To think people can make more of an effort with their gardens

Sorry if that wasn’t a “more people are disabled because they’re fat and stupid” answer I suspect you may have been looking for

Well I can answer your last part.

Disabilities are more recognised these days for a few reasons. Innovation and research has thrown up that certain symptoms lead to X Y Z disability - for example neurodiversities are no longer recognised as ‘bad behaviour’. We also record things much better than we used to, and hold much better data.

And gardening was popular after the wars because rationing didn’t stop when the wars ended for IIRC over a decade. Growing your own food was just good sense in a public crisis. Not as much need these days when most people don’t have to walk more than 100m to get cheap fresh food and veg

It's not 'quite telling' at all. Where exactly do I mention that me growing salad leaves is a remedy for poverty. Don't be ridiculous.

I literally just mentioned what I do. I don't suddenly find myself without money. I know when a lean period is approaching so I plan for it without having to sacrifice how I want to eat.

Read harder.

Another proactive idea,Op ..
A Best Easter Front Garden competition.

Offer up a prize of 200 to the winning garden - a garden that Easter Bunny would adore!

You and a council member be the judges.
Announce the prize at an Easter Egg hunt in the local Botanical Gardens or kids play ground or school yard.

@JandamiHash and@MartinCrieffsLemon

Oh give over. I've never been well off. I have no sense of entitlement. I lived in a hostel whilst pregnant I got FSM ( and benefits) whilst I worked two low paid jobs to fit in with school hours. I live in social housing on an estate. I totally understand people have different circumstances. Unlike you who feel that everyone in council housing/ benefits is affected by the cost of living crisis.

Not being physically able to garden is a valid point but why is there such a massive increase in disability? How was gardening a thing after the world wars when so many more people were injured physically and mentally. And broke.

Oh well if you don’t like the phrase don’t use it.

its quite telling that you think “waiting a few weeks for salad leaves to grow” is a remedy to poverty. People living in poverty are more likely to do day-to-day budgeting rather than planning ahead because they just need to buy what they can afford right now. They are also more likely to buy something for cheap that can stand alone as a meal (eg a pot noodle) rather than lots of cheap things like salad that end up building up.

I also dispute that growing salad on your windowsill saves “a ton of money”. It’s about 50p for a lettuce from the supermarket.

True but people often hate gardening.

Be proactive.
Put up flyers for a Garden Club - meet in in your front yard.
Do some community minded, simple gardening with the people who share your passion...

Plant blossom trees.
Make no dig raised vegie gardens, 3'x 3'..
Throw wildflower seeds out over your lawns.
Share cuttings of ground covers like roses, pig face and cottage garden plants so people have lessweeding to do under their trees.
Plant kiwi fruit, Plum trees, etc etc.
Visit the school - show the kids how to grow food and Sunflowers.

The Garden Club will grow organically with like minded people as yourself.

'Cry harder' is such a nasty phrase. Full-on smirky, reductive Vance/Trump. I'm reading with my US eyes here, but it's such a MAGA badge and I really dislike it.

Anyway. I always find it weird that growing food is seen as a luxury, when it's traditionally been the opposite.

When I've had no money, I DO buy a packet of salad seeds. I can grow them on my windowsill and get green leaves in a few weeks and save a ton of money.

I completely understand why people don't want to do it, mind!

@mayorofcasterbridge losing them was awful enough. I do not want to replace them. I have also just lost one of my cats but I have 8 other cats (permanently indoors since).
I think it would take a project currently beyond my imagination to enjoy the garden again. I dont do well with plants, never have done.

OP, I am a keen reader and writer and I think you should go to some remedial literacy classes to learn that the plural of potato is not "potato's." I'm not interested in hearing any excuses or reasons why you might not want to. Good communication is important for everyone and it doesn't take that much effort. You need to do your part to set an example and stop national literacy standards degrading. Just being helpful!

Except I'm not, I'm being a tit.

😔 I don’t think people realise that not everyone is high functioning and healthy. Disabilities never seem to be a factor when people moan about “why don’t you lot do X Y Z”

You need to get more.

When our much loved cat died 3 years ago, we filled the cat-shaped hole with three!!

It's all very easy to recommend exercise but if you have arthritis or a bad back etc, it's limiting!!!

I used to be able to weed, plant, prune, tend my garden for hours. Now I end up in pain for days afterwards!

My garden was majorly given over to my rabbits and guinea pigs so that they could roam free all day with a fence down the middle of the garden. So we had our side too. All of them passed away last year at ages far beyond most, they certainly had the benefit. Now I'm not interested in going into our back garden.

Exercise benefits everyone and frankly more people need to do exercise, and we’d all benefit, as it’s a public health issue.

But not everyone has the time or means or will. If only we all did. Much like with gardening, but we don’t

Weekly ballet benefits you. Possibly the NHS if you stay injury free.

Having a nice garden improves the neighbourhood for everyone making it more visually appealing. Improves the wildlife locally than impacts nationally , helps with bigger things like flooding and CO2 and it helps the individual.

Sorry who’s been snobby?

Who do you think it is living in poverty? Middle class people in £2 million 5bed townhouses?

If they are working all the hours on minimum wage ( ie no time to garden) then they will be able to afford food. If they are are on benefits topping up less work or no work then there's time. Speaking as someone who's child was receiving free school meals for years and working full time. And had a nice garden.

Then I’m amazed you think k working people can afford food. Most people living in poverty are in work.

Its priorities. Gaming and watching crap on TikTok is easier than being outside.

So what. Two perfectly acceptable past times.

We are going back to people being mortally affronted that others aren’t exactly the same as them. I wish these people would wear a label so I can avoid them

I don't remember a giant wooden knife and fork.

Had you been at the old style night nurse?

But yes to plates and birds. And fans.

They SHOULD be able to eat. But the increased demand for food banks shows people CAN'T eat

You're post reeks of entitlement

Sorry you're being snobby. Why should people on council estates not be able to eat?

If they are working all the hours on minimum wage ( ie no time to garden) then they will be able to afford food. If they are are on benefits topping up less work or no work then there's time. Speaking as someone who's child was receiving free school meals for years and working full time. And had a nice garden.

Its priorities. Gaming and watching crap on TikTok is easier than being outside.

We've lived in our house for nearly 27 years now. One of the first thing I did was plant out our garden. I loved my garden in our previous house and I brought a lot of plants and trees with us as our buyers couldn't have given a shit.

Of course I didn't take into account how much they would grow so have had to have tree surgeons cut them back numerous times!! But somehow by the luck of the draw, there is always something of interest in our garden, something flowering, something with berries. I'd be impressed with myself only it wasn't planned that way!!

However DH and I are a lot older now and not as fit to work in the garden. It still looks fine but it needs work done and due to supporting all three adult children, we don't have the money to get someone in to do what it needs!

We do have lots of bird feeders and plenty of species of birds using them!

And cherubs. So many cherubs with their chins in their hands!

What about the birds on the wall or a giant wooden knife and fork!!

Yep. Although the recent trend for grey everything made me shudder so it’s not all bad. Although some of the ornaments my mum had were so creepy. And plates displayed on the walls - what was that all about?!

Same with houses. Nobody has nick nacks and ornaments now.