Another goal for my Sandpit garden is to practice frugality. This entails making the best use of the resources available to me by reusing ,recycling and generally becoming more thrifty.
Both of the above goals tend to force you use your resources and imagination and lead you down the road to becoming more self sufficient. And being self sufficient is the end goal after all.
Way I figure, a lot of valuable gardening knowledge that used to be passed down from generation to generation has been lost in our society today. We take for granted that the store will always be open to buy our food and accept the inflated prices and pesticides used to grow the commercial crops for convenience sake.So my challenge for 2011 is to opt out. Learn how to and grow your own garden plants and vegetables from seed without using chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Become more self sufficient and regain the lost knowledge that past generations had. Then share your experience with others.
The gauntlet has been thrown down and I double dog dare you to take the 2011 challenge.
--SANDDUNE--
I sure hope my husband doesn't read this. He loves thrifty. That's a tough gauntlet you've thrown down there. I do agree with you in principle, but the practice is hard for me when I'm in a garden center. Oh wait, why am I IN the garden center?
ReplyDeleteI have committed to using only organic ferts and pest control methods. That's proving to be a big learning curve for me right there. This year I do intend to do more propagating of plants I already have. However, some plants take more time to grow from seed than the life-span I have left :)
I will look forward to your experiences with this year's commitment.
Nanak,
ReplyDeletePart of the challenge is to change your way of thinking. Like to think of the garden center as a last resort instead of the first. I like to visit them to see the outragous prices they are charging for plants that I have grown myself just for a laugh. That is a reward in itself.
By changing to organic methods in your garden you have already taken steps toward the challenge. And I seem to remember your salvaging the wicker furniture and renewing it. Humm, seems like you are on the road less traveled already. But I must caution you that using your learned skills, resources and imagination can become addicting :-]
Been there, done that, ate the results.
ReplyDeleteHi Nelljean,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is one that provide volumes of gardening experience and good information for a rookie gardener like me. I spect you are the visable proof that the 2011 challenge is doable.