Working class/middle class gardening...

I was admiring a brighly coloured garden at the Malvern Spring show yesterday, behind me I heard this man talking about middle class gardens and the fact that he started off with a working class garden; so pretentious. What's that all about then? I didn't think there was a class system when it came to gardening...!!!

 

With all the clay and stones in my garden i am definately Hard working class.

 

Totally agree with you Stingo. Gardening is a form of personnal expression and an extension of a personality. Nothing to do with class unless,as you said, pretentious. Stupid man!!

 

Well I don't own acres of land or live in a big castle or mansion and I have had to work for everything in my garden, my garden is definetly working class and I am proud of it :D :D

 

Oh good, I'm really glad I got a discussion started here! oh yes, indeed there's a class system when it comes to gardening, as Hoyles' book demonstrates.
We go to Chelsea Flower Show every year, this is actually because I once one tickets in a comp, and we've been back ever since, but we don't feel that we quite "fit in" - well, it's difficult to explain, but a lot of the visitors are people from the Home Counties who EMPLOY GARDENERS to do the work in gardens they've DESIGNED. And I can bet we're the only visitors who don't contribute to the Army Benevolent Fund...(My partner is always threatening to turn up with copies of SOCIALIST WORKER, but I've vetoed that!)

 

Oh, and another thing...I live on a council estate in West Hampstead/Kilburn (for those of you who are not Londoners, this is a rather complicated class reference!!) I was in fact re-housed by Camden Council because (apart from my declining health) I was being harassed by the landlady in my previous accommodation BECAUSE I LOOKED AFTER THE GARDEN AND GOT A COMPOST BIN. She apparently didn't want me defacing the concrete with "unsightly objects" [sic] - i.e. fruit trees in pots, also a grow-bag with tomatoes.
Oh well, I just wondered - I live on a council estate and I have a terrace with lots of pots; in fact it's supposed to be a communal garden, but no-one else bothers with it - by now I'd be rather amnnoyed if they did! My neighbours have all congratulated me on the terrace.
And I suppose - the whole thing is a working-class, or at least Social Housing, endeavour - we have an annual Camden in Bloom competition sponsored by the Council, which seems not to be highly regarded by Hampstead Horticultural Society!!

 

Unfortunately us Brits have a class system for everthing, including gardening.
It goes back to the so-called gardeners of the 17 -1800s who designed the great houses gardens, along with about 200 labourers who were payed a pittance.

 

You ought to come and live in my village.Talk about snobbery.If you don't drop the kids off at Private school in the latest largest 4x4 and wear designer clothes and own designer handbags,have a cleaner,gardener,dry your washing in the tumble dryer,have a dish washer and a utility and pay for a round of drinks by American Express,or buy your clothes from Next and furniture from either John Lewis or Ikea,or are a swinger then you definetly aren't in....

So me and my hubby are definetly OUT...I am glad I am me :D :rolleyes:

 

Mind pleasure gardening as opposed to food production gardening has always been an upper class affair. The whole concept of a lawn for example is to show off ones wealth. It says "I can afford to buy my food. I do not have to grow it. I can have a large area of non-productive land."
Only those with money or position (they do not always go together), could afford to have a garden which was non-productive. Even the monks garden was full of herbs both culinary and medicinal.
Now, who cares? I don't for one.

 

As you work your way up in life ,you'll probably meet these people on their way down,takes all kinds i guess .
Nice to know what you have, you worked for!

 

Shiney,we all know you have got squillions hidden underneath the mattress :D :D

 

My feeling is that anyone who is concerned by the class of their garden is not a true gardener. My plants come first, the rest doesn't matter - Oh except for the weather.

 

i been on the end of the middle class gardener's beck and call. I was their paid staff........they just cut flowers for the house, or gave stupid orders. I was a fashion accessory, but only on one particular new 'estate'.......3/4 mill for the cheapest house. (and to be honest, there wasn't one house that didn't have major problems or that i liked the look of.) I was popular, coz of the vehicle and trailer i drove, i spose i looked the biz. I had a waiting list. But they were posh enough to pay through the nose for it. But alas i decided to move and became an assett to those who can no longer do for themselves, much nicer class of folk. more down to earth, coz they know their earth from mud. There is definately a class system out there. I still come across it occasionally, but not as an employee.