Runedizzle
Member
Too whoever reads.
I’d like consider myself a decent cultivator. There is just something about tending to a garden flower/vegetable that always was fascinating and captivating to me even at a young age. My first experience at gardening was thanks to my best friends dad (Calvin). Matt my best friend and I hit it off in grade school where we met at a school field trip. It was at our local Zoo. Matt was a little socially awkward but was a bit of a class clown, which happen to be right up my alley. Needless to say we were a little on the trouble making side. It all started in the summer 1999 when Calvin,( Matt’s dad) said I could stay the night. Little did I know that this would be a night that would help mold me into the grower/adult iam today. Calvin and Matt had plans on tilling up a 1/2 acre yard this weekend and I would be helping. Calvin measured by marking rows giving them at least 4 feet between each row. That year we had 12 rows. Calvin started every plant from seed in his basement under florescent lighting. We planted each plant giving each plant 2 feet of space. He would collect 1 gallon milk jugs poking a whole in the bottom in order to fill the jug up with water/nutrients and set the jug on each plant. Conserving and not wasting anything was Calvin’s way of gardening. I spent my summers over there in his backyard even while Matt went into the military. Matt’s mom died in automobile accident when he was in 6th grade which brought him closer to Calvin. Matt suffered really bad from mental health issues which led him down a dark path of drug abuse. He ended up being honorable discharge from the military and moving back in with his dad (Calvin). I was going thru a really bad breakup with my sons mother and was also living with Calvin. I watched as Matt deteriorated from the drug abuse. His mental/physical health changed him into a unrecognizable person. Matt committed suicide on our other best friends birthday November 12th 2015. After finding him I started to self medicate using prescription pain pills and Xanax to cope. Within 3 months of Matt’s death I ended up in jail for two years over drugs. I was released 2018 under strict guidelines/supervision/rules. I lost my home, cars, materialistic items and more importantly my family’s trust. Over the past 5 years I’ve gained all of that back. Including gardening!!!! It’s hard to believe they are all gone and I’m still here. Calvin passed from cancer in 2020. He gave me his seeds which I have going right now. I’m not sure why I shared all this to a forum of people I’ve never met, but it definitely felt good. Looking forward to interacting and learning as much as I can.
Sincerely, GrosSome
I’d like consider myself a decent cultivator. There is just something about tending to a garden flower/vegetable that always was fascinating and captivating to me even at a young age. My first experience at gardening was thanks to my best friends dad (Calvin). Matt my best friend and I hit it off in grade school where we met at a school field trip. It was at our local Zoo. Matt was a little socially awkward but was a bit of a class clown, which happen to be right up my alley. Needless to say we were a little on the trouble making side. It all started in the summer 1999 when Calvin,( Matt’s dad) said I could stay the night. Little did I know that this would be a night that would help mold me into the grower/adult iam today. Calvin and Matt had plans on tilling up a 1/2 acre yard this weekend and I would be helping. Calvin measured by marking rows giving them at least 4 feet between each row. That year we had 12 rows. Calvin started every plant from seed in his basement under florescent lighting. We planted each plant giving each plant 2 feet of space. He would collect 1 gallon milk jugs poking a whole in the bottom in order to fill the jug up with water/nutrients and set the jug on each plant. Conserving and not wasting anything was Calvin’s way of gardening. I spent my summers over there in his backyard even while Matt went into the military. Matt’s mom died in automobile accident when he was in 6th grade which brought him closer to Calvin. Matt suffered really bad from mental health issues which led him down a dark path of drug abuse. He ended up being honorable discharge from the military and moving back in with his dad (Calvin). I was going thru a really bad breakup with my sons mother and was also living with Calvin. I watched as Matt deteriorated from the drug abuse. His mental/physical health changed him into a unrecognizable person. Matt committed suicide on our other best friends birthday November 12th 2015. After finding him I started to self medicate using prescription pain pills and Xanax to cope. Within 3 months of Matt’s death I ended up in jail for two years over drugs. I was released 2018 under strict guidelines/supervision/rules. I lost my home, cars, materialistic items and more importantly my family’s trust. Over the past 5 years I’ve gained all of that back. Including gardening!!!! It’s hard to believe they are all gone and I’m still here. Calvin passed from cancer in 2020. He gave me his seeds which I have going right now. I’m not sure why I shared all this to a forum of people I’ve never met, but it definitely felt good. Looking forward to interacting and learning as much as I can.
Sincerely, GrosSome
