I am just curious, because I have seen several members mention growing up with gardening, and learning it from older relatives. I am starting a poll question to see how many here are actually first time gardeners, and how many are legacy gardeners from generations of gardeners and farmers.
Feel free to share how you are a legacy or became interested in gardening. I myself am a legacy gardener. My mom and father's families were farmers several generations back, and some actually still are in the mid west and Texas, but my grandparents and both parents have always grown flowers, vegetables, and home remedies. I became fascinated at a young age about how plants can go from being a little seed to a big plant that can grow food, and even medicine.
I'm also curious how many of you also are do-it-yourself people in other ways.
-
rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 25279
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
- Location: TN/GA 7b
Nope, no legacy. My mom had our lawn ripped out, the ground poisoned, and gravel laid down. She never had so much as a single house plant. She didn't cook or do anything domestic in the house or yard.
So I am the anti-mom. I am a big time gardener, grow tons of flowers, herbs, veggies. I dry my herbs and also distill some for essential oils. I make jams, jellies, syrups, teas, as well as soaps, lotions, candles scented with my oils. I cook from scratch, can and freeze, and do lots of other crafts, NONE of which I learned at home.
So I am the anti-mom. I am a big time gardener, grow tons of flowers, herbs, veggies. I dry my herbs and also distill some for essential oils. I make jams, jellies, syrups, teas, as well as soaps, lotions, candles scented with my oils. I cook from scratch, can and freeze, and do lots of other crafts, NONE of which I learned at home.
-
watermelonpunch
- Senior Member
- Posts: 207
- Joined: Sun May 05, 2013 8:04 am
- Location: Pennsylvania USA
That's a tough one.
I can't say I learned gardening from my parents.
But I think a lot of people must be descended from farmers. At least if you go back far enough.
My father was an "organic" gardener before such a thing was fashionable. I didn't even realize this growing up. But now I understand a lot about why he grew the things he did and how he did, and why he didn't grow certain things... since my mother has told me he did not use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers for the vegetable garden & fruit trees & vines.
His father (my grandfather) came from a family of farmers in Poland, from what I understand.
My mother's father was also a gardener... and kept chickens & ducks.
My mother canned, and all sorts of things when I was growing up, and before (I was born more than 15 years after my parents married). My mother was a seamstress by trade back then. I regret now not having shown an interest in learning that growing up.
My step-father was a scientist... Interesting thing was that he was born on a farm, in a family of farmers... but left home as a teenager to pursue higher education & a career in nuclear science and worked on the Manhattan Project, before during & after serving in WWII, and had his own company which did scientific invention development.
But in retirement became a very avid gardener, and a very good one.
(And really, I see a STRONG connection between science and gardening... now that I'm gardening myself. Gardening IS science!)
I now have tried to ask questions & listen to what my mother has told me that my father and step-father had told her about gardening.
But mostly I'm learning about gardening from my mother-in-law, and just general research from education web sites (like universities), and from other gardeners posting on blogs & on forums like this on the web.
I think it's wonderful that now with the internet, one doesn't need personal/family connections to gardeners, in order to learn from the "legacy" of others who've gone before. Someone with no background and knowing no one who gardens, can get on the net and learn how to make their own gardening.
Perhaps that should be another thread... ? To ask how many people have had to start from scratch & learn everything on their own.
I can't say I learned gardening from my parents.
But I think a lot of people must be descended from farmers. At least if you go back far enough.
My father was an "organic" gardener before such a thing was fashionable. I didn't even realize this growing up. But now I understand a lot about why he grew the things he did and how he did, and why he didn't grow certain things... since my mother has told me he did not use synthetic pesticides or fertilizers for the vegetable garden & fruit trees & vines.
His father (my grandfather) came from a family of farmers in Poland, from what I understand.
My mother's father was also a gardener... and kept chickens & ducks.
My mother canned, and all sorts of things when I was growing up, and before (I was born more than 15 years after my parents married). My mother was a seamstress by trade back then. I regret now not having shown an interest in learning that growing up.
My step-father was a scientist... Interesting thing was that he was born on a farm, in a family of farmers... but left home as a teenager to pursue higher education & a career in nuclear science and worked on the Manhattan Project, before during & after serving in WWII, and had his own company which did scientific invention development.
But in retirement became a very avid gardener, and a very good one.
(And really, I see a STRONG connection between science and gardening... now that I'm gardening myself. Gardening IS science!)
I now have tried to ask questions & listen to what my mother has told me that my father and step-father had told her about gardening.
But mostly I'm learning about gardening from my mother-in-law, and just general research from education web sites (like universities), and from other gardeners posting on blogs & on forums like this on the web.
I think it's wonderful that now with the internet, one doesn't need personal/family connections to gardeners, in order to learn from the "legacy" of others who've gone before. Someone with no background and knowing no one who gardens, can get on the net and learn how to make their own gardening.
Perhaps that should be another thread... ? To ask how many people have had to start from scratch & learn everything on their own.
I think I must have learned gardening fundamentals from my parents. They had a basic realization that food could be grown in that manner and shared that with me. Still, we didn't have very many seasons of gardening when I was growing up on a farm.
Dad wanted to be a dairy farmer but could never quite make the transition away from his job in town. The effort lasted nearly all the way through my childhood, however.
I remember Dad saying that if my mother wanted to care for the garden, she could. He was not going to do it after the 1st few years. She had him till some ground close to the house and planted only her favorite crop - cantaloupe! LOL It was okay by me - I didn't enjoy the hoeing I was usually assigned to in the larger garden.
Interest in gardening may have skipped a generation with Mom. When I was 3 and 4 years old, we lived with my grandmother on her little farm. Grandfather had passed by then but Grandma was the real, dedicated gardener. I became aware of the world in her garden.
Steve
Dad wanted to be a dairy farmer but could never quite make the transition away from his job in town. The effort lasted nearly all the way through my childhood, however.
I remember Dad saying that if my mother wanted to care for the garden, she could. He was not going to do it after the 1st few years. She had him till some ground close to the house and planted only her favorite crop - cantaloupe! LOL It was okay by me - I didn't enjoy the hoeing I was usually assigned to in the larger garden.
Interest in gardening may have skipped a generation with Mom. When I was 3 and 4 years old, we lived with my grandmother on her little farm. Grandfather had passed by then but Grandma was the real, dedicated gardener. I became aware of the world in her garden.
Steve
My father was a scientist too, but the big project he worked on was the Space Shuttle, and he was working on the Aurora plane when he retired. He was still into gardening though. He told me about helping on his grandparent's farms in So Dakota and Ohio, but my Grandpa, his dad, was not a farmer, he was career marine.watermelonpunch wrote: My step-father was a scientist... Interesting thing was that he was born on a farm, in a family of farmers... but left home as a teenager to pursue higher education & a career in nuclear science and worked on the Manhattan Project, before during & after serving in WWII, and had his own company which did scientific invention development.
But in retirement became a very avid gardener, and a very good one.
(And really, I see a STRONG connection between science and gardening... now that I'm gardening myself. Gardening IS science!)
-
hendi_alex
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 3604
- Joined: Sun Jul 06, 2008 7:58 am
- Location: Central Sand Hills South Carolina
I remember my grandfather's gardens. He was a true farmer, but also had his home chickens, pigs, and veggie gardens. He wasn't able to stand the acid in tomatoes, and I remember him growing various large yellow and light orange varieties that were much lower in acid content.
My parents almost always had a garden. So for me, I just grew up expecting to have a garden. It is just something that a person does. Gardening constantly reenforces the miracle of life, and gives great satisfaction in a number of ways.
I don't think that I was ever taught to garden, was simply shown that it is something that families normally do. It seems quite odd to me, that so many do not have a vegetable garden each year.
My parents almost always had a garden. So for me, I just grew up expecting to have a garden. It is just something that a person does. Gardening constantly reenforces the miracle of life, and gives great satisfaction in a number of ways.
I don't think that I was ever taught to garden, was simply shown that it is something that families normally do. It seems quite odd to me, that so many do not have a vegetable garden each year.
-
Jardin du Fort
- Senior Member
- Posts: 243
- Joined: Thu Dec 13, 2012 2:59 pm
- Location: Fort Wayne, IN
I'm not sure I could really call myself a "legacy" gardener, because I'm basically self-taught. HOWEVER, I definitely remember my grandfather's (mother's father) garden, and my father put in a veggie garden once we bought a house. I am sure I learned a thing or two from them, but the biggest thing I learned was an appreciation of fresh garden veggies! 
You know Jardin, I think that counts! Appreciating nature and vegetables is an important lesson to learn!Jardin du Fort wrote:I'm not sure I could really call myself a "legacy" gardener, because I'm basically self-taught. HOWEVER, I definitely remember my grandfather's (mother's father) garden, and my father put in a veggie garden once we bought a house. I am sure I learned a thing or two from them, but the biggest thing I learned was an appreciation of fresh garden veggies!
My Grandma and Grandpa had animals too!hendi_alex wrote:I remember my grandfather's gardens. He was a true farmer, but also had his home chickens, pigs, and veggie gardens.
But they had rabbits, pigeons, ducks, and occasionally a goat. I was more involved with helping Grandma take care of the ducks. I was considering keeping ducks once I have the space for it. I grew up thinking everyone grew vegetables, flowers and raised animals too, lol! I was always so surprised by my friend's reactions when I told them about my grandparent's animals, LOL!-
applestar
- Mod
- Posts: 31060
- Joined: Thu May 01, 2008 7:21 pm
- Location: Zone 6, NJ (3/M)4/E ~ 10/M(11/B)
I grew up hearing stories about how my mom HATED the chores -- feeding chickens, picking weeds to feed the chickens, being called on to help harvest or weed, etc. when she WANTED TO DO HOMEWORK (she was an honor student and class monitor or something like that -- position bestowed by the teacher to best students (she said).
Anyway, my dad's uncle has a produce market so I guess they are farmers, but we don't see them much.
My dad has always had a vegetable garden but my mom refuses to have anything to do with it. SHE has a flower garden.
I don't remember paying much attention as a child, but I suppose some of the information have settled in... And it must be in the blood, as they say. I just enjoy growing things and experimenting. I've been reading horticulture and gardening books/magazines since I was a teenager, and experimenting with different propagation methods I read about since high school. My parents know more about when to harvest things and how to prepare them for cooking, but I seem to know more about when and how to grow them.
I don't want to make my kids help in the garden if they don't want to -- I think it takes the joy out of it -- and they generally don't because neither of them likes to get dirty.
So, regrettably, I don't think they are actively learning much gardening wisdom from me. I wonder if after they grow up, they will be having conversations like this with their peers, and wishing they had learned more. I feel old wishing they would take the opportunity to learn the things I know, and knowing that when you are young, it feels like you have forever.
Anyway, my dad's uncle has a produce market so I guess they are farmers, but we don't see them much.
My dad has always had a vegetable garden but my mom refuses to have anything to do with it. SHE has a flower garden.
I don't remember paying much attention as a child, but I suppose some of the information have settled in... And it must be in the blood, as they say. I just enjoy growing things and experimenting. I've been reading horticulture and gardening books/magazines since I was a teenager, and experimenting with different propagation methods I read about since high school. My parents know more about when to harvest things and how to prepare them for cooking, but I seem to know more about when and how to grow them.
I don't want to make my kids help in the garden if they don't want to -- I think it takes the joy out of it -- and they generally don't because neither of them likes to get dirty.
So, regrettably, I don't think they are actively learning much gardening wisdom from me. I wonder if after they grow up, they will be having conversations like this with their peers, and wishing they had learned more. I feel old wishing they would take the opportunity to learn the things I know, and knowing that when you are young, it feels like you have forever.
-
rainbowgardener
- Super Green Thumb
- Posts: 25279
- Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
- Location: TN/GA 7b
You never know how much is sinking in, Applestar. I never taught my son to cook, because he didn't seem particularly interested, I just always put homecooked meals with fresh veggies in front of him. Now he has turned himself into a gourmet cook, way better than me, taken cooking classes and worked for awhile as a sous chef.
-
prettygurl
- Senior Member
- Posts: 189
- Joined: Thu Sep 20, 2012 8:52 am
Under either Hoo-ha or Foo (but, I won't vote again ):
My thinking on the marijuana gardeners is that just growing some plants isn't quite the same as being a gardener. Close but, nearly by definition, a garden has more than one type of plant and, nearly always, is exposed to the natural environment.
The garden seed segment of the larger seed industry is a fairly small part - hard to compare the needs of backyard gardens with acres of farmland. I'd like to see some up to date info on how the home garden part is doing. There seems to be a proliferation over the last few years of a number of Mom&Pops and, maybe, the consolidation of the seed companies has slowed. I know that the nursery businesses took a serious hit as a result of the housing industry collapse of about 5 years ago. Maybe, their vegetable plant start sales are still strong. I wonder tho'.
We often hear about aaalll the interest in gardening in the US. And yet, the "median size" for a food garden is only 96 square feet, according to NDSU. The "average size" is about 600 square feet. That means that many, many gardeners have tiny areas in an urban yard where they set out a few plants every year. Then, there are more serious gardeners with 1,000 sqft gardens.
I don't mean to belittle gardeners with 100 sqft gardens. Making the best use of the space available while growing the maximum amount of food is my ideal! I'm planning to hit that goal and 80 at about the same time .
I think that gardeners have to "do it for themselves" and are unlikely to be a part of a family enterprise. I was a vegetable gardener at a young age. When I started growing ornamentals, I was still a teenager and followed Mom's technique as a "sticker." I just stuck things in. How disappointing when my new dahlia roots proved they couldn't compete with lawn grass!
Steve
):My thinking on the marijuana gardeners is that just growing some plants isn't quite the same as being a gardener. Close but, nearly by definition, a garden has more than one type of plant and, nearly always, is exposed to the natural environment.
The garden seed segment of the larger seed industry is a fairly small part - hard to compare the needs of backyard gardens with acres of farmland. I'd like to see some up to date info on how the home garden part is doing. There seems to be a proliferation over the last few years of a number of Mom&Pops and, maybe, the consolidation of the seed companies has slowed. I know that the nursery businesses took a serious hit as a result of the housing industry collapse of about 5 years ago. Maybe, their vegetable plant start sales are still strong. I wonder tho'.
We often hear about aaalll the interest in gardening in the US. And yet, the "median size" for a food garden is only 96 square feet, according to NDSU. The "average size" is about 600 square feet. That means that many, many gardeners have tiny areas in an urban yard where they set out a few plants every year. Then, there are more serious gardeners with 1,000 sqft gardens.
I don't mean to belittle gardeners with 100 sqft gardens. Making the best use of the space available while growing the maximum amount of food is my ideal! I'm planning to hit that goal and 80 at about the same time
.I think that gardeners have to "do it for themselves" and are unlikely to be a part of a family enterprise. I was a vegetable gardener at a young age. When I started growing ornamentals, I was still a teenager and followed Mom's technique as a "sticker." I just stuck things in. How disappointing when my new dahlia roots proved they couldn't compete with lawn grass!
Steve