The Oxford English Dictionary defines a community as, “a group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common,” or, “a feeling of fellowship with others which results in the sharing of common attitudes, interests, and goals.” Like most people, I am a member of several communities. There are friends and neighbors who live in the same community I do, colleagues across universities who make up my academic community, fellow worshippers who are the backbone of my church community, and myriad other people who share my interests in pickleball, swimming, biking, writing, music – and of course, the community of like-minded individuals who share my love of gardening and nature.
And it is this community – that diverse collection of souls who love all things related to gardening and nature – which has prompted me to write this post.
Being somewhat introverted, I often find it challenging to join new groups. However, late last year, I decided I needed to poke my head out from beneath the proverbial turtle shell and became a member of GardenComm, (https://info.gardencomm.org/) an online international organization of garden communicators from every green industry discipline imaginable: Bloggers, speakers, podcasters, authors, web designers, industry experts, etc.
And I am so thankful I did. Members not only freely share invaluable information about new trends and suggestions about gardening, but the GardenComm community has provided a welcoming new home for me as a blogger, speaker, and future author (yes, I’ve taken a huge leap into the deep end and I’m writing a book).
Just last week, C.L. Fornari, (www.gardenlady.com) the president of GardenComm, podcaster, blogger, and expert extraordinaire on all things gardening, and Carol Michel (caroljmichel.com/category/blog/), another incredible garden guru, podcaster, and award-winning author, took time out of their busy schedules to meet with me via Zoom to chat, laugh, and share practical words of wisdom and advice. Even my brief request to GardenComm membership asking for advice on how to create a Speaker’s Sheet elicited several responses and professional samples.
Here is a screen shot of C.L. Fornari and me sharing a laugh during our meeting:
Whether you are a garden hobbyist or work in the business of gardening and greenscapes, I encourage you to check out the GardenComm site if you are not already a member. It is a welcoming community where you can connect, collaborate, learn, and grow.
