Why do we bother?!

[Nicos]

I've got to the stage where I just shrug at the things which go wrong and maybe try and tweak a few things which may help, but there's always something (or several) which do waaay better than the others, so I can stand there and focus on grinning at those.

Every year is different depending on the weather.....my resolve to to plant a vast variety of things and stand back....'survival of the fittest'
No point in stressing , it's supposed to be a relaxing hobby!...there's enough going on in the world to stress about.

[ESBkevin]

I kinda figure that the successes are well worth the input. But I have learned it is more important to protect from pests than anything (other than getting seed in the soil)! Watering and weeding can be caught up with later (to a degree) but once a slug/pigeon/caterpiller has eaten the growing top it's all over.

But I enjoy preparing the soil and planting, even some gentle watering on a summers evening, netting and suchlike doesn't 'feel' like gardening the same and I am learning to adjust my mindset. Note I am still learning and make mistakes (i.e. I'm too lazy or stubbourn to net/put preventative measures in before the attack) and end up cobbling something together once the pests have discovered my nice source of food.

Some things prove not to be financially viable on the face of it, but considering the organic element, the freshness, and the gym membership I don't need, as well as the sense of satisfaction and wellbeing that gardening brings, I think it's worth my time and a little money.

[chris_m]

Thanks Mike x and don't we all love the challenge ... I love the wildlife and have huge fun running up to them and shouting "OOooii you little beggars , get off my land" Obviously translated into appropriate language suitable for a forum!?!? . Sadly they are taking no notice of my painted signs I plonked into the ground telling them this very thing !!!! ....

Hehe, my neighbours one side have been fighting a battle with the house sparrows for their peas. Mine are under netting so are safe, except for where the end plants have outgrown the space.

They tried chicken wire, but it was too large a mesh and the little blighters got through it. They tried twigs with the chicken wire, which the sparrows used as handy perches from which they could reach the plants .Then they tried CDs hung up, which deterred the sparrows for a day or so before they realised these shiny things weren't a threat. Finally they've admitted defeat and wrapped the entire tripod support with net curtains, rather fancy patterned ones which I expect to see going airborne some time today.

The neighbour the other side informed me yesterday that he'd finally taken the fleece off his peas to which I, jokingly, asked how long it took the sparrows to find them. "About 15 minutes" he replied His peas are under nets now.

The sparrows around here are ungrateful little so-and-so's - we put food out for them, which they devour then have a go at our crops as well. The neighbours the first side have another gripe with them - any and every bit of string they use for securing or tying up things gets nicked for nesting material. If they can't just pull it free the sparrows actually peck it until they can cut it for removal. At first Stan thought he was going doolally and that he hadn't tied something up, until he realised that he had but that the string was being nicked

[veggiechicken]

Why do I bother?
I have a garden - it has to be "managed" in some way - either by turning the lot into lawn (boring and would still need mowing); letting it run wild and turn into impenetrable weeds (done that - still recovering) or by growing things that give me pleasure. If I can eat them, its a bonus, if not, it feeds the wildlife - and they give me pleasure too.
I don't stress about losses, they happen and are soon forgotten when I pick the first strawberry and tomato.
Life's all about doing what makes you happy - and being in the garden does it for me.

[Small pumpkin]

Now this might make me ask......... why do we both?

This lot was stud up yesterday look great ( even if I do say so myself )





And the weed fabric wasn't wrapped around my pumpkins and was in one piece.



Answer to the above question. Because I want to

[Chippy Minton]

On the plus side we have the healthiest range of pests in the neighbourhood

[annie8]

Sometimes it feels like a battle between me and the various pests that want to eat all my fruit anc veg. Currently fighting slugs, snails, leaf minors, strawberry weevils , whitefly in the greenhouse and something is eating my leeks. Still I love making meals from what I grow and helping my son understand where food comes from.

[jackarmy]

Why do we bother?

So we can whine about it

You mean wine and chill out about it

[jackarmy]

Do you know what Jen , who knows ?.
Think there was a similar thread from Lottie or Thelma ( apologies if im wrong ) about how stressfull it can be despite the lust for peacefulness and the ideal life.
At the start of the season i get into a right tizzy about what i have sown ( to the point of having to get up at stupid o clock because my head is litterally buzzing)., what i havent sown and what i should sow, then its , why didnt i do this , why didnt i do that and oh bugger im miles behind again .
But its great isnt it

[Earthgirl Jen]

Sometimes it feels like a battle between me and the various pests that want to eat all my fruit anc veg. Currently fighting slugs, snails, leaf minors, strawberry weevils , whitefly in the greenhouse and something is eating my leeks. Still I love making meals from what I grow and helping my son understand where food comes from.

Annie I'm in your gang

[Earthgirl Jen]

Do you know what Jen , who knows ?.
Think there was a similar thread from Lottie or Thelma ( apologies if im wrong ) about how stressfull it can be despite the lust for peacefulness and the ideal life.
At the start of the season i get into a right tizzy about what i have sown ( to the point of having to get up at stupid o clock because my head is litterally buzzing)., what i havent sown and what i should sow, then its , why didnt i do this , why didnt i do that and oh bugger im miles behind again .
But its great isnt it

Absolutely Jack If you'd have spoken to me at the the start of April I was all "woe is me" as I was about a month behind compared to last year with my sowing of everything. But I kept telling myself "natures wonderful" and "it'll soon catch up" and it does.

Last year we cleared areas of the garden and like the old saying "nature never leaves a patch of ground bare" it is absolutely true. By Sept last year the weeds were thoroughly enjoying it. So this year every time I re-cleared a patch I sowed something in it with the intention that I would be better at keeping those areas weed free. At the moment I'm winning...lol..

Although I think that's down to the glorious weather we've been having, the ground is so dry I skip out of bed first thing, stick the kettle on and resplendent in old tracky bottoms and fleece top I'm out with my pair of scissors to see what's still left!!! Occasionally I remember I haven't even had a wash, cleaned my teeth or brushed my hair but I think the neighbours are now used to my "dragged through a hedge backwards appearance" and those that are brave enough to approach before my first cuppa in the morning "holla' from a distance "morning Jen" lol...

It suddenly occurred to me last year that we spend practically 3mths of the year coaxing our 'precious' seedlings into existence and to a size we think will survive on their own, only to spend the next 3 months 'willing' them to grow, whilst wishing we had 3,4 or even 5 pairs of hands to tw*t the pests and critters that want to spoil our view of what should be our 'Country Living' magazine picture of your standard English veg patch... lol...

We them spend the next 3 months loosing heart with the weeds that at this point can grow quicker than we can notice them! Willing our precious seedling to fruition so we can at least 'gloat' the we grew this and we can tell you all about is as well.

Family and friends that visit now state when they visit they don't have time for the 'full' guided tour today!

What's all that about

But I don't care each year I resolve to get a 'little better' at what I try to do and I will... lol..

[SlugLobber]

Why do we bother?

...It's cheaper than therapy and the ground doesn't mind when you stab it.

;-)