Exciting times in gardening
I have been remiss in cultivating this blog, and thank a long time reader for reminding me to do just that. We have been busy at the nursery with a spring not dominated by cold and rain, like last year. The weather has cooperated and people continue to buy edibles like there is no tomorrow. I enjoy the edible crowd as they have put a lot of effort into their garden, and they will do what’s right to keep it productive.
When you hear that generation x or y are not into gardening, check the source. No sign of that here. My customer base is at least 50% under 30 years of age. They are excited about growing the stuff they consume and want to patronize local business, if you have what they want. They don’t want synthetics! Get your organic groove on, because they want to know how to do it all! I disagree with those who say we are not in the job of education. I think that’s exactly what is needed, and what we should do. Teach a person how to garden…
Small is cool! After thirty years in this biz I can say, keep it small and keep your cool! It’s so easy when everything is riding on your decisions to work yourself to exhaustion. If it feels like it’s getting out of control, slow down. Take the time to focus on the person in front of you at the moment. That’s what it’s all about. Not saying we don’t need to “make hay while the sun shines”, but we can only do so much.
There is no better time for the smaller garden business. Being small means you can react to changes that come faster and faster every day. Being small means you can excel at your craft, and command the price for your work that you need to stay in business. The future of garden bio-diversity rests in the hands of gardeners, and small garden businesses.
How great it is to be alive when so much is changing. In the garden trades we get to help guide people in their efforts to live better.It’s a trade that is perfectly suited for the world we live in. Did I say these we’re exciting times?
Stamping a generation with a label does no justice to the actual people within that generation. I love seeing the new families coming in with their children and instilling in them the love of gardening. It reminds me of the times I have and still have tagging along with my mom to the garden centers (namely Kings in Santa Rosa). She still shops there at 83 years of age! Something sunk in and hopefully it will continue if we make a good impression through education and selection. Great blog Trey!
Thanks Mary,
I think with everything going on around us people are looking for something they can do that makes a real difference in themselves, and the community. Gardening is that.
Thanks for your wonderful positive attitude, as usual! Small is good, and I need to remind myself that its just where I want to be.
Hello Trey ,thanks for blog ,I agree our job is education ! We are slowly trying to shrink our business to increase margin …it will take another year to turn the animal around ,,cant wait!!
Have a look Pergola nurseries fan page on facebook to see what social media can do!!
Nice blog, Trey. I started reading it with my age-old ‘Christensen’s Nursery’ head on, then moved on to feeling like it was helping me deal with my garden today (which is a bit too big for me, so does go into overwhelm occasionally), but before long I was thinking ‘Hey, wait a minute, Trey’s also talking about Life!’.
As in – it’s good to want to thrive, but the way to attune to that is to ‘keep it small and keep it cool’ (for me that means keep focused and don’t try to take on too much). ‘If it feels like it’s getting out of control, slow down’ – I really liked that one. The temptation, my temptation I should say, is to run even faster, but then the satisfaction goes out of the window. ‘Being small means you can excel at your craft, and charge the prices you need…’ is also true, it reminds me to not do too many seminars just because people want them, better to do fewer and make them more special.
I’ve always thought that gardening (even at, or perhaps especially at, your professional level) brings things together – your blog confirms it! Many thanks for the good reminders…
All best, Brian
Thank you Brian for you kind words. I have been feeling a bit inadequate lately when it comes to my writing. It happens now and then. Your comment inspired me, right when I needed it.