Have you ever worked on something for years to no avail? I have. I’m trying not to become frustrated, but it’s difficult.
A few years ago right before Covid, I decided it would be fun to begin a blog on gardening. I had never blogged before and did not know how to create a blogging website. But after perusing the net, I joined a particular platform (which shall not be named) and took baby steps to create a gardening site.
I have to admit, it was a lot of fun; frustrating at times, but fun. It kept my mind engaged which is important to me. I have been retired from teaching since 2017 and am concerned about a deteriorating mind as I age. This, I thought, would keep me sharp.
I thoroughly enjoyed learning the ins and outs of web design and was extremely excited to create meaningful posts that gardeners would enjoy reading.
In addition to sharing information with others, I was hoping to earn a little passive income. Unfortunately, that has not happened. However I get a real sense of accomplishment after I post an article that educates others on how they can garden using sustainable methods which ultimately improves the health of our earth.
Jump forward to 2023 and I am still blogging.
Through the years I changed the theme numerous times and even hired a couple of people to help me make it appear more professional .
During my journey many questioned why I was still blogging as a gardener, especially since I was not creating much of an income. It made me think about giving up but not for long. If I had listened to them and just stopped, I know I would really be disappointed in myself. For every negative comment said to me, there was this little guardian angel telling me to just keep going.
Which I have.
After evaluating my successes and failures in this endeavor, I have decided to take a different avenue. In addition to continue blogging, I have created a service section which enables me to engage with my readers and instruct them on actually starting a garden.
After an initial consultation, I compile a plan that explains exactly what to do to create a beautiful garden in their yard. Included in this plan is a comprehensive list of what to purchase given their particular geographic needs, explanations on how to create the initial garden and how to plant each item, and information on how to maintain the garden. I also give them an actual diagram to scale of their yard showing where to plant the items.
I have had a couple of clients since I began this new venture, however it has not been easy to market this profile. Frustration.
Yes, I am frustrated, again. However I have learned that the endgame is not always what you think. I have learned sooo much from family and friends who have helped me not only with how to present the information through Word, but how to market this service and my blog.
So I guess what I’m saying is that yes, you will be frustrated in whatever you pursue, but the journey holds more of a learning experience than the actual final event. Embrace your frustrations, learn from them, and as Dorie from Finding Nemo said, “just keep swimming, swimming, swimming!” You never know where you’ll end up!
Here is a testimonial of my service:
I am very pleased with the landscaping design that Nina put together for my yard. I’ve always wanted to create a pollinator garden, but didn’t know where to start and what plants would survive the hungry rabbits we have in our area. We had an initial call during which Nina asked a series of questions to fully understand my current landscaping design and what I would like the final design to look like. Nina then promptly put together a comprehensive, custom landscaping design including a set of visual plans, detailed instructions on transplanting existing plants and caring for new ones, and a handy ‘shopping list’ of suggested plants to purchase. I now feel like I have the tools I need to implement the landscaping plan I’ve always wanted but was unable to develop on my own. I would highly recommend Nina and her services!
If you’re interested in checking out my gardening website, click Best Gardening for Beginners.
Life Redecorated 