Forgive My Ignorance...Why so much interest in gardening?

granfalloon · Oct 26, 2012

...I'm brand new to the site and haven't smoked anything yet. I was just wondering if the forums related to gardening are because it's cheaper and better to have fresh ingredients to smoke with? If someone could give me a rundown on the benefits or any information in general I would truly appreciate it. I'm really just ignorant to all the intricacies of the smoking culture. Thanks in advance!

daveomak · Oct 26, 2012

Personally, I enjoy growing a few things for their flavor and diversity..... being able to can or ferment a few things is satisfying.... It is kind of like putting flowers in a pot and looking at them and enjoying their beauty.... A picture may be worth a thousands words but being able to smell or taste the picture is priceless...... Dave

pineywoods · Oct 26, 2012

Fresh herbs are very good when cooking but I think many of our members just enjoy gardening and knowing where there veggies are coming from. Sometimes it even works out cheaper to grow your own.

granfalloon · Oct 26, 2012

I can see that. I really like what I'm seeing here. I've been consumed with all the great information I'm finding here. Thanks!

granfalloon · Oct 26, 2012

Pineywoods,

That's what I suspected, but I wasn't completely sure so I had to ask. If I had the means, I would definitely be into seeing if I could turn my thumb green or not!

dward51 · Oct 26, 2012

Here is my take on why we do it.....

Something for us old farts to do (instead of sleeping in the Barkalounger all day)
You know how it was grown and what (if any) chemicals were used, variety, etc...
You can get varieties by seed that you will never find in a store.
Fresh grown usually tastes superior to commercial grown that has to be able to stand up to days or weeks of shipping, where as the fresh can be harvest to table in a matter of minutes.
It's fun
It's less expensive
You can share with friends and neighbors (and impress them too)
There is just something relaxing about digging in the dirt like a kid
First you start gardening, then composting, then mulching leaves in a chipper/shredder, and suddenly you get an email from Al Gore who wants to buy your carbon credits (could not resist).

and there is this....

Pineywoods gives us all inspiration with his wonderful setup

smoking b · Oct 27, 2012

     I grow a large garden every year along with a large herb bed. I enjoy the fresh food & don't use any chemicals on what I grow. It's much cheaper than buying produce for me considering I grow enough tomatoes to make plenty of various sauces to can & last the rest of the year & enough corn to can/freeze for all year - not to mention all the peppers, onions, squash, potatoes, carrots, beans, beets, cucumbers to freeze, can, store, ferment, dehydrate etc. I also grow a couple types of lettuce & cabbage, radishes, turnips, broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, watermelon, lopes, pumpkins & celery.

     For fruits I grow red & yellow raspberries (lots of black ones grow wild here), blackberries, currants, grapes,& blueberries. I also have 2 apple trees, 3 mulberry trees & 4 walnut trees.

     As far as herbs go I grow aloe, various basil, stevia, comfrey, various oregano, various thyme, dill, chives, various mints, lemon balm, a few types of sage, rosemary, cilantro, parsley & as of this year garlic. I really enjoy the fresh food from my garden & couldn't imagine having to buy everything I grow!!

hotnspicy · Oct 27, 2012

I have around 20 different herbs, strawberries, raspberries, black berries along with whatever else I can jam into the yard. Right now my winter garden is in full swing & producing lots of lettuce, spinach, onions. garlic, carrots, herbs, cabbage, broc, sprouts, califlower, assorted greens & I still have jalapenos coming off the vine. If you think about the cost of fresh herbs it runs you around $2 for a handful. I would go broke buying fresh dill when I make pickles. Nice tomatoes are $4 a pound. There is nothing better than being able to make entire meals outta the stuff growing in your yard.

davidhef88 · Oct 27, 2012

I enjoy spending the time outside. I am also going to try to get my children involved as they grow. I also like watching the plants go from seeds, to sprouts, to plants, to bearing food. This summer I didn't buy any tomatoes, green beans, zucchini, yellow squash, radishes or beets. I spent under$10 to plant the garden. Almost forgot I also have enough dried cayenne peppers to grind to powder to last for a year.

David

linguica · Oct 27, 2012

dward51 said:
Here is my take on why we do it.....

Something for us old farts to do (instead of sleeping in the Barkalounger all day)

You know how it was grown and what (if any) chemicals were used, variety, etc...

You can get varieties by seed that you will never find in a store.

Fresh grown usually tastes superior to commercial grown that has to be able to stand up to days or weeks of shipping, where as the fresh can be harvest to table in a matter of minutes.

It's fun

It's less expensive

You can share with friends and neighbors (and impress them too)

There is just something relaxing about digging in the dirt like a kid

First you start gardening, then composting, then mulching leaves in a chipper/shredder, and suddenly you get an email from Al Gore who wants to buy your carbon credits (could not resist).

and there is this....

Pineywoods gives us all inspiration with his wonderful setup

Keeps me away from trouble that usually finds me. I grow (depending on the season) sugar peas, green onions, strawberries, blue berries, bulb onions, artichokes, five kinds of apples, two kinds of plums, zucchini, five different herbs, garlic, asparagus, chickens, and two ducks. That's a lot of trouble avoided!

venture · Oct 28, 2012

I can't really speak for others. For me, the gardening just seems like a natural companion to the enjoyment of food and cooking. They just seem to go together like a hot smoker and a cold beer?

Good luck and good smoking.

rabbithutch · Oct 28, 2012

Not to be too philosophical about it, but growing things is a spiritual connection for me. To see what results from seeds and to have it happen year after year reaffirms my faith and gives me peace and hope.

diggingdogfarm · Oct 28, 2012

There are many reasons why I garden.
One of the main reasons is, I can grow things that can't be bought in any market at any price.

~Martin

bama bbq · Oct 28, 2012

rabbithutch said:
Not to be too philosophical about it, but growing things is a spiritual connection for me. To see what results from seeds and to have it happen year after year reaffirms my faith and gives me peace and hope.

That's cool. I think of it as a more practical approach: I control start to finish the process from the soil to the water, from fertilizer to herbicides, or pesticides (if any), ect.

spec · Nov 26, 2012

WOW

good question and really good answers

I'm with the others...Only was born into it my family has had a 5acre minimum garden since before I was born...

Now The garden forme is a test bed for my cooking, I grow 90% of my herbs and spices, and dry prolly the same percentage

Like diggin dog stated I have powders in my inventory you can't find anywhere, these spices are the backbone of all my cooking

Plus there is a deep satisfaction, in knowing when someone pats their belly and is amazed at the tastee treats you just served up came from your hard work and dedication...from seed to plate

Forgive My Ignorance...Why so much interest in gardening?

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