I am I an idiot? Neighbor thinks so

JeanneRamick 4/9/2012, 2:34 pm

Have the new SFG book. Successful SFG for a few years. So, good ... right?

The neighbor across the street (just moved in .. this is a condo association with lots of rules) has berated me for "wasting so much money" on my garden.

He has one of those $45 dollar cedar kits from Home Depot that he's filling with astro-turf and Miracle-Grow water-saving potting soil. His stated plan is to "just use Miracle Grow when things look poorly"

Not to be mean, but he's telling everyone in the complex that I'm an idiot for buying "excessive" lumber and building a "cage" of chicken wire. (His SFQ has only 1" wide lumber)

JeanneRamick 4/9/2012, 2:36 pm

Ok, that was just whining, wasn't it?

Sorry.

Just hope my SFG beats the heck out of his whimpy imposter garden.

~feeling better now~ lol

B00kemdano 4/9/2012, 2:43 pm

I don't think the new guy is winning points with the neighbors if he's just moved in and already talking smack about someone he doesn't know.

Show him the error of his ways by growing better stuff in your garden. Laughing

givvmistamps 4/9/2012, 2:45 pm

The proof will be in the produce! Set uP a "taste test" when crops start rolling In.

Too Tall Tomatoes 4/9/2012, 3:22 pm

Why do you care if he thinks you're an idiot? Show him up with better results! Twisted Evil

efirvin 4/9/2012, 3:35 pm

Nope you're not an idiot and your results will prove it. Smile

Blow Mr. Miracle Glo off and don't let him rob you of the enjoyment you get from your sfg!

Evelyn

littlejo 4/9/2012, 3:53 pm

Just tell your neighbors that you are growing 'organic' veggies and his are not. Most folks will appreciate your effort and he will be the fool!

AvaDGardner 4/9/2012, 3:57 pm

Jeanne, what is the astro turf for? His weed cover?

Hey...maybe he thinks it will grow!

**camprn** 4/9/2012, 5:54 pm

People like that usually have a serious inferiority complex. Tell him quite clearly the cease his slander of your good name. If it continues, I would consider it a form of harassment.

P.S. Don't forget to give extra vegetables or summer jam to your neighbors Wink

TN_GARDENER 4/9/2012, 8:06 pm

JeanneRamick wrote:Ok, that was just whining, wasn't it?

Sorry.

Just hope my SFG beats the heck out of his whimpy imposter garden.

~feeling better now~ lol

Just a little, but that's OK.
Hopefully you two can end up being friendly neighbors and learn from one another. It could be worse. I've lived in apartments and condos that had rules against growing vegetables.

plantoid 4/9/2012, 8:15 pm

.Stop putting your life on hold and worrying what the cretin is saying.

Get on with your SFG'ing and enjoy it while you can because you're a long time dead .

The neighbours will soon make their choices , it's not often they take to someone with a big mouth and an empty head.

**Furbalsmom** 4/9/2012, 8:22 pm

Jeanne wrote:Not to be mean, but he's telling everyone in the complex that I'm an idiot for buying "excessive" lumber and building a "cage" of chicken wire. (His SFQ has only 1" wide lumber)

Remember, he is not really SFGng. He just has a wimpy raised bed with an inferior growing medium. I am I an idiot? Neighbor thinks so 3787310120

So, There!

All kidding aside, don't let him prevent you from enjoying your garden. The success of your garden is all you need.

givvmistamps 4/9/2012, 8:43 pm

AvaDGardner wrote:Jeanne, what is the astro turf for? His weed cover?

Hey...maybe he thinks it will grow!

I was kinda wondering why the astro-turf also.

GWN 4/9/2012, 9:45 pm

One thing I have learned taking on political issues, and that is that "even if everyone disagrees with you, it STILL DOES NOT MEAN YOU ARE WRONG"

He likely watches too much TV Smile

stripesmom 4/9/2012, 10:48 pm

Last year, when I did my first SFG boxes, my DH thought I was nuts. I mean, really nuts. I talked about it all the time, I thought about it all the time too, lol. But in the end, he and his family were amazed at what I had produced from a few small boxes (see my picture?). We have expanded and are expanding again this year. It's a learning experience, plus, it's fun. When everyone else's garden burnt up, mine was fine because I could shade it and I watered it twice a day by hand. (Hopefully, I can get a watering system going). When they all had weeds but no garden, mine was growing well and weed free. We had tomatoes before anyone else. Don't worry about what other people say, do what you want. Oh, also, that Miracle Grow is way more expensive than MM if your going to plant lots of boxes. Not sure if you have a Menard's close, but you can get vermiculite there for a lot less. It's in the insulation department.

JeanneRamick 4/9/2012, 11:11 pm

Thanks for the encouragement folks. (Why the heck am I still acting like a Jr High girl by caring what someone else thinks of me? Good heavens ... at my age, you'd think things like that no longer mattered, right? Or maybe we really do get younger {more immature} as we age ... I haven't gotten to the point that my BM's - or not - have become a topic of conversation as some others in the complex have.)

Mr. Miracle-Grow put Astro-turf in the bottom of his box (which is not delineated as a SFG per Mel's book) for some reason. I have no idea why he would do that, as we both have our boxes on our cement patio's. The only weeds that could get in would be wind-driven. So my "excessive" investment in using 2" lumber seams a 'wash' to the astro-turf ... IMHO.

GWN 4/9/2012, 11:17 pm

You know jeaneramick
You are SOOO right.
Why the heck does anyone care what anyone else thinks of them, ESPECIALLY when the anyone else's are sooooo silly.

JeanneRamick 4/9/2012, 11:36 pm

Probably because our patio's face each other across the open area between buildings AND he sits out there smoking (nasty, stinky) cigars while 'bad-mouthing' me.

It's wrong for me to know about how tobacco affects tomato plants and not mention to him, isn't it?

GWN wrote:You know jeaneramick You are SOOO right.
Why the heck does anyone care what anyone else thinks of them, ESPECIALLY when the anyone else's are sooooo silly.

givvmistamps 4/9/2012, 11:47 pm

JeanneRamick wrote:Probably because our patio's face each other across the open area between buildings AND he sits out there smoking (nasty, stinky) cigars while 'bad-mouthing' me.

It's wrong for me to know about how tobacco affects tomato plants and not mention to him, isn't it?

OK, please fill me in on tobacco and tomatoes. I know tobacco contains "bad things" for poinsettias, but tomatoes? Inquiring minds want to know.

JeanneRamick 4/9/2012, 11:59 pm

Michelle, there is a cross-transmitted disease from tobacco to (lots!) of other plants. I don't remember the details very well, but my parents "burned" it into me that smokers were NOT allowed near the tomato plants.

Maybe a Google search for "tomatoes tobacco" would bring up the details.

givvmistamps 4/10/2012, 12:02 am

JeanneRamick wrote:Michelle, there is a cross-transmitted disease from tobacco to (lots!) of other plants. I don't remember the details very well, but my parents "burned" it into me that smokers were NOT allowed near the tomato plants.

Maybe a Google search for "tomatoes tobacco" would bring up the details.

Thanks; probably the same disease that harms the poinsettias. Just one more thing on my list of "To research". study

Chopper 4/10/2012, 12:19 am

tobacco mosaic virus

**gwennifer** 4/10/2012, 1:19 am

Remember this:

"Offense is never given, only taken."

Don't know who to attribute it to, but I remember it every time I feel offended. It reminds me that I have a choice. Forgive him.

Been doing this SFG thing successfully for a few years now huh? That's great! Hope you'll share your experience with us newbies.

BTW, am I the only one who is now thinking of the "tomacco" Simpson episode?

ilvalleygal 4/10/2012, 11:02 am

1) Warn your neighbors to turn down anything grown in that garden since it contains any number of petroleum-based, cancer causing chemicals leached from the astroturf.

2) Next time you are out and about stop at a locally-owned, reputable nursery or greenhouse (not a box store, the young folks they hire don't have a clue) and ask about using Scott's Miracle-Gro as a planting medium for anything, even ornamentals.

And, when the tomatoes come in, enjoy them since they won't eventually kill you.

AvaDGardner 4/10/2012, 11:30 pm

Our coordinator is always answering that question.

MG will give you false results. It has ingredients that give you unnatural increases for year one, which also stresses the plants. The following years those additives are gone, used up in year 1, and so you get normal results or smaller for year 2+.

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