Alternative Community Farmer/WPB.FL

Gardening and farming was one of the first occupations since man took residence on earth.The ancient  Greeks built a garden first and later constructed the home around it.Villages and towns in ancient Egypt and Mesopotemia sprouted around fertile lands by "the Rivers of Babylon " and the Nile Delta.The Romans invented the canals for drawing water to arid lands.Recently the modern Gulf States are cultivating the deserts and farms are sprouting out of the sand!

What happened to this occupation in our culture of the push buttons and hi-tech cyberspace?As an after shock to the recent economic meltdown,people want to start a garden right now because that is the only job oppening close to home after being laid off!Also , it makes sense to follow the path of the Victory Garden which was introduced back in the 40's with a similar economy of  meltdown melieu / environment.Take deep breath and do some home work.Take it easy and have some patience.Gardening is a process and it starts from cultivating self before digging and cultivating the ground.

Here are some personal conclisions gathered from various workshops fascilitated on local organic gardening topics:

1-People have phobias of the outdoors in Florida.It ranges from fear of bugs ,sun,snakes,dirt to gardeners/farmers strangers with a different color or accent or class or you name the stereaotype you want..

2-People want your labor intensive expertise for less and want to grow the plants that they are used to from other states .Hello, we are in the Tropics..the land has a distinct and different taste of  HOT REGION PRODUCE.Get to know your locally grown and forget about taste and being picky.If you want to adjust just start talking to your nearest local farmer , visit his/her garden and get acquainted with what he/she grows or  knows .Get educated.Attend a class or a workshop for a start or read a  local veggie garden book ,if you can find one!Be pro-active!

3-Have ready a garden gear: Hats,gloves,boots,water,sun glasses

4-Lack of gardening knowledge is called ignorance not a BLACK THUMB.Have a hands on training session .Learn more about garden ergonomics .Ask questions related to the garden not about NATIONALITY or ethnic backgrounnd!

5- The times of affluence are over and now is the time to do it yourself and grow your own.Allow a transition period to re-adjust behavioral traits ,like learn how to meet people whom you have never imagined to meet  before because they are different from your already preconceived set of human standard.Respect makes no offence.Humiliation and judgement and intimdations are the worst tools to make the best of human relations .

6-Learn how to deep breathe when you are in the garden .It will open your lungs and also your mind will receive more oxygen and you will feel tired no more.

7-Listen .Learning the gardening process starts with an open mind and ear.

8-Just do it after you have learned it.Do not procrastinate beyond this point.

For more directions read my other blogs to further construe the cognitive as well as the constructive attitude to follow towards fulfiling the PRODUCTIVE GARDEN DREAM!

The journey of thousand miles starts with a mile.Bon Voyage!