Our Family of Backyard Growers.

I spend a great deal of time in Our Backyard Growers Members Area and most days it’s all about hustle and bustle, members asking questions, members offering up advice and ideas and of course all of the buying and selling that goes on.  I answer as many questions as possible, but often the other members beat me to it, which is awesome!  Since I’m only there once or twice a day people get their questions answered quickly because of our generous and always helpful members.

Recently I came across a couple of posts that I’d like to share, just to give you an idea of how family like our members area is.

This post started the conversation . . .

I just want to say thanks to Tim B. for his help today in covering benches and hoop frames. It started out a cold and frosty morning and ended as a cold evening. Long cold day that passed by too quickly. His help made it go smooth and easy. My wife is very thankful as well since it won’t be her out in the cold covering things up with me.
(Tim B. went to the home of Roger and Venice and helped Roger cover plants for the winter.)

After seeing Rogers’s post Tim posted this reply . . .

I have said this before and I really mean it.  I would not be in this group or as heavily invested in this new business as I am right now without the help, guidance, donations, good advice, encouragement and friendliness of more than a few truly awesome people right here in the members area.

But chief among them are Roger and Venice who have gone way out of their way to help me in more ways than I have time or the memory to list.  If ever there was a good spokesperson for this board it is Roger,  as we all know how much Roger likes to talk about gardening and the business.  Venice is the brains.  You all didn’t think Roger was the brains of that duo, did you?

(side note from Mike, Roger and Venice have been to my nursery many times, they truly are wonderful people)

I never, ever expected as much help from this group as I have already gotten and continue to get, and from all corners of the country.  Mike and Duston sure have the marketing aspect of their operation down pat, but they constantly provide the painstaking, time-consuming customer service to back it up and do so time after time at all hours of the day/night, week in, week out.

I surely wish Neil would take me up on my offer to help him out in his nursery for a day here and there.  He could use a hand to help him get stuff done that he has on the back burner and no time to complete.  The offer still stands, my friend. Just ask.

(How awesome is that?)

And I’ll remind you of the recent time Neil took out of one of his busy days to help a nearby member put up some of her own hoop houses. This truly is a family, Mike. Kudos, Neil.

But Roger sure does make belonging to this whacky group a whole lot of fun.  He knows of what he speaks and I have learned so much from him that I could never repay him no matter how hard I tried, including financially.  He has become a good friend and you all know how likable he is.  Imagine the laughs I got helping him out for close to 8 hours straight.  I would do it again anytime, just for the knowledge I pick up whenever I am around both him and Venice, and Buddy their “donkey”.

I really believe that Mike has put this membership together with just these mutually beneficial thoughts in mind.  He knows that we are all willing to go the extra mile to help out the next person who needs it.  He knows that he could take a day or two off from the board and that Duston, or the rest of the group, would be there to answer questions.  Mike is so much more than just garden-smart; he just does not want to flaunt it.  Again, a nicer guy you will have a hard time finding.

I just hope that the day comes when I can correctly contribute to the the beneficial advice given in the members area, instead of constantly asking seemingly stupid questions that have already been answered in the archives.  I’m listening to you, Neil.

This group is worth triple what I paid and I am so glad that I got in when I did.  I would still be selling my blood to pay the price of admission if Mike/Duston charged what this info is really worth.

I know that most of you feel like I do.  For any newcomers, you are in for the ride of your life if you listen and take advantage of what these “experienced” gardeners are telling you.

Use the search option to get your basic questions answered.  Go to YouTube and watch every video that Mike/Duston have out there.  Read every single post that these experienced growers have posted, starting with the ones who you think are most knowledgeable in your area.

Then, put it all into practice…..immediately.

Most of all, keep making baby plants!

Thanks so very much, Roger and Venice!  Smile

-Tim

After seeing Tim’s post I posted a reply . . .

Tim,

What a wonderful post.  Your kind words are appreciated, but really it is every single contributing member that makes this group what it is and I’d like to take a moment to thank you all.

I am not going to mention names because I know I’ll leave somebody out, you know who they are and they are many.  Thank you so much for the contributions you make to this group.  Some of you are here daily, some of you only post advice every now and then, but it’s always spot on helpful and accurate.

You are an amazing group with expertise far beyond what anybody could expect.  No matter what it is that you’re dealing with or trying to accomplish there is somebody here that has knowledge in that area.

This group as a whole has done so many good deeds over the years that they are far too many to mention.  We’ve helped members who were affected by Katrina and other floods, we’ve had house fires, barn fires, tragic family losses and so on.  People just reach out their hands and help.

Sure we have our moments where we argue or disagree, that’s human nature.  But at the end of the day, if we have a member in need, somebody is going to extend that helping hand.

But it’s those little tiny pieces of advice shared here daily that change lives.  It’s the encouragement and positive reinforcement when somebody is ready to quit, give up, totally discouraged.

When I started this I had no idea.  I had 3,000 books in my garage that needed to be sold.  That was my goal.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again.  I’m proud to be a member of this group.

-Mike McGroarty

From Ed in North Carolina . . .

What a family we have here.

Just sitting here reading so many of the posts and the wealth of information offered on this board and it dawned on me, I don’t personally know one single person here. However, as I read and learn I have come to realize what a close knit group this is, seems like family.  So many offer your suggestions, insight, and advice without ever expecting anything in return.  We are truly a blessed bunch of gardeners who enjoy each others  comments and it all started because Mike had a dream and others are reaping the rewards (along with Mike, of course).

-Ed

From Sandy in Illinois

Would not be as far along as I am without the knowledge and encouragement from this group.  The info is nothing that you can get out of a book.  I am thankful for this group.

From Scott in Washington

I tried for a couple years to get a nursery going on my own before I joined this group. I started doing some propagation and had a few small plant sales. After two years (or maybe 3) I hadn’t really gotten anywhere. The value of the information and relationships in this group is really immeasurable and like nothing else out there that I have seen.  I would still be dabbling with a couple hundred plants and not many customers if I hadn’t joined here.

From Cindy

First the thank you to the following growers for wonderful plants, Neil for grapes, wonderful as usual,  Sarah the peonies are so nice and large and I can’t wait to see these blooming, Cathy the blueberries are very nice and I am looking forward to getting some other varieties when you have them available, James, Albert, LJ and Jeremiah, great plants and service as usual. I commend all of you on the quality of plants and service you offer.

From Cathy

Tonight I spent hours and still have a lot ahead of me, trying to figure out marketing, advertising, and networking. What I realized was that Mike has done most of this for us. He is the mentor of mentors, and we are really fortunate to have found him. There’s nobody else out there with a group like this, put together this well, and the hours he’s put together in marketing ideas is likely endless with him getting little sleep.

He has Duston and his wife, he’s had precious little help and he’s worked himself nearly to death to get his business going and to help all of us. For which I am eternally grateful.  We are very blessed here.

So thank you Mike, and Duston, and Pam, and all the people who have helped you to have your business and share it with us.  Blessings, Cathy.

From Wendy

I’m also am very grateful, without Mike I would NEVER have ventured to do this business, and without you all contributing I would probably have given up long ago.  With the daily encouragement, success stories and helpful information, I can pick myself up and keep going.

From Greg

I was not sure about joining this group, what I would have missed! I really enjoy the interactions and  support provided. My garage is being stuffed with trays of seed that are already sprouting. The tutorial Paul conducted was so informative and timely. Thank you all for allowing me to be part of your life.  -Greg

From Sharon

Definitely 2nd that!!  I waited 4 years after I bought the original DVD’s and package Mike sold (don’t even remember what it was called).  I wish I would have gotten started then!!  But so grateful to be starting now (okay-2+ years ago).  Truly the best investment we have made.  Thank you McGroarty Family-Smile-Smile

From Scott

Sharon, I’m like you, I dragged my feet for about 3 years before I bought into the full meal deal. Lost time that will never come back.

I was looking through a catalog of the local junior college, advertising their upcoming continuing/adult education program. Most of the courses were between $1500-$3500 for a semester class. In those classes they focus on a specific topic, and they go into quite a bit of depth. Honestly, a class like that probably has more raw information than Mike’s University, most of it is theoretical, whereas everything Mike provides is practical and pure gold. I don’t remember 88% of what i learned in college because I never used most of it. But everything in Mike’s materials was carefully thought out to provide practical information on how to get started in this business. And that doesn’t even touch on the value of this board.

Those are just a few words from our members.  Those folks truly are family to me!  -Mike