I've been looking at the polls on all the woot sites, and they recently seem less pointless and time-wasting (ie fun) than they used to be. They've suddenly started to look like something resembling serious market research. Just an observation.

"a survival skill"... Man, I'm dead. I have an absolute black thumb.. Dog poo and slugs grow best in my yard

Anyone who chose the last option should be left on a desert island.

StarKnightGoku wrote:Anyone who chose the last option should be left on a desert island.

...because a desert would teach them how important gardening is?

acceptable answers are,

a great hobby
a survival skill

others are irrelevant!

Gardening can be a PITA, but it's worth it. The moment you pick that first tomato of the season and pop it in your mouth, you know.

I plant spices, not vegetables as in my garden. Caring for veggies can be arduous, I'll let somebody else take care of that. There are lots of goodies at the farmer's markets locally, but I have to be able to snap a basil leaf or two right off the plant from time to time.

fizzburn wrote:"a survival skill"... Man, I'm dead. I have an absolute black thumb.. Dog poo and slugs grow best in my yard

lol Mine grows used condoms, and crack needles....also beer cans from my D-bag neighbors "outdoor" standing around parties. New Jersey is a swell place to live!

The only reason I garden is to grow things that taste better than the supermarket varieties, and things you simply can't find for sale. It's not a hobby for me, because hobbies are supposed to be enjoyable, and gardening is a PITA. It's not a survival skill unless the supermarkets close (don't hold your breath). I have no kids at home to distract from other paths of destruction. And a fruit/vegetable garden is hardly attractive so the home accent thing is out. Things I like to grow:

Stone fruits, grapes, berries, apples, beans, peas, and a lovely little wild onion (some folks call them ramps)that tastes like nothing else on the planet. I do realize that most fruit production is not technically gardening, but they fit my idea otherwise unobtainable flavors.

And no, I don't give a hoot about organic foods. Any bug gets near my nectarines and he's going to be dining on the most noxious insecticide I can find.

I agree whole-heartedly. Also, cypermethrin-based insecticides (e.g., Demon WP) are my favorite. They kill almost anything insect or arachnid & have a very low mammalian toxicity. Use sparingly tho, b/c it's also not very nice to fish & reptiles. So on the up-side, no need to worry about snakes in your garden...

RWoodward wrote:The only reason I garden is to grow things that taste better than the supermarket varieties, and things you simply can't find for sale. It's not a hobby for me, because hobbies are supposed to be enjoyable, and gardening is a PITA. It's not a survival skill unless the supermarkets close (don't hold your breath). I have no kids at home to distract from other paths of destruction. And a fruit/vegetable garden is hardly attractive so the home accent thing is out. Things I like to grow:

Stone fruits, grapes, berries, apples, beans, peas, and a lovely little wild onion (some folks call them ramps)that tastes like nothing else on the planet. I do realize that most fruit production is not technically gardening, but they fit my idea otherwise unobtainable flavors.

And no, I don't give a hoot about organic foods. Any bug gets near my nectarines and he's going to be dining on the most noxious insecticide I can find.

We're growing radishes, onions, spinach, and strawberries in our backyard, and it's been fun and pretty easy so far. Just have to keep the kid from picking stuff early, as he is wont to do.

My garden is 100% natural this year. It has no pesticides, no chemicals, no additives....... And no vegetables, fruits, or flowers.

I don't like any of your choices. I think having a garden gives you a means of enjoying fresh, vine-ripened veggies that are so superior to anything you can find at the grocery. AND they cost you next to nothing. What's better than that?

Vegetable, or flower?

epicsatyr wrote:lol Mine grows used condoms, and crack needles....also beer cans from my D-bag neighbors "outdoor" standing around parties. New Jersey is a swell place to live!

You would be surprised what getting five or six of your neighbours together and all agreeing to plant some vegetation would do for the neighbourhood. It could even be container gardening!!! Try it and see if that would spruce things up!!!

I actually think it all of the first 4 options. My daughter has a garden bed at the local community garden. Not only is it great for the fresh, toxic-free food, the grandchildren like it and are learning so much about food, the environment, etc. I can not see any "cons" to having a garden.