Challenging Preconceived Notions is Vital for Gardeners
28.06.2023 - 11:47
/ treehugger.com
How many times as a gardener have you come across ideas that have become so entrenched that they are difficult to argue against?
Unfortunately, fixed ideas are common in the gardening world and, all too often, these firmly fixed preconceived notions become a barrier to real discussion and to progress in the field of sustainable gardening.
As a garden designer and consultant, I come across these firmly held ideas all the time. A small but significant part of my job is often to challenge what experienced gardeners and beginners alike think that they know.
It is natural for us humans to become a little set in our ways—we form our neural pathways and become set in our ideas rather easily. But in any arena, but perhaps especially in gardening, it is very important for us to set up each of the ideas we hold and subject them to some scrutiny.
Challenging preconceived notions is vital for all gardeners. If we stop examining the way in which we think, the ideas we hold, and the practices we espouse, we simply stop progressing and cannot hope to become the best gardeners we can be. We should always be learning, and fixed ideas can get in the way.
One common example of fixed thinking in the gardening world relates to the way in which many gardeners view «weeds.»
Many find themselves fixed in a way of thinking that casts wild plants native to their areas as the enemy—something to be eradicated.
But challenging that notion allows us to see the many, many benefits of allowing some of these wild native plants into our gardens rather than trying to keep them out.
Another common preconceived notion in gardening is the idea that we should be trying to «get rid» of pests.
In organic gardening, it is important to understand that