1. IMPORTANT - NEW & EXISTING MEMBERS

    E-MAIL SERVER ISSUES

    We are currently experiencing issues with our outgoing email server, therefore EXISTING members will not be getting any alert emails, and NEW/PROSPECTIVE members will not receive the email they need to confirm their account. This matter has been escalated, however the technician responsible is currently on annual leave.For assistance, in the first instance, please PM any/all of the admin team (if you can), alternatively please send an email to:

    [email protected]

    We will endeavour to help as quickly as we can.
    Dismiss Notice

Why don't members give some indication of their gardening qualificatons.

Discussion in 'Gardening Discussions' started by Mike Allen, Nov 17, 2020.

  1. Mike Allen

    Mike Allen Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2014
    Messages:
    2,861
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired. Plant Pathologist.
    Location:
    Eltham. SE. London
    Ratings:
    +6,097
    Just a thought. Most forums, I find there is space for members to give some info, who they are, and what their relevent experience, qualifications are etc. Just a thought.
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
    • CanadianLori

      CanadianLori Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Sep 20, 2015
      Messages:
      9,701
      Occupation:
      Battle Axe
      Location:
      Oakville, Ontario, Canada Zone 5A
      Ratings:
      +30,604
      Not a good thought! Sorry but I find the suggestion of rating one's level of knowledge or experience is offensive.

      I am a rank private/constable with gardening. But I don't have loads of time to spend in my back yard. As much as I would like I would spend my whole day out there. But I just can't. It is a simple back yard. No landscaping, just a back yard with improvements as budget permits. I am just a perennial newbie and enjoy learning with my hands in the dirt, or from my mistakes, or from the generosity of the people here.

      Lots have included their professional status or made it clear in their posts that they are pros or brain boxes in the horticultural group. So I see no need to give a proficiency rating to individuals.

      The enjoyment of gardening is limited to no one and let members make their own judgement regarding advice freely given here, and with great generosity :)

      P.S. you can add lots to your profile. Signature, etc..... totally voluntary :)
       
      • Agree Agree x 9
      • Like Like x 5
      • Mike Allen

        Mike Allen Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Jan 4, 2014
        Messages:
        2,861
        Gender:
        Male
        Occupation:
        Retired. Plant Pathologist.
        Location:
        Eltham. SE. London
        Ratings:
        +6,097
        Thanks Lori.
         
        • Friendly Friendly x 2
        • Upsydaisy

          Upsydaisy Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Apr 26, 2017
          Messages:
          17,442
          Gender:
          Female
          Occupation:
          Living in hope of world wide peace.
          Location:
          Hampshire. Zone 8b
          Ratings:
          +54,373
          Agree wholeheartedly Lori.:dbgrtmb:

          I'm new to what I call 'serious ' gardening, but have always kept a neat, tidy and well stocked garden. I use to go round a GC and just pick out what I liked the look of, but now I more often than not find that I do a little bit of research into their ideal requirements first.....but not always..:heehee: , I also rarely buy plants now preferring to grow from seed or from cuttings. I have undoubtedly learned a lot from everyone here but I still like to test the boundaries and work by trial and error. I have on many occasions experienced a sense of great joy when 'bits' of plants have beaten all the odds placed on them by 'experts' and survived near death and grown into lovely strong plants.
          My Mum had no gardening qualifications , but was indeed the most knowledgeable person on the subject that ( to date) I have ever met. I just wish I had taken more notice and asked more questions of her when she was alive....hindsight!!!

          Qualifications...!!! I know of people who proudly show off a list of them as long as your arm...but on closer inspection, most are short courses ,online workshops ...or worse that that..a certificate to say that they actually turned up on the day !!!
          Jack of all trades, but a master of none comes to mind.

          Give me someone who is a hands on person and who shows a real love and dedication of gardening...they are the true experts not those who have grown a wall of 'certificates '
           
          • Like Like x 10
          • Agree Agree x 2
            Last edited: Nov 18, 2020
          • pete

            pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

            Joined:
            Jan 9, 2005
            Messages:
            48,065
            Gender:
            Male
            Occupation:
            Retired
            Location:
            Mid Kent
            Ratings:
            +85,475
            Qualifications regarding gardening absolute zero.
            But that doesn't stop me growing plants. ;):smile:
             
            • Like Like x 8
            • Agree Agree x 8
            • NigelJ

              NigelJ Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Jan 31, 2012
              Messages:
              6,104
              Gender:
              Male
              Occupation:
              Mad Scientist
              Location:
              Paignton Devon
              Ratings:
              +21,219
              Why don't members give some indication of their gardening qualificatons?
              Most of us don't have any, just experience and interest.
               
              • Agree Agree x 11
              • Like Like x 3
              • Friendly Friendly x 1
              • strongylodon

                strongylodon Old Member

                Joined:
                Feb 12, 2006
                Messages:
                14,768
                Gender:
                Male
                Occupation:
                Retired
                Location:
                Wareham, Dorset
                Ratings:
                +28,360
                I have, but never felt the need to advertise them here and being 50 years ago mostly irrelevent.
                 
                • Like Like x 7
                • Friendly Friendly x 3
                • Jiffy

                  Jiffy The Match is on Fire

                  Joined:
                  Aug 25, 2011
                  Messages:
                  11,227
                  Occupation:
                  Pyro
                  Location:
                  Retired Next To The Bonfire in UK
                  Ratings:
                  +31,818
                  I'm so bad at it i don't want to advertise it :mute:
                   
                  • Funny Funny x 9
                  • Like Like x 1
                  • shiney

                    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

                    Joined:
                    Jul 3, 2006
                    Messages:
                    61,273
                    Gender:
                    Male
                    Occupation:
                    Retired - Last Century!!!
                    Location:
                    Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
                    Ratings:
                    +118,204
                    Over 70 years of gardening, instruction by some experts, called a fool by others, made my own decisions about the 'right' way to go about things and learnt a lot from Mrs Shiney who has conversations with plants and the plants do what she wants them to! :rolleyespink:

                    Pieces of paper saying I know what I'm doing - none. :whistle: :)
                     
                    • Like Like x 9
                    • Agree Agree x 1
                    • ThePlantAssassin

                      ThePlantAssassin Gardener

                      Joined:
                      Jun 6, 2012
                      Messages:
                      444
                      Gender:
                      Female
                      Occupation:
                      NuttyFruitCake
                      Location:
                      East Sussex
                      Ratings:
                      +1,016
                      Me too!

                      Im not called the PlantAssassin for nothing
                       
                      • Funny Funny x 11
                      • Like Like x 1
                        Last edited: Nov 18, 2020
                      • clanless

                        clanless Total Gardener

                        Joined:
                        Jan 20, 2013
                        Messages:
                        3,201
                        Gender:
                        Male
                        Occupation:
                        Gentleman of leisure.
                        Location:
                        North Wales
                        Ratings:
                        +7,623
                        IMHO - qualifications etc are the domain of professional forums. I'm here for the banter with an occasional side garnish of gardening advice.:smile:
                         
                        • Agree Agree x 9
                        • Like Like x 5
                        • flounder

                          flounder Super Gardener

                          Joined:
                          Apr 26, 2020
                          Messages:
                          789
                          Gender:
                          Male
                          Occupation:
                          RETIRED!!
                          Location:
                          Brighton
                          Ratings:
                          +1,629
                          Qualifications don't mean bugger all unless you're trying to get a job in horticulture, it's all down to personal experience and taste. A lot of my plants agree with me, but some won't grow unless I can show them official bits of paper.
                          Of course, it could be because they're in the wrong soil/too hot/too cold/to wet/to dry etc, etc
                           
                          • Like Like x 8
                          • Funny Funny x 2
                          • Agree Agree x 1
                          • shiney

                            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

                            Joined:
                            Jul 3, 2006
                            Messages:
                            61,273
                            Gender:
                            Male
                            Occupation:
                            Retired - Last Century!!!
                            Location:
                            Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
                            Ratings:
                            +118,204
                            Don't you ask them first? :scratch: :nonofinger:
                             
                            • Funny Funny x 3
                            • Like Like x 1
                            • Useful Useful x 1
                            • pete

                              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

                              Joined:
                              Jan 9, 2005
                              Messages:
                              48,065
                              Gender:
                              Male
                              Occupation:
                              Retired
                              Location:
                              Mid Kent
                              Ratings:
                              +85,475
                              I think, as others have said, this place is mostly about advice given from your own experiences, most of us could ramble on quoting what the book says if we wanted to, I've read a lot in my younger days.
                              I've often proved the books wrong, especially regarding hardiness.

                              If I was to give advice about something I have not personally grown I would point out I'm quoting the official line regarding that plant, and not from experience.

                              We all have our favourite plants and favourite types of gardening, and mostly we stick to only getting really involved in the threads that take our interest.

                              So its not really about qualifications, its more about experience.:)
                               
                              • Agree Agree x 10
                              • Like Like x 3
                              • ARMANDII

                                ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

                                Joined:
                                Jan 12, 2019
                                Messages:
                                48,096
                                Gender:
                                Male
                                Ratings:
                                +100,836
                                Well, I guess we all start taking the Gardening Exam when we take our first look at what "garden" the Builders have left:wallbanging:, and think we can make a garden out of it.:dunno:
                                We do have one or two professional Horticulturalists in the Gang and I tip my Hat to them for never really mentioning it.
                                We also have had some declared professionals who tried to impress their knowledge, opinions and thinking onto some of the GC Gang, even going to the extent of demanding from GC Admin that they be given their own sub-forum, but on not find a willing, appreciative audience, they didn't stay long.
                                But, as is shown in the previous posts, what Gardeners respect is the practical experience involving success and failures of members giving them the "Mucky fingers and boots" Medal that is never worn.
                                [​IMG]

                                [​IMG]
                                So, I guess we Gardeners don't think much of paper qualified gardeners but look to the experienced Gardeners for reliable advice won from their long experience and knowledge...........which is why nobody asks me for advice:dunno::heehee::cat-kittyandsmiley::coffee:
                                 
                                • Funny Funny x 11
                                • Like Like x 5
                                Loading...

                                Share This Page

                                1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                                  By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                                  Dismiss Notice