Re: Decline in Gardening

**"C.L. Fornari" c*@mail.com**

 Here here, Ellen!  I too have faith in the cycle.  It gives me hope to know several 20-somethings who are interested in plants, and several of the “regulars” who ask me questions through allexperts.com are young people.  They don’t own homes yet, so aren’t as involved in gardening as they might be down the road, but they are interested.  Call me crazy, but I predict a new “back to the land” movement from the 29 and younger generation in the not too distant future. 

In the meantime, what can we, as garden communicators, do to encourage people to get involved with plants and gardens? 

1) Be honest. Tell them that gardening DOES take work, and it’s worth it.  
2) Be enthusiastic.  When someone is joyful and passionate about something, it makes other people want to follow.  
3) Hook the parents through the kids. Speak and write about great things to do with children and plants.  The kids need the help of adults, so if you catch the attention of either the adult or the child, it’s two-for-one.
4) Support public gardens in any way you can. Some people get hooked on gardens when visiting a botanic garden or park. A day’s entertainment can be the start of a life-long pastime. These institutions are vital to the future of gardening and garden education.
5) Put good garden information on-line. This is where the younger people go first – help make sure there is accurate and animated garden websites. 

Keep the faith,
C.L.

C.L. Fornari    
www.gardenlady.com

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