the image of gardening

Its no secret that gardening as a profession and a hobbey struggles to excite young people.

Since owning my own garden for the first time I have really enjoyed designing my garden, raising plants from seed, growing my own veg and researching what flowers to put where. I'm sure that more people my age would develop an interest if it wasn't for the image that is constantly perpetuated that gardening is boring and for old people.

One thing that makes me cringe when watching gardeners world is that the presenters have a tendancy to talk really slowly, and like in the fruit growning special recently they had lingering shots of mayors in all their regalia! There's nothing that young people can relate to about that and its irellevant to fruit growing.

Enough of the filler and lazy programming! Lets have more programmes showing how creative, scientific and exciting gardening can be.

 

A good point Sparkle - speaking as a young (ish) gardener myself, I have to say I don't watch much in the way of TV programmes, prefer to read up instead!

I don't think anybody is going to make a youth oriented gardening show any time soon, but would be nice to see younger people connecting with gardening. It's such a satisfying thing to do (a lot of the time) - perhaps even market it at the exercise brigade? A lot better use of your time than going to a gym if you ask me! :D

 

definitely Dave, I think you're onto something with the gym alternative argument!

 

Well, the way I see it you do just as much (if not more) work than you would at a gym and you have something beautiful to show at the end of it (garden that is, of course )!

 

I agree with you Dave, there is nothing better than gardening and fresh air fancy :D

 

Hey sparkle, I bought my house at 22 years old, nine years ago, and immediately did the front garden. I got loads of "wouldn't have expected a person as young as you to be into gardening", largely by the retired folk that trot by to the post office. Its just something you have to get on with really. If I were to stick my neck out, I would say that gardening for me involves taking pleasure from creating something beautiful and taking pride in a job well done. I'm not sure these concepts are relevant to the throw away, pay for everything, do nothing generation. As for the programming issue yes gardeners World and the like are a big turn off lately. I too have noticed the dumbing down of the content. Bring back Titchmarsh, he might of had alot of flannel but he could sure encourage one and all to garden. At the end of the day though the BBC will play to its grey brigade audience for programmes like Gardeners World.

 

I think there's a definite gap in the programming for people like me who just want to learn things and be inspired, without the soft focus and "when I were a lad" waffle.

 

Don't take this the wrong way BM, but I thought you were older than 31

Fee, age 30 and a half

 

There's a program on in Scotland apparently (cos my sis lives up there) which is supposed to be really straightforward and actually teaches you stuff about gardening without long lingering shots of village greens and the waffle. I can't remember what it is called, but I'm sure some of our Scottish members can help out?!

 

Why? Because of my vast plant knowledge or my naturally grumpy disposition?

BM :D

 

LOL at Shiney!

Dave in his Garden - Possibly Beechgrove Garden, it's in Aberdeen, not sure if you guys below the border get it or not. It's quite straight forward and to the point. There's a lot of terminology which might be basic to those with more knowledge, but to us learners it's like a foreign language, this is something I need to read up on I think - Gardening For Beginners, or something like that.
BM - you, grumpy? Give me a couple of weeks to try and suss you out and then I'll decide. But your knowledge is certainly vast for one so young - i'm jealous!

 

At the end of the day though the BBC will play to its grey brigade audience for programmes like Gardeners World.
Watch out BM, we are in the majority here! :D

Personally I don't watch Gardener's World very often so I don't know who it appeals to, but I think gardening is something that needs patience, and the young are not reknowned for that!

 

Not all young people have a short attention span! I really thing its the image that's constantly perpetuated that's the problem.

I've given spair plants grown from seed to my friends this year, and they're amazed at how easily things grow just as I am. I get weekly reports of what colour their chilis are, and how many corgettes they've got! Its a shame more teenagers and 20/30 somethings have the impression that its all about roses and village shows.

 

Not all older people like village shows and lack of content in TV programs either! Stereotyping at either end of the scale is daft.
Short attention span is not the same as lack of patience!