Sunday, April 22, 2012

What My Garden Means To Me…

Hello again dear #gardenchat friends.  I wanted to share with you some thoughts on some recent topics of Facebook, blogs and chats with other gardeners.  I enjoy hearing what your comments will be, what your garden means to you…

Why do you have a blog?  Especially a garden blog??

(Pictures from my back garden this week)
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What makes one decide to share your home and life on a website? 
We as gardeners blog for numerous reasons, but the main one being we want to show our readers the plants we grow.  For me, I was starting with a new home, a blank slate.  Blogging was an excellent way to document my progress.

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(Miley, my Boston Terrier Mixed Pup… She loves the garden too!)

Next question…. So it was basically a journal for you to keep records of your garden?
 
Yes, really it was for the first year or so.  Then slowly my garden began to take shape and I learned how to take better photographs of it.  For a long time I only had a few followers, maybe 30 readers for the first year.  And I was happy with that.  I loved getting any comments.  I was learning from those comments.  Then I would look to see if those who read my blog had a blog of their own.
 
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I can tell you one thing for sure, you will learn to be a much better gardener by reading garden blogs.  

Especially if you seek out ones near your area, growing the same things you can grow.  You’ll begin to make a list of plants, ideas, and styles that you can incorporate into your garden. Then you will want to share your progress on your site.  You will be amazed at how your garden will change from year to year.  You won’t believe how much better it will look, and how much more attention and love you have for it.

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Does it cost to have a blog?  Do you pay for your blog?

No, my blog is thru Blogger, www.blogger.com, and it is a free service.  I found it to be very easy to set up.  You will need an working email and then it will walk you thru the steps.  There are numerous sites that host free blogs, Wordpress is another popular choice.  The hardest part might be picking a name for your site.

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So how did you choose “Creative Country Mom”?

Well, the ‘Country’ part was easy…  I live in a farmhouse style home way out in the boonies.  I’ve always thought of myself as a country girl.  I love to travel and enjoy all types of design… No, I don’t even own anything with camouflage on it, but I love the simple life in a small rural community.  In many ways we are living our dream here at the lake.
The Mom part had to do with how little the girls were.  They were 2 and 4 when we bought the property and 4 and 6 when we moved.  Sometimes I’m amazed I got anything done in the first couple of years out there…. it is kind of a blur!

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(Chives blooming this week.)

And the ‘Creative’ part… we’ll that is kind of a good way to describe me.  Above all else that is something I feel I need to be.  I seem to always have projects going on, and look forward to the next one.  Always wanting to edit, rear out and redo.  To me a house or a garden is never finished.  It is a work in progress.  And I love it that way.

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So what does my garden mean to me?

My garden is my art. It’s where I am not afraid to take chances.  I am fearless in the garden.  I wish I was more confident in other aspects of my life.
My garden is my sanctuary.  It is my church.  It is my therapist.  It is my friend.  I feel at peace in the garden.  My problems seem small and life seems much simpler working in the dirt.
My garden is my joy.  I am happy there.  I slow down in the garden.  I can see things more clearly.  It makes me think better.
My garden gives me hope.  I know that no matter how long the winter can be, there will be a spring.  I think that is a lesson for all of us in life.  It goes on… and it does get better.  Life has flow, and so do our gardens.
My garden has taught me patience.  I need more patience.  But I know that if I keep working toward my goal it can happen.  That is what I am seeing now, thing are taking shape.
It makes me proud to share it with you.  I am happy with how it has came together.  I am proud of it. And that is why I enjoy sharing it with you.

This is why I have a garden blog…. Why do you? 

I’d love to hear your responses.
_____________________________
Brooke Kroeger
#gardenchat contributor
Twitter @Brooke_CCM

4 comments:

Bloomin'Chick Jo said...

My main blog started about my day to day and health. With time, it grew to include many things like my gardening, photography & occasional travel. My main blog's focus changes with the seasons as well as my health & physical abilities. Gardening is an enormous part of who I am; it's my Church, my life-saver, my therapist, my healer. That is why it is also an enormous part of my main blog! (I have a separate blog which focuses on NJ).

Bren Haas said...

I love garden blogging because I can share my garden because it makes the world a happier place - don't you think?!

Karen said...

Wow, Brooke, I think we have exactly the same mind-set about what our gardens mean to us! blessings, k

Modern Mia said...

I blog about my adventures in gardening with my kids. Many people garden with their kids so it's not unusual. I thought it would be interesting to share our adventures and misadventures. My hope is they will grow to love gardening and eat the veggies we grow. When I was a child, we worked my uncle's garden all summer. I loved eating the fresh food from it (usually cooked with liberal amounts of salt pork). I want to pass this tradition and eating to my kids instead of the constant picking/sorting at the grocery store produce aisle.