Love for home gardening begins by setting yourself up for success. Geobunga's free workshops will help build confidence and turn any black thumb green.
Honolulu Family Team,
Geobunga can turn black or brown thumbs green.
That’s what Geobunga owner Andrew Dedrick said when I asked him to tell me about his company, during a recent visit to his shop on Lawehana Street (across from Target in Salt Lake).
As an avid gardener, it was a statement that resonated with me. Prior to moving into our house, Kelly and I seemed to kill just about everything we tried to grow on our condo lanai. I found this philosophy a little odd coming from a company that specializes in “Providing unique hardscape garden elements from all over the world,” says their company’s website.
After all, as I looked around, all I could see were beautiful stone pavers, decorative rocks, stones and pebbles, ceramic pots, fountains, stone benches, bamboo accents and outdoor sculptures. There was also a small area home to a variety of vegetable starters.
But as we continued to talk and walk though the rows and rows of colorful Geobunga ceramic pots, it became clear why Dedrick said what he did with so much confidence.
“Our free workshop series have become quite popular at our locations in Salt Lake and Waimanālo,” Dedrick explained. “Last week’s workshop, on the topic of edible gardens, was packed with about 190 people. We’re in the process of figuring out how to keep these events from becoming overwhelming for our guests, so we’re looking at adding more classes in the future.”
I was reminded of the wise saying, “Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
I’m a huge proponent of home gardening for many reasons, which I’ve mentioned in past blogs. At the same time, I certainly understand how daunting, challenging, and time consuming it can be, especially for those who live in condominiums or in areas without much space to grow plants, vegetables and herbs.
However, Dedrick, with his easy-going personality and optimistic point of view, takes the anxiety out of getting started and achieving success for home gardeners of all skill levels. He says that container gardening is a great option if you don’t have land. Why?
For starters, it brings the garden up to you, which is helpful for those who have trouble bending over all the way to the ground. Secondly, you minimize exposure to insects and bugs. Lastly, it allows you to position the garden close to where you want it to be.
It all made sense to me. “So why do so many people feel they don’t have a green thumb?” I ask.
“It’s about setting yourself up for success and starting simple,” says Dedrick. “It comes down to proper plant selection, choosing the right medium to grow things in, and understanding what work best for you and your sunlight situation.
For example, you may not be able to grow amazing flowers if you don’t get a lot of sun in a particular area of your lānai or yard, however, growing edible plants may be a better option if partial sun is required.
“Ever notice how peaceful you feel when you’re in your garden, how your heart rate seems to slow down and how time seems to stand still?” Dedrick asks.
I nod in agreement.
“Every year since my kids were small, we would garden together and plant for the next season,” says Dedrick. “It was about planting the seeds early in my children. Gardening together reinforced the value of growing our own food. Now, even though they areteenagers, we continue to garden together.”
It was a chicken skin moment hearing this story. I was inspired to learn more and was eager to discover ways to add variety to my home gardening routine. After all, gardening is an activity my family loves to do together, one that I hope we will continue to do for many years to come.
See Geobunga’s schedule of workshops on geobunga.com/workshops.
Nathan Kam is a Honolulu public-relations executive, husband and a proud daddy of two incredible kids, Ensen (5) and Avery (2). He enjoys cooking, gardening, traveling, blogging and golfing. You can reach him viaemail,Twitter,Facebook,LinkedInor via his personalKam Family Blog.
