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Why First-Time Gardeners Give Up

Green Thumb at 60: How I Started My Gardening Journey With Raised Beds and Pots and Containers
by Cathy Harris
(available as an e-book and paperback)

Why First-Time Gardeners 
Give Up

Whether you are growing foods in the ground in gardens, in raised bed gardens, farming using permaculture or aquaponics, or growing foods in pots and containers in or outside of your home, or using some other method of growing foods, only you can decide which is  best for you.

For us we plan on sticking with raised beds and growing foods in pots and containers. What is quite alarming is that over  40% of people choose not to garden after the first year.
This is probably because:
  • No Harvest: In many cases it's probably because their crops did not yield any harvest so they gave up. They probably did not conduct enough research in the first place. Gardening is just like starting a business, you need a mentor (coach or consultant), where you can ask questions so you can avoid some of the critical mistakes.  
  • Did Not Have Enough Space: Many backyards have too many trees, which provide shade, but if you grow foods in the ground or in raised bed gardens, you need 6 to 8 hours of sunlight, especially for summer crops. So everyone need to be strategic and then choose to grow foods at community gardens ($20 a month), or in pots or containers in or outside of your home (on your patio, balcony, rooftop, porch, in your kitchen or another room with grow lights). The goal is not to let the space issuedeter your dream of growing your own foods. If you don't have a homeowner's association, you can actually grow foods in front yards. Remember the story I told you about the lady that had over 100 pots and containers because she was renting, so she could not plant anything in the ground. What a great motivator! 
  • Had To Travel: Many people might be 'first-time' gardeners, but might love to travel or have to leave for emergency trips and might not have others to care for their gardens. This is why it's important to have your own drip or irrigation system. And this is something you need to plan for from the very beginning of deciding to become a gardener. 
  • Too Much Work: Many new gardeners found gardening to be hard work. I am sure many people got involved and had no idea how much work it would be, especially when they had to monitor and water the garden on a daily basis. 
  • Too Sick/Waited Too Late: For many it was too late to try to use gardening to improve their health, so they had to stop because of their health. This is very unfortunate -- so therefore, get started today. Don't let this be your story! 
Don't let any of these reasons keep you from becominga gardener or even starting your own farm. I can't see myself giving up, not this early in the game, especially now that I know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that I do have a "green thumb."
Green thumb gardeners are not always born with green thumbs. They develop these by attending gardening classes, joining or forming gardening clubs (www.CathyHarrisGardenClub.com) or groups (www.VirtualOrganicGardenClubs.com), conducting research by reading and listening to audiobooks and viewing gardening videos, especially online on http://www.google.com and 
http://www.YouTube.com, the two largest search websites on the internet.    


Cathy Harris Celebrates "One Year Gardening Journey" With Release of "New Gardening Book" and "Green Thumb at 60 Video Gardening Series"




Cathy Harris, Speaker, Author, Coach
AngelsPress.com, CEO, President & Publisher
P.O. Box 19282
Austin, TX 78760
(512) 909-7365
Websites:
Cathy@cathyharrisinternational.com
AskCathy@DearCathy.com

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  Green Thumb at 60: How I Started My Gardening Journey With Raised Beds and Pots and Containers by Cathy Harris (available as an e-book and paperback) Amazon.com BN.com E-book How Will You Stay Motivated To Keep Growing Foods Most of you saw 'first-hand' in my gardening journey, what I did to stay motivated and to become a successful gardener such as: Got Family Involved:  If you truly want to get motivated and stay motivated while growing foods, get others around you involved. You can do this with family members, friends and neighbors. Got Mentor:  I did not only attend regular, local FREE natural gardening center meetings and classes, the instructors there, both a man and woman, served as my mentor. Started My Own Garden Club:  I started my own garden club  "Cathy Harris Garden Club" ( www.CathyHarrisGardenClub.com ) and laid out every step  aspiring gardeners  could take by writing articles and selecting quality videos. Release