Transcript of Belinda's chat 4-20-10

The chat archive file maxed out and started overwriting the oldest data, so the transcript begins 23 minutes into the chat.





[18:23:48 20/04/10] @ boffer : pictures for the off-season?!

[18:23:58 20/04/10] @ boffer : when they come to see your gardens

[18:24:03 20/04/10] Belinda : less than an hour and 30+ people every time

[18:24:07 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : I like the idea for the senior homes

[18:24:25 20/04/10] Belinda : silk plants!

[18:24:30 20/04/10] @ boffer : aha

[18:24:34 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : gardening is my therapy

[18:24:42 20/04/10] Wyldflower : Do you bring a sample box with you? what size?

[18:24:59 20/04/10] Belinda : no just a grid and power point from SFG

[18:25:11 20/04/10] Belinda : lots of great garden pictures

[18:25:28 20/04/10] Belinda : people are SO excited by the time class is done

[18:25:48 20/04/10] Belinda : In visiting with Mel, he said speaking at libraries was how he actually got started on the speaking circuit. He also suggested holding classes at municipal buildings where it is lawful to actually sell produc

[18:26:09 20/04/10] Belinda : He said to get into as many libraries as you can now because our selling season is so short. We have also advertised in a local direct mailing magazine and an online local classified ad site

[18:26:24 20/04/10] Belinda : Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter are really great too as they enable you to get the word out about your business to all your friends and family

[18:26:29 20/04/10] Belinda : go sfg

[18:26:34 20/04/10] @ boffer : thinking

[18:26:42 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : I was sold after reading the book

[18:26:51 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : the excitement !!

[18:26:56 20/04/10] Belinda : Advertising is essential so plan on spending some dollars in this area. One customer told me that she and her husband are really saving their money these days and not spending much on extras; but our gardens

[18:27:09 20/04/10] Belinda : were something they definitely felt were a necessity

[18:27:15 20/04/10] Wyldflower : Ii'm seriously thinking about this now... I hadn't really considered it. Is the 'public speaking' part of this difficult for you?

[18:27:36 20/04/10] Belinda : I hear so many people say...I have been wanting to do this for years

[18:27:49 20/04/10] Belinda : when they find our business they are SO excited

[18:28:02 20/04/10] Belinda : we provide everything they need for SFG

[18:28:19 20/04/10] Belinda : Home Gardens To Go builds garden boxes and delivers them with Mel’s Mix, a grid and weed cloth to the customers home

[18:28:27 20/04/10] Belinda : go sfg

[18:28:34 20/04/10] @ boffer : Is the 'public speaking' part of this difficult for you?

[18:28:49 20/04/10] Belinda : no this is actually harder!

[18:29:01 20/04/10] @ boffer : lol

[18:29:04 20/04/10] Belinda : I am very enthusiastic and energetic

[18:29:12 20/04/10] Belinda : I am not shy in the least

[18:29:20 20/04/10] Belinda : I am on TV every week!

[18:29:33 20/04/10] Belinda : I sing with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir

[18:29:39 20/04/10] @ boffer : live or studio?

[18:29:49 20/04/10] Belinda : live

[18:30:15 20/04/10] Belinda : I am thrilled to now be a part of the SFG staff. Mel is the greatest

[18:30:16 20/04/10] Wyldflower : some of us have the opposite characteristics... a bit quiet in person... talk a lot online.LOL..... You're a very talented woman, Belinda!

[18:30:23 20/04/10] Belinda : He is a hero to me

[18:30:47 20/04/10] Belinda : what a great opportunity for my business to be associated with him

[18:31:13 20/04/10] Belinda : . Mel tells me that product distribution centers are beginning to crop up around the country. That is another exciting business opportunity. And best of all, our business can say that a portion of the custo

[18:31:29 20/04/10] Belinda : , our business can say that a portion of the customers purchase is donated to humanitarian efforts to teach square foot gardening around the world!

[18:31:46 20/04/10] Belinda : Certified teachers are vital to the SFGF mission. At every turn, Mel speaks of teaching with a passion

[18:32:01 20/04/10] Belinda : Stop and contemplate how much good you can do as an ambassador for SFGF? Not only can you earn extra money

[18:32:13 20/04/10] Belinda : . but more importantly, you can educate, motivate, inspire, and even change lives.

[18:32:18 20/04/10] Belinda : go sfg

[18:32:23 20/04/10] @ boffer : how do you handle problem questions? my lower leaves are yellowing etc

[18:32:49 20/04/10] @ boffer : seems like a tough one for newer gardener teachers

[18:33:02 20/04/10] Wyldflower : so you are teaching sfg, selling sfg materials and produce.... do you need business permits and such?

[18:33:07 20/04/10] Belinda : You learn as you go and I only profess to be an expert in SFG

[18:33:36 20/04/10] Belinda : we have a business license with the city and tax license with the state

[18:33:56 20/04/10] Belinda : this is a first for me except for selling Avon for 15 years

[18:34:03 20/04/10] Belinda : go sfg

[18:34:26 20/04/10] @ boffer : there's the personality again!

[18:34:40 20/04/10] PransomeHince : another ahha moment - avon could have gotten you out of your shell

[18:34:58 20/04/10] Belinda : yes I'm sure it did

[18:35:04 20/04/10] PransomeHince : been involved in mlm myself

[18:35:11 20/04/10] Belinda : its a lot more fun running my OWN thing

[18:35:16 20/04/10] Wyldflower : Haven't really looked into teaching, but now interested... how much does a correspondence course cost? how much for symposium?

[18:35:22 20/04/10] @ boffer : yep

[18:35:35 20/04/10] Belinda : and people are really buying!

[18:35:49 20/04/10] @ boffer : the timing is perfect right now

[18:35:58 20/04/10] Belinda : I actually helpd a customer that called my phone while doing this

[18:36:13 20/04/10] Belinda : timing couldn't be better

[18:36:49 20/04/10] @ boffer : so what does the m other hen of teachers actually do?

[18:36:57 20/04/10] Belinda : we are on track to double our revenues this year

[18:37:13 20/04/10] Belinda : answer emails and phone calls

[18:37:21 20/04/10] Belinda : help to get product out to teachers

[18:37:38 20/04/10] Belinda : keep an updated teacher roster

[18:37:51 20/04/10] Belinda : motivate and inspire!

[18:38:03 20/04/10] Wyldflower : product would be .... teaching materials? PPT presentations? etc?

[18:38:20 20/04/10] Belinda : SFGF has a lot going on and it really helps to have a contact person for teachrs

[18:38:43 20/04/10] Belinda : sfg books for resale

[18:38:57 20/04/10] PransomeHince : Does your curriculm teach the teahcers to teach?

[18:39:07 20/04/10] Belinda : teachers can sell book, boxes, grids, etc

[18:39:28 20/04/10] Belinda : not really how to teach but what

[18:39:47 20/04/10] Belinda : at the suymposiums you can observe the best teachers and learn from them

[18:39:54 20/04/10] Belinda : go sfg

[18:39:58 20/04/10] @ boffer : are you involved in the certification process?

[18:40:11 20/04/10] PransomeHince : when and where are the symposiums held.

[18:40:25 20/04/10] Belinda : yes I help to grade the tests(open book)

[18:40:44 20/04/10] Belinda : Vermont, Hawaii, Eden -Go to www.squarefootgardening.com/teaching for symposium dates and details.

[18:40:55 20/04/10] PransomeHince : ty

[18:41:07 20/04/10] Belinda : its very worthwhile and Mel is usually at these

[18:41:32 20/04/10] Belinda : the cost or certification is quite low in my opinion

[18:41:33 20/04/10] martha : is there an extended calendar? I am so sadly not going to be able to go to Vermont, but I would love to get to one in new England.

[18:41:52 20/04/10] Belinda : $81 for correspondence course $165 for symposiun

[18:42:07 20/04/10] Belinda : that's all I have right now

[18:42:26 20/04/10] Wyldflower : I see a trip to Utah in my future!

[18:42:38 20/04/10] Belinda : Eden of all places!

[18:42:45 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : Thank you this was great Smile

[18:42:51 20/04/10] martha : does it make sense to become certified on-line, and then attend a symposium when there is one close enough?

[18:42:55 20/04/10] @ boffer : Crying or Very sad martha's darn boss anyhow!

[18:43:01 20/04/10] Belinda : I asked Mel how he ended up in Eden...he said there's a story behind it

[18:43:10 20/04/10] Belinda : but I still need to hear it

[18:43:32 20/04/10] Belinda : symposiums are definitely better

[18:43:52 20/04/10] Belinda : you get hands on training and associate with great examples

[18:44:53 20/04/10] Belinda : go sfg

[18:44:57 20/04/10] @ boffer : what other ways do teachers generate income through sfg

[18:44:59 20/04/10] PransomeHince : In your own personal experience, what was your greatest success

[18:45:30 20/04/10] PransomeHince : And your worst failure

[18:45:53 20/04/10] Belinda : in business?

[18:46:02 20/04/10] Belinda : hmmmm

[18:46:09 20/04/10] PransomeHince : no, prior to

[18:46:42 20/04/10] Belinda : My greatest success has been raising a family of six children

[18:47:02 20/04/10] Belinda : fantastic marriage of 30 years Apr 23

[18:47:05 20/04/10] PransomeHince : Nah - in re sfg

[18:47:08 20/04/10] @ boffer : that's gotta make everything else easy!

[18:47:13 20/04/10] Belinda : Oh dar

[18:47:17 20/04/10] Wyldflower : happy anniversary!

[18:47:24 20/04/10] Belinda : oh darn I was getting personal

[18:47:29 20/04/10] PransomeHince : lol fertilization -- sorry

[18:47:32 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : Well thats what made you ready for sfg Smile

[18:47:34 20/04/10] Belinda : thanks

[18:47:43 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : It was nice belinda Smile

[18:47:45 20/04/10] martha : I too would like to know what other ways one generates income? (And yes, happy anniversary!)

[18:48:07 20/04/10] Belinda : worst failure when I dd my first SFG

[18:48:25 20/04/10] Belinda : I went cheap on the compost, can you believe it?!

[18:48:44 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : what do you mean you went "cheap"

[18:48:52 20/04/10] Belinda : I fixed that in a hurry. it inspired me to do my business

[18:49:18 20/04/10] Belinda : I actually didn't read the book as carefull as I thought ..you know 5 different bags

[18:49:31 20/04/10] Belinda : I just bought steer manure!

[18:49:45 20/04/10] Belinda : I've learned a lot since then!!!

[18:49:47 20/04/10] Wyldflower : strong stuff!

[18:50:02 20/04/10] Belinda : I have met others you have had similar experience

[18:50:05 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : how did you fix it

[18:50:10 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : well you are talking to one now.

[18:50:16 20/04/10] PransomeHince : lol - we've got chicken farms around here. Farmer spreads his fields every spring

[18:50:17 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : lololololol nothing is in it yet though

[18:50:18 20/04/10] Belinda : that's why there is a niche for this business

[18:50:18 20/04/10] @ boffer : that seems to be a tough one to convince people about-using mel's mix

[18:50:34 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : ohhhhhh you used only manure? or

[18:50:54 20/04/10] Belinda : okay..that was some years ago

[18:51:02 20/04/10] Belinda : my tomatoes liked it!

[18:51:21 20/04/10] Belinda : there is a lot to digest in Mel's book it takes study

[18:51:22 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : so you used vermiculite and peat and manure

[18:51:41 20/04/10] Belinda : yes..maybe some other compost too

[18:51:43 20/04/10] Wyldflower : I know Mel did a lot of testing to find the best... is it okay to go a little short on vermic?

[18:51:57 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : so

[18:52:09 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : lololol I should plant all tomatoes in tha box

[18:52:12 20/04/10] Belinda : I am a purist when it comes to SFG I go by the book

[18:52:13 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : lolololololololol

[18:52:25 20/04/10] @ boffer : you've found a product to sell, what do other teachers incorporate along with teaching

[18:52:27 20/04/10] Belinda : I really like vermiculite!

[18:52:40 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : lololol Im killin myself saying how glad Im made it here to night before I planted that box

[18:52:43 20/04/10] Belinda : you can actually charge a teacher fee

[18:52:56 20/04/10] Belinda : many groups are happy to pay

[18:54:13 20/04/10] Belinda : I had a new teacher say a local nursery hired him on to teach-100+ people in a class

[18:54:35 20/04/10] Belinda : A gal that works at home depot teaches there

[18:54:47 20/04/10] Wyldflower : wow! I'd have a serious case of nerves

[18:55:21 20/04/10] Belinda : think of the new life that is out there waiting for you!

[18:55:36 20/04/10] Belinda : I'm all about change and progression

[18:56:07 20/04/10] @ boffer : a whole new chapter in life you never could have foreseen

[18:56:29 20/04/10] Wyldflower : This sounds like it can take as much or as little time as you want... how many hours of teaching is recommended?

[18:56:30 20/04/10] Belinda : my greatest success with SFG has been my new found desire to grow new things

[18:57:05 20/04/10] Belinda : I had never tried spinach, leaf lettuce, okra, chard,

[18:57:13 20/04/10] Belinda : Now these are some of my favorites

[18:57:42 20/04/10] Belinda : eggplant has a beautiful purple flower! I'm planting it from now on

[18:58:06 20/04/10] Belinda : go sfg

[18:58:11 20/04/10] @ boffer : so do artichokes

[18:58:12 20/04/10] PransomeHince : Eggplant going in next week

[18:58:26 20/04/10] Belinda : I have probably done enough talking!

[18:58:48 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : yes now i need to think about that box with the manure

[18:58:50 20/04/10] @ boffer : yeah, we're running overtime again!

[18:58:50 20/04/10] PransomeHince : had bugs in it last year, have to watch closer this

[18:58:51 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : :-D

[18:58:51 20/04/10] Wyldflower : HOw many hours do you teach (i know it varies by season)?

[18:58:52 20/04/10] Toastie : When using SFG do you need to stake your plants like peppers, squash, or bush beans

[18:59:08 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : will be in the forum posting for ideas

[18:59:11 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : lololol

[18:59:28 20/04/10] Wyldflower : overtime??? extra innings! ... no seriously.. thank youBelinda...

[18:59:40 20/04/10] @ boffer : thanks for being here, Belinda

[18:59:43 20/04/10] Belinda : I will teach about 10 hours so far

[18:59:49 20/04/10] PransomeHince : Yes thanks Belinda

[19:00:01 20/04/10] @ boffer : at least you didn't have to pay to join!

[19:00:06 20/04/10] Belinda : I don't stake peppers or bush beans

[19:00:17 20/04/10] @ boffer : hope to see on the forum sometimes

[19:00:47 20/04/10] Belinda : I'll try to show up now and then

[19:00:50 20/04/10] Ha-v-v : Thank you Belinda

[19:00:55 20/04/10] Wyldflower : I'm coming up with more questions.... what's the best way to reach you? Email at sfgf?

[19:01:08 20/04/10] @ boffer : the lights have come, the band has quit playing, it's last call

[19:01:09 20/04/10] Belinda : Its been fun!!Very Happy

[19:01:32 20/04/10] PransomeHince : lol boffer, but has the fat lady sung yet?

[19:01:34 20/04/10] Belinda : email sfgteachers@gmail.com

[19:01:37 20/04/10] martha : I hate it when that happens, Boffer! Wait no - I love it when that happens!

[19:01:44 20/04/10] martha : Thank you, Belinda!

[19:01:58 20/04/10] @ boffer : we're officially done, but the chat is open

[19:01:59 20/04/10] Belinda : I may sing but I;m not fat