Encouragement Needed Please

[nick the grief]

I've been talking 'back and forth' with a very lovely girlie for a few months now, and she's really getting into this GYO lark (!) but she's still very nervous about joining the forum/posting up on it for fear of appearing silly?

Just where would all of us be if we hadn't of started out the same way?

Without mentioning her by name, I'd just love a few of you to give her the encouragement maybe that she needs to have the confidence to join in?

As a recent Newbie, or as an 'Old Fart', what made you join in, and why are you so pleased that you did?

and in advance of your replies, I thank you.....
X

Tell her not to worry wellie I've been silly for years and I can grow veg

There's so such a thing as a daft question if you learn from it
He who asks stupid question appears stupid for a moment. He who doesn't ask remains stupid for life - said by me just

The reason I joined is because I enjoy the banter and knowledge swapping. you never stop learning apart from the day they box you up!

[Sue]

I think I must have been trying to find information on websites when I came on this site, watched for ages before daring to join in. It's a mine of information, fun to catch up with what everyone's doing and a good way to relax after a hard days work, I especially appreciate it when I've been stuck working and not able to get on with the most important thing in life - gardening.
I've tried other sites but given up on them, much more fun here!

So come on in and if you don't want to own up to being the embarrassed friend, we won't be able to tell who you are.
Sue

[Sirius]

.....wouldn't have met you otherwise, hon - that good enough reason for you..?

Oh no, hang on, she knows you already, doesn't she.

ok - how about:

• sense of community
• very funny
• excellent advice
• very friendly (even when you DO ask a dopey question )

now - what have I forgotten.......

I'd agree with everything said by Hazel here - only thing I differ with, it that because there are so many fabulous people here, there is never any such thing as a 'dopey' question I visit here everyday, don't always have anything to say, but the sense of community and advice that's shared here is wonderful. Join, I tell you, join!!!

[Paulottie]

Come on out the potting shed..there, don't be shy... we don't bite. I ask some astonishingly silly questions sometimes... but then anything 's easy when you know the answer...and someone here normally does

[TonyF]

Potting shed gardeners, sounds good, like closet anything else .........

Wellie, if you tell your chumlette that we're mainly like you and Trousers and that we all started somewhere. At least now new gardeners have access to fora like this, back when I was a lad, grumble, grumble, grumble ..........

My parents didn't garden at all so a place like this when I started would have been just wonderful. But perhaps you should warn her how addictive the forum can be but also how inspirational it is all the time.

[gojiberry]

Almost a pensioner and had a lottie for most of my life and although I don't know every thing but what knowledge I do have I am more than willing to share with others. It took me a while to join not because Im shy but I am not of the computer age and struggle to turn the damn thing on. However people are even willing to help me with the odd pooter problem. This is by far the best forum and as every one says it really is so friendly.

gojilottie

[sweetcorn]

The very reason I joined was that I could ask silly, dim questions! Where else could I be so honest about my lack of knowledge and expertise? Then to have the questions answered by a huge bank of people who actually do know what they're doing! I have been gardening for about 8 or 9 years, and there's still LOADS I know nothing about!

[scarey55]

Ah go on,
go on,
go on!

We're all just ordinary peeps here Any friend or Wellie is a friend of mine. You don't have to post that regularly, but I'm guessing that you will probably be able to give US some advice on something from time to time.
As many of the others said - we won't know who you are anyway if you do decide to join us.

[wellie]

So, now there's a lot of encouragement for you sweetheart, I hope.

Everyone starts off knowing nothing, or very very little, and with each others' help, we learn that little bit more each time.

It's the friendship and support along the way that I think goes 'hand in hand', knowing that we're all in it together with every success and that every failure is being felt and shared to learn from.

So, there's lots of people willing to share, and we do all look forward to being of help whenever you need us (I nearly typed your name then!!)
X

[HeyWayne]

C'mon in, the water's lovely!

Don't worry about appearing daft - I've got that down to fine art!

I started here probably not far off a year ago, and jumped in with both feet. Glad I did. I've been a member of a few forums on various topics/subjects/passions, but none have come anywhere near this one for a geniune sense of "community". It sounds daft when you say it I guess, but there is a real sense of comradery here - I never realised just how much until I was MOM (Member of the Month). I can't offer much in the way of advice being only a beginner myself, but I'll do my best to make you smile.

Never met anyone from the vine but I'm sure if I ever did, they'd be great dude/dudettes in real life too.

Besides - where else can you have a drink with friends and a round doesn't cost you more than you own drink?

Cheers.

Looking forward to "speaking" with you mysterious lady.

[wellie]

That picture's enough to scare ANYONE away Heywayne! ...
lovely words tho'.... High Five Mate!
X

[Nicos]

You've probably already joined!!!!

( I just pretend to know stuff....works a treat!)

[rustylady]

I've been talking 'back and forth' with a very lovely girlie for a few months now, and she's really getting into this GYO lark (!) but she's still very nervous about joining the forum/posting up on it for fear of appearing silly?

Just where would all of us be if we hadn't of started out the same way?

Without mentioning her by name, I'd just love a few of you to give her the encouragement maybe that she needs to have the confidence to join in?

As a recent Newbie, or as an 'Old Fart', what made you join in, and why are you so pleased that you did?

and in advance of your replies, I thank you.....
X

Has she joined yet, Wellie? I joined because I bought the magazine, and fancied the idea of being able to talk to and ask questions of other people like me - not "experts" as in bods with degrees, but people who actually grew the veggies and knew what it was like at the rough end, when your crops get frosted or drowned. It's the sense of humour and general niceness of the Vine members that keeps me here. You (we) are a lovely group of people.

[Bren In Pots]

I joined last March after getting it in my head to start growing veg, being a newbie I needed all the help I could get.
Some of the questions I asked weren't as daft as I thought they were either

[chris1974]

Well as a newbie myself i feel a bit of a wally and dont know if im doing this right so here goes.

The reason i have come on here is to find some advice on what is the best soil and compost for my vegetables which i am currently growing. I have just built a raised bed and want the best planting soils etc for my vegies. Hope someone can help

Thank in advance chris