The Little Guy Stands Up

Here is a great story from the Chicago Tribune's Problem Solver about an independant garden center owner standing up to the big guys.

Felder's Oct. 26th article

If you'd like to read Felder's latest article for the paper, click here. He has some really good comments about reminding retailers why they are in business. As always, the tips are invaluable, too!

What is "gestalt," anyway?

That's the second-most often asked question I get when I'm out sharing the good word about The Gestalt Gardener. Most recently, it came in the form of an email from Nelva, who wrote:

"I am argueing with my husband.What does gestalt mean? Listen to your program all the time we both enjoy it very much.Thank you."

On this week's show Felder addressed Nelva's email directly with some description of his Gestalt philosophy, as well as some poignant remarks. Here's a copy of Felder's notes on the subject of 'Gestalt':

"Gestalt is a German word that means both 'pattern' and 'whole.' The word is used in English to refer to a completed cycle, something that is finished. I see the concept relating to gardening by how it:

• takes into account the whole garden (or gardener - body, mind, and spirit)


• uses an experiential approach to gardening


• assesses what is happening in the present (the here-and-now)
  
• emphasizes self-awareness


• encourages personal (garden) responsibility
  
• acknowledges the integrity, sensitivity, and creativity of the gardener
  
• recognizes that the gardener is central to the gardening process.
  
  
  

There is a lot of whimsy and humor in gardens, relief valves for the anxiety that comes from uptight people trying to do as we please. The Gestalt approach helps find common ground, and peace between the organized 'left brain' of horticulture science and the free-form 'right brain' of gardening for the love of it. It includes ways to get more gardeners 'into the fold' by relaxing - or even outright mocking - some of our cherished gardening rules, and allows a garden to be seen as a whole, instead of a lot of details."

Time-Lapsed flower video

I saw this on YouTube. It didn't shake up my life or anything, but it made me go "Awe. Cute."

Gestalt Gardener Calendar

Sometimes I think Felder's creative process never stops. When he's not growing things, he's taking pictures of growing things, or anything else at all. Just check out his website, the Gestalt Gardener page on MPB's website, or the Radio Garden for more evidence!

The newest collection of Felder's photographs is a calendar chock full of pictures of yard art from throughout the Gestalt Gardener listening area. This calendar is the "Thank You" gift associated with the Gestalt Gardener radio show during Mississippi Public Broadcasting Radio's "Drive Time." To offer your support to what we do, click here or call 1-800-390-4388.

Plant Swap Group on Yahoo!

Here's an interesting email from one of our Alabama listeners:

"Dear Felder -

I am one of your regulart listeners from Mobile. One day I heard you suggest to a lady that if she needed her over crowded perrienials cleaned out, to post a notice on the church bullitin board. Well, like they say, one idea often leads to another.
Recently I created a new group on Yahoo for people in the Mobile area who might need to thin out plants by offering them on a plant swap site - http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MobilePlantSwap/.
Needless to say, not too many people know about it (only 8 in the group so far) but I thought if you would mention it on your program, perhaps more people would want to join - or create similar swap groups in their own cities. I just think it's such a shame that we often throw away perfectly nice plants that others might be able to use.... and only because we don't know anyone to give them to.
Thank you for your interest.... and thank you so much for the good advise you offer each week. Enjoy your show.

Joyce (last name withheld)"

Felder Vs. Felder

As always, this week's pictures are up on the Gestalt Gardener page. To see the most recent progress in the Radio Garden, click here. And last, but not least, a little fun with a web poll:

No, we haven't forgotten you!

The new guy just took a month and a half to figure out how to sign in! Thanks so much for visiting the GG blog. Many of you follow the progress of Felder's Radio Garden on our website. This is the latest picture of the radio garden. I personally like the pumpkins. They bring back memories of childhood Autumn evenings digging seeds out on the kitchen counter.

If you'd like to see how the Radio Garden got here from where it was in July, simply click here.

Happy Gardening!