’s happening, and make the changes necessary themselves. Then you'll attract the type of new horticulturists we so desperately need going into the future.

Our future customers are in debt, and out of work

The greatest challenge garden centers face is the declining size of the next generation, as well as the enormous debt the next generation is responsible for. The New York Times had this article concerning the student debt the next generation is amassing. Imagine coming out of college owing 150,000 USD and trying to find work in one of the worst job markets in decades. These are the people who are going to buy houses and shop at the local garden center?

Not only is the next generation in debt, and facing an awful job market, but there are just fewer of this generation to replace the boomer generation who is retiring. If the garden center trade is waiting for economic recovery to take place and get back to the way things we’re, it’s going to be waiting a long time. There are just too many garden centers, home stores, box stores, and wholesale suppliers selling plants for the market. Further shrinkage of the trade is inevitable.

I know most in our trade are tired of hearing about how the next generation doesn't want to garden like their parents did. I imagine it’s because we just don’t know what to do. I was talking to a friend who is a wine maker, and that industry is looking at the same thing. They are not buying or drinking wine like their parents did. There is way too much acreage in this State of California growing grapes for the need. How many of these young people can afford $20 USD on wine? How many just don’t drink wine? That trade is shrinking just like the garden center trade.

The younger generation is interested in growing food to eat, and some of the same gardening their parents did. There just isn't enough of them with homes and steady jobs to support the trade. I expect to see the results of this trend first in Europe where the youth unemployment is skyrocketing. It’s already begun and those of us who wish to stay in this trade will have to figure out how to service a shrinking demographic who's interests are different than the generations who helped build the trade.

The only certainty is a smaller and poorer demographic will be our next generation of customers. What can be done to survive and prosper in this environment? I think the future is very bright for those who can figure out which path to take. There will just be a lot fewer of us on that path.

Garden shops, do you sell this cool tool?

Sometimes the stuff we already sell is cool and unusual to those who don't know we sell them. Take these 4'tall cedar stakes which we're featured in a blog I follow called, "Cool Tools". Here is what the author say's about these "cool tools"." I used to buy tomato cages — open-ended, circular wire cages—to secure the plants — but they were never strong enough once the tomato plants got taller than 4 feet. The cages would slowly collapse, taking the plants with them, which was worse than if I hadn't used anything. Last summer I happened upon a simple, yet effective device to keep the tomato jungle under control: the cedar stake."

Did you hear that? The amazing cool tool known a 4' cedar stake. "Cedar stakes come in various lengths and can be found at any home-improvement or garden store. They are inexpensive, especially compared to tomato cages. I bought 6-foot stakes, one for each plant, and some stretchy vinyl tie that expands with the growth of plants." Wow!

The author mentions that you can buy them at home improvement stores and "garden stores" (notice we are not called "garden centers" any more). At the end of the post Amazon is mentioned as a place to by these amazing stakes at "12 4-foot stakes, $25" 

I found the post interesting since we in the garden center, I mean "garden shop" business, would likely never have looked at the lowly plant stake the way our potential customers might. We see them as a obvious choice when staking tomatoes while our potential customers see them as an amazing new way to hold up their vegetable plants.

We need to look at our businesses in a whole new light. Not the light of years of horticultural experience, but the eyes of potential new customers where everything about gardening is magical and full of fantastic devices to make gardening more successful   Sometimes those fantastic new new devices and ways of doing things are just something we forgot about in our efforts to keep abreast of "whats new".

Master Gardener?

Susan at Garden Rant has a post today titled, "When Master Gardeners Break The Rules and Say They Are Master Gardeners."  Susan say's, " I received an email complaining about two Illinois Master Gardeners identifying themselves as such on the Directory of Garden Coaches. " According to Monica from the Illinois Master Gardener program, "all states have similar policies and Master Gardeners are not allowed to use their title in any form of commercial advertisement." If your sign up for the Master Gardener program you also sign up to abide by the rules. Seems pretty clear.  More to my interest is why people who sign up and complete these courses can call themselves "Master Gardeners"? Imagine taking a class on cooking for a  50 hour cumulative period of time, taking a test, and then calling yourself a "Master Chef?" I have been in the nursery trade for over 30 years and I don't even consider myself a "Master Horticulturist."

This is not to diminish what Master Gardeners do, or the fact that some in the program might very well be "Master Gardeners." Perhaps it's time to think about changing the name of the program to something that more accurately describes what they do? With so many people newly interested in gardening it might be less intimidating to them if the didn't have to consult with "Masters" when asking questions. In their minds it might be like having to call Emeril Lagasse, who is most certainly a Master Chef,  to ask what it means to add a "dash" of seasoning to a dish. They likely would be too intimidated, and not call. If we in the gardening professions are having discussions about this you can only imagine what the newly excited gardener might thinking.

It's time for the Master Gardener program to ask itself if it might be more beneficial to change the name to something more descriptive of what they actually do. It's a great program, and the people who complete it are to be congratulated. Let's come up with a title less intimidating to the public who are the beneficiaries of the knowledge gained by the "extension volunteers" hard work.

Climb a different ladder

SF Gate has an article today titled, “What scares employees most?”. The answer? Making a mistake. Whats the result of this? This comment from the article say’s it all. “At my job, the ones who don't make mistakes are the ones who sit there and do nothing all day.”

Over at Today's Garden Center  Karli Petrovic explains, “Why I am not gardening (and no one else my age is either) ”.  It’s a story of Generation Y and what Karli sees as the reasons many in her age group don’t garden. What caught my eye was the quote, “As many Gen-Yer's will tell you, most of the flack we get for being lazy and selfish is simply not true. The majority of us (primarily those without trust funds) are working exceptionally hard to move up the corporate ladder. After shelling out for car payments, student loans, groceries and rent (and cheap wine, when going out is no longer an option), there is little to spend on home improvement.”

The corporate ladder? The corporate ladder often leads to working at places where, “the ones who don't make mistakes are the ones who sit there and do nothing all day.”  I hope generation Y doesn't fall into the “corporate ladder” trap.  Seems to me that if you really want to make a difference and change your world you have to avoid the “corporate ladder” at all costs. It use to lead up, but these days the ladder can just as quickly lead nowhere, or down. Climb your own ladder and don't be afraid to move it. That way you can reach the ripe fruit.