Ranelle Dowdy, 30, of Hurt, Virginia describes her garden as her
"oasis" or the place she goes whenever she feels down or stressed. In this
interview, she shares her tips for growing a healthy garden and how gardening
helps her cope with motherhood.
How did you first begin gardening? How long
have you been gardening? What motivated you to begin
gardening?
I've been gardening for the past 5 years. The first year, I just
hand dug a 10x15 ft. area in my backyard and planted a few vegetables (tomatoes,
peppers, squash, etc..).
The following year I added a few small flower beds and began
experimenting with those. Every year since I've added at least one new flower
bed and expanded my vegetable garden. This year I have 8 flower beds, potted
flowers and herbs scattered everywhere, and my vegetable garden is approximately
25x30.
My inspiration for gardening has always been my mother. When I was
growing up she always had a large vegetable garden and eventually turned
our entire front yard into one big flower garden. After living on my own
for several years, I really began to miss the fresh veggies and beautiful
flowers. So I decided to try it myself.
What has gardening taught you about yourself?
Have you discovered parts of yourself through gardening?
Gardening has taught me that if I really want something to work,
all I have to do is work at it. I always thought I had a "brown
thumb".
Then I began to learn about amending my soil and proper plant care.
Once I applied all that I learned, I discovered that I really could grow
a garden!! Now everyone thinks I have a "green thumb"! But I know now that
it's not a matter of luck, it's a matter of knowledge and skill.
For some, gardening is therapy. Is it like
this for you? If so, how?
Yes, Yes, Yes!!!! I'm a stay at home mom to a two year old and it
can get very stressful and frustrating at times! Seeing my gardens (especially
the flowers) makes me feel peaceful and calm.
To see all that beauty in what was once a barren backyard gives
me sense of pride and accomplishment. And of course pulling up those bothersome
weeds is great therapy for frustration!!
What do you grow? Where do you garden? How
many acres do you plant?
I grow a wide variety of vegetables, flowers, bulbs, herbs, and a
few roses. It's way too much to list separately!! I garden here at home in
Central Virginia. I don't plant in acres, just beds. I leave the acres of
planting to the farmers!!!! LOL
What is your favorite thing to grow? Why is
this your favorite?
My favorite thing to grow is flowers. All kinds of flowers. I like
to try something new every year. If I had to pick a favorite, I'd be torn
between tuberous begonias and zinnias. I just love flowers. Always have.
They're so bright and beautiful. In all different shapes and sizes and
colors.
The begonias are definitely my favorite shade flowers. They look
kind of tropical. And the zinnias are not only pretty, they make excellent
cut flowers, and are very easy to grow.
What steps do you take to get your garden ready
every year? How do you plan out the garden? Get your soil
ready?
I dig in a mixture of compost, cow manure, organic humus, and top
soil. We have a lot of clay soil here in Va. so my goal is to fertilize and
improve drainage. Sometimes I'll add a little gypsum also, to break up the
clay. I don't do much planning. I just buy what I want, and find a place
to put it!!
What advice do you have for those who want
to start gardening?
Your garden is only as good as your soil. Make sure it has good drainage,
a balanced Ph, and plenty of fertilizer. And then have fun! Experiment with
different plants to find out what grows best and what you like
best.
Do you ever garden with others? If so, how
does it impact your relationships?
I love to garden with my mom. We grow a lot of the same flowers,
and we're always comparing notes. It's very good for our relationship because
it forms a common bond.
And I secretly think she's very pleased to see that she passed her
love of gardening on to me. I hope I can pass it on to my daughter someday
too.
What are the joys of
gardening?
Gardening is very rewarding. It's kind of like raising a child. You
start with a tiny little seedling and nurture it until it matures into a
big, healthy plant. But with gardening, you get to see the results much
quicker!!
For me, it's such a feeling of accomplishment. To know that I grew
these veggies we're having with dinner, or those flowers in that vase. To
look at my flower gardens and remember what the yard looked like before I
planted them. It's really an art. Like taking a blank canvas and creating
a beautiful picture.
What mistakes have you made with your
garden?
One year I learned what happens when you over fertilize your tomatoes.
They were growing so nice, getting big so fast. Then I discovered all that
lush foliage makes for a bad case of blight! Lost the whole crop!!!
And the one mistake that I keep making year after year is planting
too close together. I know better, but I keep doing it. Part of the problem
is my addiction.
My mom says I need to find a local chapter of flower lovers anonymous!
LOL It just seems that everywhere I go, I see a flower that I just have to
get! And then when I start setting out transplants, the beds look so big
and empty, that I tend to cram too much into them. Oh well! There's always
hope for next year!! LOL
Is gardening a spiritual endeavor for you?
If so, how?
Yeah, I guess in a way it is. I'm not a terribly religious person,
but sometimes when I'm out working in the garden on Sundays, I'll think "I
wonder what so and so thinks of me gardening on Sunday instead of going to
church?"
But then I realize that I feel closer to God when I'm tending my
gardens than I would sitting in some building. Besides, they're a joint venture
between He and I. He created the flowers, and I cultivate them!
What books, television programs, videos, magazines
have helped you learn about gardening?
The first gardening book I got was called "Growing fruits and vegetables
organically". That's where I started learning about the importance of soil
and how to improve it. Since then, I've read countless magazine articles
and a few books about flowers.
What challenges does your garden give
you?
Starting a new bed is always a challenge with this clay soil. It
takes a lot of work to get it ready for planting. After that the challenges
are numerous. Weeds, bugs, animals, etc...
What have you discovered improves the quality
of your garden?
The soil amendments I mentioned earlier. I also like Scotts line
of plant foods. Keeping faded flowers and foliage picked is also beneficial.
Mulch is great too. Helps retain moisture and keeps the weeds down.
Does your garden have a theme? A name? Is it
symbolic of something?
I call my backyard flower garden my "oasis". Whenever I start feeling
down or stressed out, I go sit among my flowers. It literally soothes my
soul.
I grew up in Oregon and sometimes I still miss it a lot. So I've
planted a few flowers that grow wild in Oregon. It makes me feel a little
closer to "home".
How much time do you spend on your garden each
day, or week, or month?
I usually spend about 12 hrs. a week on my garden. More during planting
season. The other day I said to my mom, "We spend all this time preparing
the soil, and planting, and fertilizing, so that we can spend the rest of
the summer cutting everything back!"
What do you think about while you are
gardening?
Anything. Everything. Usually, I'm thinking about what I need to
do next. Or what my two year old is getting into!! Sometimes I'll think about
a personal problem, but I usually try to leave those at the garden gate so
to speak. I also think about how good it's going to look when I'm
done. |
