Sometimes I get emails. Some are from people about the class over at GrowingHerbsForBeginners.com. Since I never post this kind of thing on the blog there, it goes here.

Often they have a question, or they may have deleted an email with their handouts. I fix and answer what I can.  I also get some ‘thank you’ emails that are so darn sweet. Those are the ones that make the occasional website and techie frustrations all worthwhile!

Today I got one that almost made me cry. Here it is:

Thank you for answering a newbie’s questions with kindness. I am trying to learn to garden again after quitting several years ago. At the time I joined a garden club thinking it would be fun and educational. That was a mistake. There were some nice people there, but the ‘experts’ beat me over the head with their knowledge when I had a simple question. I quickly learned that asking questions lead to feeling stupid and belittled because someone had to show me how smart and ‘right’ they were. Thank you for not doing that.
I am a beginner and am not interested right now in every botanical name change or which specific type of Praying Mantis I have in my yard. I just want the basics, so thank you for giving me that and for always replying to my questions.

Candy P. 

PS. The links you sent are very helpful!

I’ve been in this situation many times and am ashamed to say I have been on the giving end a time or two. After reading this I felt awful about ever having behaved that way and vowed to always do a good job in the ‘kindness to newbies” and “people in general” departments.

I suppose that includes not poking bossy-know-it-all’s in the nose?

Herb and Gardening Books

If you want to learn to do something new, study the subject, but more importantly – get in there and just DO it!

*Disclaimer*  This advice does not apply to fields such as surgery, welding, or electrical work.