I’ve been mulling this question for several week now, first as I prepared for an indoor seed starting workshop, and now as I contemplate another public presentation. Why do I garden? What makes it so satisfying? I have always been almost compelled to grow my own veggies, from the first small garden where I grew tiny stunted carrots and potatoes too small to be called new potatoes (delicious baked in my Easy Bake Oven) but why?
I am considering submitting a proposal to speak at a PechaKucha Night about gardening. I recently heard Pech Kucha described as a concert of ideas — great analogy! It began in Japan as a networking event, and has grown to become a worldwide phenomenon. It offers networking, idea sharing, community building, and so much more. Check out the website for more examples, but the basic model is that presenters get 20 images and 20 seconds per image to share their ideas. A PechaKucha Night will feature 8-10 presenters and a reception for presenters and audience.
So tell me, why do you garden? What is it that drives your passion to dig, haul, plan, stoop, dig, pull, fret, and finally, pick and eat? To boil giant pots of water in a steamy August kitchen and can your veggies? To pick and can and blanch and freeze and do it again and again until the frost makes it stop?
I really hope I hear from lots of people. Please!
