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Quote of the Day: Carol Deppe

November 18th, 2012

The resilience of individual gardeners working for personal satisfaction and joy in ordinary hard time can thus be transformed into resilience during more extraordinary hard times, for both the individual and his or her community. Life is full of hard times. By learning to garden our way through the small and ordinary hard times, and passing that knowledge on, we can help our children, our children’s children, our country, and our species through both the ordinary as well as the extraordinary hard times that happen through the generations.

Carol Deppe The Resilient Gardener


I was thinking about this quote as I was out planting the cuttings I had take from my hydrangeas earlier this summer. Each and every cutting had a mass of lovely roots. While these shrubs will not produce food for my table, they have provided education and learning.

I’m certainly glad that I don’t have to grow all the food that we eat. If a crop fails, we don’t go hungry. This gives me the freedom to experiment and hone my skills. Not only does that make me a better gardener, it gives me the confidence and knowledge to teach others as well. I hope none of us ever have to rely on our garden in order to survive, but I’m certainly glad I have spent time learning just in case. It’s kind of like having insurance, it provides a little peace of mind and makes us more resilient in tough times.

Do you think you’ve honed your gardening skills through the years you’ve been gardening? What do you want to learn next?

7 Comments to “Quote of the Day: Carol Deppe”
  1. Maybelline on November 18, 2012 at 8:14 am

    Each day I learn more.
    I would like to focus on healthy soil. Healthy soil will help clear up so many other problems.

    Reply to Maybelline's comment

    • Susy on November 18, 2012 at 8:24 am

      You’re so right, healthy soil is key!

      Reply to Susy's comment

  2. Andrea Duke on November 18, 2012 at 8:48 am

    Never stop learning. If you learn one new thing every day, you will overcome 99% over your competition.
    Joe Carlozo

    I have learned so much over the past several years where gardening is concerned, but have so much more to know. Soil is where I need put some of my time and effort next. I have a good friend who is the Ag agent for our county and soil is his main focus.

    This past month I have been pressing apples and making cider, hard cider and vinegar. Next, maple syrup!

    I love that gardening for me is fun and functional and that if ever needed I think I could take care of myself in a difficult situation.

    Reply to Andrea Duke's comment

  3. Mich on November 18, 2012 at 5:28 pm

    I was a keen gardener and decided to take it further.
    I did my Royal Horticultural Society general exam, which covers a broad spectrum of garden topics but i did love doing the indepth botany of what makes our plants ‘tick’.
    I then did on the job training for a year in a placement garden under a scheme here in the UK called ‘WRAGS’ for short.
    That really honed alot of my gardening techniques…but I think every year the garden/weather will always throw something at you to make it a learning experience!

    Reply to Mich's comment

  4. Brenda on November 18, 2012 at 6:28 pm

    Totally agree, by the way, what is the interesting mix you have struck your hydreandeas in?

    Reply to Brenda's comment

  5. KimH on November 19, 2012 at 11:04 am

    I’ve been gardening for probably 40 of my 51 years and 30 of it on my own.. I’d say I’ve indeed learned a thing or two over the time and honed my gardening skills

    Though I’ve had fruit trees at a couple of my homes, that is something I would love to get into more. Of course, space would help and this place isnt ideal (or even good for them for that matter) but I seem to be leaning towards growing more fruit.

    This past year, I planted strawberries, a Chicago Hardy Fig, grapes, and split my rhubarb.

    Reply to KimH's comment

  6. Five Monkeys and a Chick on November 19, 2012 at 9:38 pm

    Speaking of gardening…I saw a comment from you on Baker’s Creek. LOL I’m dreaming of spring already!

    Reply to Five Monkeys and a Chick's comment

About

This is a daily journal of my efforts to cultivate a more simple life, through local eating, gardening and so many other things. We used to live in a small suburban neighborhood Ohio but moved to 153 acres in Liberty, Maine in 2012.

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