Is it possible to haul crushed ice instead of water? As it melts around the plants, the water has more time to penetrate the dry soil and the roots actually have more time to drink up. I’ve had good luck with this on my houseplants and porch plants!
Your love for these little fried out chickpeas breaks my heart! Apply for work study at Esalen! One of the positions is in the most beautiful garden in Big Sur and meals/board are covered while you can reset.
This person totally deserves a miracle! This is probably a bit of a”woo woo” advice but I’d suggest tapping? Like EFT tapping. It really helped me and you can find free videos on YouTube. Good way to get out of the current circumstance and allow yourself to imagine better!!!
Something tells me that this is a little bit about finding kindred spirits who also love gardening so that you feel less alone. To find your people who also love plants. And maybe it’s about making a friend who lives closer to your garden where you can fill up your buckets.
Yeah, you could cold ring some doorbells! Actually, maybe there's even a next door neighbor that would be willing to let you container garden on their front porch. But on the other hand, these are little fixes, and the bold suggestions of new job or moving feel more correct in this circumstance. But on the third hand (?), sometimes being brave with little asks helps us learn to be brave with the big asks.
From one delusionally optimistic urban gardener to another, I feel you! My „garden“ is in an old bathtub in a former car park and so far I‘ve harvested around 5 tomatoes and ZERO cucumbers, because apparently there are not enough bees around anymore. It‘s heartbreaking! But it‘s also the most beautiful thing and I don‘t even have any advice, only commiseration and a shared love for gardening in hostile places. Keep going, I believe in you and your plants. ❤️
I'm sorry you can't seem to get ahead. You have so much passion for this! If there's one piece of advice I could give you, it would be this: Be willing to change for your passion. Keep your eye on the goal and then flex like wheat in the wind (or whatever that cliche is). Be willing to move, change jobs, work for free, so you can go to school and get both of your feet on the path. If you're able to move (no kids or anything keeping you from it) research places near the school that have community gardens, nurseries, and arboretums. Call nurseries, garden suppliers, arborists for resources or for a job. You can do this. Change is hard but will open up another world for you. Trust that it will. I believe in you and so do all your future peers and colleagues in the plant world!
Compost compost compost! Tilling organic matter in will help with water retention and soil compaction. Also mulching is hugely helpful in preventing compaction again - you could use straw or wood chips or leaves (you can ask neighbors for them if they have trees they rake up after). For watering, you could look into something like ollas - they’re unglazed pottery you bury in the soil and fill, and they slowly diffuse water. It might help you have to water less frequently, and because the water isn’t poured on top of the soil, you lose less to evaporation. I think there are ways to DIY them.
I recently wrote about this very thing, keeping planter boxes hydrated: the first part of the piece is about uses of roadkill so if you don't want to read about that, skip the bit from "Now it's time for Ask the Farmer!" through to the dead bird drawings. Once you're past the drawings, you'll get to the planter box advice.
I am 20yrs in the plant/farm profession for whatever that’s worth. My top advice is: Look for work at a garden center or a landscaping company AND also look for a mentor in your area! This mentor could be in your preferred field if restoration or just ag-adjacent, but be sure to pin someone who has the vibe you are after - whether that’s data-nerd, eco-hippie-mama, boss bitch, whatever. That person will be OVER THE MOON to know you and will be the cheerleader / door-opener / North Star that you need to find your way. Cold call, email, door knock to find this person/these people. Keep showing up.
Also neighborhood groups could be a great way to link up w people who could be a closer resource for watering your plot.
You will burn out doing it the hard way, my friend, you’ll need to put all your energy into the one direction it will make the most sense and then thrust your whole heart thataway!
I hear you so much about the sadness of the garden that needs constant watering. WOOF connects people with organic farms worldwide (labor exchanged for housing and food). I have met people who have had great experiences with them. The ones in Maine typically require you to have a car and generally the exchange leaves time to also work for money.
I'm not sure where you live, but there is an opportunity to help maintain and steward the land at one of my favorite farms here in KS - Jako Farm - and they are hiring 3 different positions. It's not gardening per se, but it's along the lines. Check out https://jakofarm.com/join-our-team/ to see if they have something you'd like to apply for, and move to a new state. I know one position incudes housing and a food stipend! Good luck!!
letter writer, i hope you will try guerilla gardening in a spot that's easy for you to access. a hiking backpack & water bladders can make it easy to carry 6 liters of water with you, maybe more. best luck!
Boo for predatory college debt! I have so many friends who got financially all messed up from choices they made as 18-19 year old. And none of our parents had any idea how to guide us, because college was so much less expensive in their generation. Financially, it's kind of a lost generation. But LW, this is not YOUR fault! It's not your fault at all!!! You were just a little kid who got caught up in a system designed to exploit you. And I believe you can make a beautiful life even with this burden, because that's what humans do. We live and we build community and we find a way. It's amazing to see people commenting with awesome, specific gardening community suggestions. :-)
I live in a ridiculously expensive city where access to any personal outdoor space is rare. I suggest looking up volunteering opportunities at urban farms in your city. It is a wonderful way to do serious gardening and learn from deeply knowledgeable plant people across generations. The organizations often have public grants and decent supplies, so you can focus on growing your gardening skills rather than sweating basics like a reliable water supply.
You might even make connections that will help you transition to a job you're passionate about. My art major friend launched a successful landscaping business. I have another friend who had some random humanities major and still got a job in our city's tree protection program. You got this!!
DearStop the Ride - Don’t ever get off! Maybe change directions a bit?
I wonder if there are any nurseries or landscaping businesses or companies that take care of indoor potted plants, where you live?? I would think they might love to hire someone with your amazing love of plants, your passionate work ethic. 💚🌳🌺
Is it possible to haul crushed ice instead of water? As it melts around the plants, the water has more time to penetrate the dry soil and the roots actually have more time to drink up. I’ve had good luck with this on my houseplants and porch plants!
Your love for these little fried out chickpeas breaks my heart! Apply for work study at Esalen! One of the positions is in the most beautiful garden in Big Sur and meals/board are covered while you can reset.
https://jobs.lever.co/esalen/b58775cd-6633-4e1d-a538-2064dfd88b82
This person totally deserves a miracle! This is probably a bit of a”woo woo” advice but I’d suggest tapping? Like EFT tapping. It really helped me and you can find free videos on YouTube. Good way to get out of the current circumstance and allow yourself to imagine better!!!
EFT tapping IS miraculous. Thank you for the reminder. I need that today.
The generosity in these comments is bringing me such joy this morning. What a gift.
Something tells me that this is a little bit about finding kindred spirits who also love gardening so that you feel less alone. To find your people who also love plants. And maybe it’s about making a friend who lives closer to your garden where you can fill up your buckets.
Yeah, you could cold ring some doorbells! Actually, maybe there's even a next door neighbor that would be willing to let you container garden on their front porch. But on the other hand, these are little fixes, and the bold suggestions of new job or moving feel more correct in this circumstance. But on the third hand (?), sometimes being brave with little asks helps us learn to be brave with the big asks.
From one delusionally optimistic urban gardener to another, I feel you! My „garden“ is in an old bathtub in a former car park and so far I‘ve harvested around 5 tomatoes and ZERO cucumbers, because apparently there are not enough bees around anymore. It‘s heartbreaking! But it‘s also the most beautiful thing and I don‘t even have any advice, only commiseration and a shared love for gardening in hostile places. Keep going, I believe in you and your plants. ❤️
I'm sorry you can't seem to get ahead. You have so much passion for this! If there's one piece of advice I could give you, it would be this: Be willing to change for your passion. Keep your eye on the goal and then flex like wheat in the wind (or whatever that cliche is). Be willing to move, change jobs, work for free, so you can go to school and get both of your feet on the path. If you're able to move (no kids or anything keeping you from it) research places near the school that have community gardens, nurseries, and arboretums. Call nurseries, garden suppliers, arborists for resources or for a job. You can do this. Change is hard but will open up another world for you. Trust that it will. I believe in you and so do all your future peers and colleagues in the plant world!
Compost compost compost! Tilling organic matter in will help with water retention and soil compaction. Also mulching is hugely helpful in preventing compaction again - you could use straw or wood chips or leaves (you can ask neighbors for them if they have trees they rake up after). For watering, you could look into something like ollas - they’re unglazed pottery you bury in the soil and fill, and they slowly diffuse water. It might help you have to water less frequently, and because the water isn’t poured on top of the soil, you lose less to evaporation. I think there are ways to DIY them.
I recently wrote about this very thing, keeping planter boxes hydrated: the first part of the piece is about uses of roadkill so if you don't want to read about that, skip the bit from "Now it's time for Ask the Farmer!" through to the dead bird drawings. Once you're past the drawings, you'll get to the planter box advice.
https://rosiewhinray.substack.com/p/ask-the-farmer-roadkill-and-planter
I am 20yrs in the plant/farm profession for whatever that’s worth. My top advice is: Look for work at a garden center or a landscaping company AND also look for a mentor in your area! This mentor could be in your preferred field if restoration or just ag-adjacent, but be sure to pin someone who has the vibe you are after - whether that’s data-nerd, eco-hippie-mama, boss bitch, whatever. That person will be OVER THE MOON to know you and will be the cheerleader / door-opener / North Star that you need to find your way. Cold call, email, door knock to find this person/these people. Keep showing up.
Also neighborhood groups could be a great way to link up w people who could be a closer resource for watering your plot.
You will burn out doing it the hard way, my friend, you’ll need to put all your energy into the one direction it will make the most sense and then thrust your whole heart thataway!
I hear you so much about the sadness of the garden that needs constant watering. WOOF connects people with organic farms worldwide (labor exchanged for housing and food). I have met people who have had great experiences with them. The ones in Maine typically require you to have a car and generally the exchange leaves time to also work for money.
I'm not sure where you live, but there is an opportunity to help maintain and steward the land at one of my favorite farms here in KS - Jako Farm - and they are hiring 3 different positions. It's not gardening per se, but it's along the lines. Check out https://jakofarm.com/join-our-team/ to see if they have something you'd like to apply for, and move to a new state. I know one position incudes housing and a food stipend! Good luck!!
Where do you live? My cousin runs a network of women-run gardening businesses in Northern California and I am very happy to connect you. :)
letter writer, i hope you will try guerilla gardening in a spot that's easy for you to access. a hiking backpack & water bladders can make it easy to carry 6 liters of water with you, maybe more. best luck!
Yes to figuring out how to grow houseplants in basement! Maybe document efforts on social media to find your people and hopefully lead to job ideas?
Yes!! Create a YouTube channel! We will subscribe. I will, anyway.
Boo for predatory college debt! I have so many friends who got financially all messed up from choices they made as 18-19 year old. And none of our parents had any idea how to guide us, because college was so much less expensive in their generation. Financially, it's kind of a lost generation. But LW, this is not YOUR fault! It's not your fault at all!!! You were just a little kid who got caught up in a system designed to exploit you. And I believe you can make a beautiful life even with this burden, because that's what humans do. We live and we build community and we find a way. It's amazing to see people commenting with awesome, specific gardening community suggestions. :-)
I needed this letter, and Polly’s response, and these comments so much today.
I’m sobbing, but hopeful. Thank you all for restoring my soul.
I live in a ridiculously expensive city where access to any personal outdoor space is rare. I suggest looking up volunteering opportunities at urban farms in your city. It is a wonderful way to do serious gardening and learn from deeply knowledgeable plant people across generations. The organizations often have public grants and decent supplies, so you can focus on growing your gardening skills rather than sweating basics like a reliable water supply.
You might even make connections that will help you transition to a job you're passionate about. My art major friend launched a successful landscaping business. I have another friend who had some random humanities major and still got a job in our city's tree protection program. You got this!!
I also LOVE this!!!
DearStop the Ride - Don’t ever get off! Maybe change directions a bit?
I wonder if there are any nurseries or landscaping businesses or companies that take care of indoor potted plants, where you live?? I would think they might love to hire someone with your amazing love of plants, your passionate work ethic. 💚🌳🌺