Dive In And Ask

Hi, my name is Josh, and I am a dumpster gardener. I am always asking other staff gardeners if they have plants they are planning on composting.  I like to brag about how much of the Children’s Garden’s annual plantings are started from seed. I also love to brag about how much fun it is to convince others that they would have a grand old time creating wonderful container arrangements in the garden.

There are some advantages and disadvantages to dumpster gardening. Consider these things in advance:

• Ask yourself, "Why is my gardening friend smiling at me ohh so sweetly as they hand me that extra zucchini plant?" Your "find" might be really aggressive or a tremendous self-seeder (not necessarily a bad thing). I planted columbine in one place hoping it would spread.
• Is the plant diseased? You can often nurse a sick plant back to health, but is it really worth all that extra work?
• You usually end up with the same types of plants as your neighbors.

Despite these risks, I highly recommend peaking into your fellow green thumbs’ yards and asking, "Hey what are you doing with that plant right there?" 

Posted Josh Steffen