Locked Out
The other day I was doing a plant overhaul for a local coffee shop. In addition to all my gardening paraphernalia, I had two kids, some toys, and a mound of snacks in tow as there was no one around and I knew my kids could entertain themselves while I worked. I had added a bunch of soil to the raised beds and turned to get something from my car…and realized my keys were locked inside, taunting me. I would say I felt like dirt except I generally like dirt so that analogy doesn’t fit. I called a locksmith and tried not to call myself an idiot too many times while I waited. In the meantime, a gal from a neighboring business wondered why my kids were running up and down the sidewalk outside. She came outside to see what was going on and I told her my sob story. Just as the locksmith pulled in next to my car, she said, “Oh, didn’t you know? You can call the non-emergency police line and they can usually come unlock your car for free!”
…at this point it was too late to tell the locksmith I no longer wanted his services. I swallowed my pride and forked over $170 for the liberation of my key, and thanked the gal for the tip in case I needed it in future.
If you’re wondering what this story has to do with gardening, here’s the point: when you decide to garden for the first time, there are quite a few variables you have to account for to get the results you want. You can spend all kinds of time and money installing a beautiful garden only to find out too late that you’ve made a fatal mistake in the setup of your garden. My first outdoor garden was like that - I cheerfully built a raised bed, filled it up with soil, planted seeds, and everything sprouted beautifully…and then stopped growing entirely when the season changed and my garden was covered in full shade for months. It was a very expensive mistake, both in the cost of the soil and the time I spent installing it, and it was a mistake I could’ve easily avoided if I had known what I was doing.
That’s where I come in: Garden Coach to the rescue! It’s my passion to see people succeed in their gardening efforts by first ensuring their setup is optimal. Instead of making a costly mistake (like locking the key in the car and having to pay the locksmith), you can work with me to get your setup right (depending on friendly local support to get you on your way again).
P.S. I also had a copy of my car key made and I’m permanently strapping it to my forehead so I don’t ever lock myself out again. (mostly kidding)
My first outdoor garden looking so happy before it completely stopped growing.