When the weather allows, I usually start the afternoon sitting in a chair near my garden with the sun shining and a cup of coffee in my hand. If the temperature is 45 degrees Fahrenheit or above, I will find a way to be comfortable even if that means I’m bundled up.
When the weather doesn’t allow as seen above, I stay inside and sit in front of the television, tuned to YouTube and watch a gardening video. Very often that video will be posted by Garden Answer, one of my favorite YouTube channels, and one that provides a wealth of gardening information. The coffee cup in the pic at top, was purchased by me as a way of supporting the channel.
Although much of gardening is learned through personal trial and error, there are many opportunities to learn through the experiences of others. I discovered the Garden Answer YouTube channel a couple of years ago when I moved into a new house and was seeking garden ideas for the new property. I have been following ever since.
The Garden Answer channel is hosted by Laura and the technical side is performed by her husband Aaron. This young couple and their two small children form a family unit that provides valuable information on a wide variety of topics related to gardening. During the two years that I have been watching their almost daily uploads, I have learned much and have been made aware of many things that I hadn’t thought about.
I have also enjoyed following their YouTube journey. In the beginning they both had day jobs and still found time to create content that both informed and entertained their followers. Since that time, they have moved into a new house, purchased adjacent property for gardening, and become full-time YouTube creators. At the time I am writing this, they upload a new video 6 days a week, most weeks. And have amassed a YouTube following of 1.45 million followers.
A second channel named Garden Answer Highlights where they review the past week’s videos and read selected viewer comments and answer questions, currently has 213,000 followers. When that many people are watching the videos week after week, it tells me that this couple is providing content that fills an informational and entertainment need for their audience. I know they do for me and I look forward to watching their videos each day. One thing you’ll immediately notice is the positive attitudes and focus in each of the videos. Even when the topic may cover a failure or tragedy. It’s a great way to start my day in this world where conflict and negativity often scream loudest for our attention.
There are many things about Laura and Aaron that impress me but one that stands out is their giving hearts. When they harvest extra produce it is given to family, friends and food banks. They invite friends to come and pick flowers from their cut-flower garden for weddings, anniversary parties or other special occasions. This past year they gave away a gazebo from their yard to the city where they live. Some of their videos feature work at a local community college, children’s center, their church and other locations. Their time, and expertise and sometimes even the plants are donated by them.
Some of the specific things I have learned from Garden Answer include the following:
*The importance of consistent watering and fertilizing to receive abundant harvests and/or blooms.
*Designing a landscape from scratch.
*Breaking the gardening area into zones and performing daily tasks for one zone on a specific day of the
week.
*How to clean and store your gardening tools in easy to follow step-by-steps.
*Discovering how certain types of plants perform before I purchase them.
*What pests can do to a variety of different plants and how to deal with each of them.
*Laura and Aaron set an example of what can be done through a vision backed up by hard work. And let me emphasize that they are not afraid of hard work.
*There is room for all of us to be successful. Therefore, we can cheer on others when they achieve success.
I recommend that you follow the Garden Answer YouTube channel and see for yourself. Watch one of their latest videos to get started. But honestly, I suggest that you go back 2-3 years and start watching until you’ve seen all videos to the present day. This will give you an idea of the many topics that are covered as well as see the journey that this family has come through with changes, drama, laughs, and joys. I’ve added a video below to get you started.