Growing a community one gardener at a time

Gardening has a way of bringing people together-complete strangers sharing experiences through plants. In a world where the pandemic has made us relative strangers to even our own family members sometimes in the last two years, the gardening community has expanded. We found ourselves at home more and the need to get outside and do something increased. Garden stores and those who sold raised garden beds, found themselves busier than ever. For some people, the need to learn how to garden became a new pasttime.

Everything I have learned about gardening has started with someone sharing a tip or a plant. Gardeners tend to be givers- advice, plants, seeds, and produce. It started long ago with my grandmothers who were avid gardeners. I learned that the land, if cared for properly, could yield the most amazing and tasty fruits and vegetables. Flowers were a given and in ample supply. Going to visit the grandparents was always an adventure that I didn't have at my house.

My parents, having grown up on a farm, made it a point of planting easy care, no-fuss plants in our yard. They had done their gardening growing up and saw no need to have one in our yard. Gardening was a chore growing up. We barely had live plants in our house or if we did, it was the seasonal pointsetta that eventually got left out on the deck to die once it started to lose its leaves. So how did I find my inner gardener? The kindness of gardeners.

It is through my gardening community-online and in-person, that I have learned what I know today and where I still find I have so much to learn. And because, the gardening community is so kind, I always feel the need to pay back what was paid forward to me. Let me share some of the lessons I have learned:

• I have mentioned this before but it's worth saying again, Join a local online community if you can. I have joined a couple of gardening groups. Some are for North America (Gardens and Greenhouses), some are for Canada, (Greenhouses in Canada) and others are global (Dahlia Growers). My absolute favourite is the local Facebook gardening group, Gardening in the Fraser Valley. The information that is shared is priceless. I can throw out a question and there are always answers that come in a timely manner that help me out. Looking for a particular plant? Ask the group. In a lot of cases, people are willing to give or exchange plants/bulbs/seeds with you. It saves both time and money.

• Look for ways you can offer help. Two weeks ago, someone was looking for iris rhizomes, I always have way too many as they love to spread and can quickly take over. I offered my rhizomes up and have now a new gardening contact. She is fairly new to gardening but super excited. She got enough irises to fill her yard and I have more space in my garden for other flowers. A new gardening friendship has begun. It's a win on all sides! As a thank you, she gave me a beautifully made wash cloth. I appreciate that it is handmade with care and a good heart. Thanks Sarah!

• If you can lend some sweat equity to help a friend with their garden, do it. The rewards are inexplicable. Last weekend, I was able to help a friend, Jasbir, with his landscaping. Together with his dad, we did the spring clean up, added new soil, and moved plants around. We talked about what to do next (bark mulch to keep weeds down). I got a full days worth of exercise, an extra yummy lunch, and he gets to enjoy his yard. I know if I ever needed help, he would be there in a heartbeat.

Before we cleaned up the garden.

Me ready to dig in. I hate photos of me but at least I can prove I was there. Haha!

The "after" photos:

Cleaned up and ready for bark mulch next.

Jasbir and his 80 year old father, Mr. Sekhon.

Bark mulched and ready to be enjoyed this year: (For the record, I didn't help with the bark mulch) but it's so rewarding to see the plan finished.)

• If you save seeds, share them. I grow mammoth sunflowers amongst other plants. I tried my hand at seed saving last year (something I definitely want to do more of in the future to keep costs down). One mammoth sunflowers gives you literally hundreds of seeds. I had it in my mind to bake them for us to eat but never did. There is no way I will ever need that many seeds so I shared them. Most of the plants I collect seeds from are the same. I end up with way too many seeds and not enough space to plant even a fraction of them. I thought I would bundle them up and perhaps sell or swap them but never got around to it. Sharing my seeds with friends and family, new gardeners, work colleagues is a way to spread the kindness and it has started a lot of gardening conversations around the office. I have made new gardening friends this way and never have to feel bad about throwing seeds out because they got too old before I could use them.

• What you give always comes back to you. I have received some of the kindest messages and emails from people I have sent seeds to. It was a very small act that took little time and the cost of a stamp. You never know when your little gift can make someone's day. I believe that those seeds give people hope, and perhaps a purpose The idea of growing something that can turn into a beautiful flower or vegetable is joyful

• Learn what you can from your friends. This weekend was a prime example. Last year I got hooked on dahlias because my friend, Lynette, grows the most amazing dahlias ever. She took me shopping to Ferncliff Gardens and voila, I was hooked. At the end of the season, I dug up the tubers and stored them carefully as per Lynette's instructions. I also read articles and watched videos on how to divide up dahlias (a great way to expand your supply) only to get totally stumped when I looked at mine. Lynette offered to help me divide mine up. I loaded up my three crates of dahlias (did I mention I am hooked?) and went to her place. I cannot believe how much I learned. I am so grateful for her friendship and gardening expertise.

Lesson number 1- always label your clumps! I have now used a sharpie to write right on the tuber. Otherwise, you will need to label your tubers as "?" because they will be surprises. I have a few of those. Even if I don't know the name, I need to somehow record the colour. Lynette codes hers so that she can refer back to them,

Lesson 2: the eyes in a dormant tuber are sometimes hard to find. You always want to divide your tubers so that it includes the crown with the eyes.

Can you see the eyes? I had no idea what I was really looking at until Lynette did this...

See the little raised bump? That apparently is an eye. Now go back to the previous photo. See the eyes now? I did! That little bump will sprout and develop leaves. Without her help, I am sure all of my tubers would have been eyeless. LOL I am so looking forward to growing them again this year. Lynette gifted me some of her mystery tubers so it will be even more exciting to see what pops up!

• Buying seeds can get expensive and let's face it, those of us with small gardens rarely need 50 or 100 seeds of anything. Last year, Lynette and I sat down with the West Coast Seeds catalogue and planned what we wanted to grow. Over 80% of what I wanted to grow was the same as her list. We purchased seeds and then split them between us sharing the cost and keeping our quantities managable.

• Keep a seed inventory. If you are anything like me, I tend to see a seed packet and it always ends up in my shopping cart. I have no idea how that happens. I bring home the seed packet only to realize I already bought at least one or two of the same thing! I really loved those seeds. Having a seed inventory was great because it helped me realize that I really didn't need to purchase many seeds again this year. Great in theory but what it really meant was that I bought different seeds from what I had (that is why I ended up with 6 different varieties of peas this year). At first creating the inventory seemed a bit over the top and I questioned if I really needed to add that much detail. I decided that it would be my one-stop place to find details of my seeds. Have a look. While you don't have to be even remotely as detailed as I was, it is helpful to have a list of what seeds you have and how many when you go to purchase seeds.

6 varieties of peas soaking overnight before I plant them. I still can't believe that I bought 6 different varieties.

Wherever you are in your gardening journey, it is always helpful to be part of a gardening community. There are so many ways to contribute and it is never too late to learn something new, to find new ways to increase your production or even the types and varieties of plants in your garden.

Here's hoping you find the joy in community.

Happy gardening!

The Joyful Gardener