Why did you start gardening?

I have always been the type of person who never gives up when something does not turn out right. Crying or Very sad

When my wife and I moved into our first apartment, we purchased an ornamental pepper plant at the A&P to decorate our living room. It was dead in about three days. We were determined we would learn how to keep plants alive and growing. Forty four years later we have grown bonsai, orchids, houseplants and vegetables. I garden 365 days a year either indoors, or in the greenhouse. It may be in your genes, as my 18 month old granddaughter loves picking flowers from my hydro system to present to her grandma. Smile

She is also a lefty just like grampa Razz

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No occupation is so delightful to me as the culture of the earth, no culture comparable to that of the garden. But though an old man, I am but a young gardener. - Thomas Jeffereson

http://hydroponicworkshop.blogspot.com/

Growing up in the city, the only thing edible in our yard was a small 2-3 plant rhubarb patch that my Mom had and it eventually died out from lack of upkeep. my sole extent of growing things was the occasional coffee can of dirt that I would put 2-3 bean seeds in when Mom made bean soup or a half sweet potato in a glass of water if she had one that was sprouting.

I never once thought of growing anything until in my mid 20s a girlfriend that was living with me asked if I could grow her some spinach, lettuce and tomatoes for salads. I set up a small 15 ft x 15 ft garden and sucessfully grew what she wanted until she moved out shortly after my Sister died 3 years later. I took a couple year vacation from gardening, because in my sorrow, I started drinking and spent all of my free time in bars.
A friend that I worked with at the time noticed how often I was coming into work drunk and suggested that I start gardening to fill my time with in the mornings before work so I wouldn't get fired. So I enlarged my garden spot and due to my love of Mexican foods, grew lots of tomatoes, onions and peppers. I grew other veggies too just to try growing them, but most of everything I grew I gave away because being single, I didn't cook much.
30 years later, I'm still growing veggies and still give some away, but my wife and I can and freeze most of what we don't eat fresh now.

I guess you could say that I started gardening (the second time) to keep myself out of bars.

It's great therapy and it worked.

John