People think you're crazy?!

peachiee77 5/19/2013, 11:17 pm

Ok so does anyone else have people look at you like you're crazy when you talk about SFG? This is my first year and I've never gardened before in my life so that could be some of the looks I get, but when I talk about the garden or what I'm doing people look at me like 'ya? That's not going to work!', especially when I talk about the zucchini and squash growing vertically!

Its getting on my nerves a bit, but just pushes me to make y garden that much more awesome - is that bad?! Haha

Dunkinjean 5/19/2013, 11:24 pm

Yes, peachiee77, most people have never heard of SFG so they thought I was crazy too!
My neighbor can't believe I can grow watermelon, pumpkins, and butternut squash on my trellises.
It is especially hard to convert some row gardeners to SFG gardening. All we can do is try and then let them see how well our gardens produce! Very Happy

littlejo 5/19/2013, 11:57 pm

My first yr, I went to garden centers and farm stores, trying to find the ingredients, and I would talk about the method, etc. Most were guys, farmers themselves, at least at the farm stores. They laughed right in my face! The garden store folks said to believe them and not the book!

I finally had to order the verm. thru a small flower shop, they got it for me cheaper, and they did not laugh. They wanted pics.

But, my worst experience was with my county extension service, they said they could not help me if I did not garden with 'real' dirt. They may have changed some since the Foundation is now in Columbia, SC.

That first yr was very good. I went back to the places that laughed, to find where/what to do with all the produce. They stopped laughing, at least in front of me!
Jo

boffer 5/20/2013, 12:28 am

peachiee77 wrote:...This is my first year and I've never gardened before in my life...

I said the same thing when I started, only I was in my fifties. What you said gives you a great advantage over experienced row gardeners: no lifelong habits, no traditions, and no preconceived ideas about how things should be done. People don't laugh at me to my face, but I've had people stand right beside my tabletop SFGs full of healthy veggies, and tell me that it can't be done! Go figure! thinking

southern gardener 5/20/2013, 2:43 am

I had the same reaction with our local extension office when I was having problems with my MM. They were more set on telling me 6" isn't enough depth, than trying to help me figure out why my plants were stunted. I ended up going elsewhere for help! Crazy!

**camprn** 5/20/2013, 6:28 am

It's a shame about your experiences and the reaction of the folk at Extension service isn't typical. But when people laugh or shake their heads, and they tell you what THEY know, take it as an opportunity to educate. It's not about you, it's about SFG. Follow the book... It does work.

Goosegirl 5/20/2013, 7:54 am

littlejo wrote:... I went back to the places that laughed, to find where/what to do with all the produce. They stopped laughing, at least in front of me!
Jo

Good for you! Living (gardening) well is the best revenge! Your success will speak for itself!

GG

sdugas164 5/20/2013, 8:34 am

My mom's family is from farming backgrounds so they all know "best". I was talking about doing a barrel of potatoes and my mom had soo much fun telling me how wrong that was and why would I listen to randomness online. Then later was talking about tips for keeping deer out of garden- all of which she read online, vs listening to my husband. My husband's family has had deer for years and had learned the only thing is fencing everything in. So I said to her why don't you listen to Jeff vs some randomness online. She knew why I said that and I haven't had a gardening tip since.

B00kemdano 5/20/2013, 8:48 am

I guess I'm lucky! When I started last year, the nurseries that I went to on my vermiculite hunt knew about SFG, and were happy to help me find what I needed for my MM. Also, my wife has a friend who has a SFG (she was my inspiration!), and a few of them can be seen in our neighbhorhood. One is even in someone's front yard!

My town must be full of progressive gardeners. Razz

ArkansasSFGardener 5/20/2013, 9:31 am

I got some pretty good responses when searching for supplies. The nursery I bought my vermiculite at asked my if I was starting a SFG... As I was leaving there, she yelled as I was walking out, "You're doing a good thing!" Made me feel pretty good. I love talking about my SFG to people. I like blowing people away with the whole 6 inch thing lol... It still blows me away!

Lemonie 5/20/2013, 1:31 pm

Yep! I have neighbors that ask about what I'm growing when they see my trellises above the fence and laughed when I mentioned pumpkins and melons. They stopped laughing after I told them they could keep whatever grows over the fence. Smile

It's taken a couple years of getting my mom to embrace the concept after her decades of a large row garden, but she just started a few boxes this year and was so excited to not have to till up the ground again. Smile

I'm very glad that she will finally get to actually ENJOY gardening. cheers

Unmutual 5/20/2013, 2:22 pm

camprn wrote:It's a shame about your experiences and the reaction of the folk at Extension service isn't typical. But when people laugh or shake their heads, and they tell you what THEY know, take it as an opportunity to educate. It's not about you, it's about SFG. Follow the book... It does work.

Bold for emphasis. My local extension service know about SFG and they know that 6" is fine, in fact they promote 6-8" for any raised bed outside of certain root crops. SFG was even taught during my Master Gardener training and it was also my final project.

Most people will laugh because they don't know any better, they may even feel a little threatened. There are many things that work outside of row gardens and acres of monoculture that improves yields over time and space.

**walshevak** 5/20/2013, 8:32 pm

southern gardener wrote:I had the same reaction with our local extension office when I was having problems with my MM. They were more set on telling me 6" isn't enough depth, than trying to help me figure out why my plants were stunted. I ended up going elsewhere for help! Crazy!

I got this in two different counties. But my son and I get good results.

Kay

**jimmy cee** 5/24/2013, 7:23 am

I'm surprised at how many are aware of SFG.
I am explaining to all who are interested, however unless there's an indication of interest I am not pushing it.
I am planning to print out a bunch of photo's, keep them in a folder, and have them ready to show.
I'm a firm believer in a picture is worth a 1000 words.
Heck I am excited about it, shouldn't everyone else be also ?

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