My Garden Resolutions for 2020
The statistics on New Year’s Resolutions are grim. Estimates are that 80% of New Years resolutions are abandoned by mid-February. So this year I’m going to make resolutions that I’m confident I can keep.
Instead of resolving to exercise an hour a day and to eat twice as many vegetables as I do now I’m going to focus this year on gardening resolutions, which can help me at least meet my exercise goals with lots of outdoor activity. As for eating vegetables, I’m going to keep purchasing a CSA share and exploring great new recipes to use the produce we purchase because my gardening focuses on flowers, trees and shrubs and only a few edibles and herbs.
When I was a younger I typically made lists of resolutions that were so numerous I could never keep them all. Today I am more focused, so out of all my garden plans I’ve decided to choose five resolutions to focus on as a gardener and environmental steward …
Hang a bird feeder.
Get my worm composting bin up and running full tilt.
Dig out the lily of the valley in the back yard.
Replace the lily of the valley with bee friendly native plants like monarda or other natives.
Turn my large “Lazy Composter” pile at least once a week from May - November.
Because of the climate where we live, I’m only confident of achieving resolutions one and two before mid-April. But that’s okay because it will give me plenty of time to plan out other aspects of the garden including how to enhance the area where we ripped out old shrubs last year. And, we are talking with a neighbor who has expertise in biochar about how we can work together to build our soil and help him build his business.
Meanwhile, we’re also looking for new clients (my day job is marketing communications) as we have some openings for building blogs and web pages in 2020. If you’re interested in talking gardening or talking online blogging or websites I invite you to fill out the form below.
Creative and targeted programs that make an impact are the hallmark of experienced marketing professional Ruth Steele Walker. Focusing on results that improve the bottom line, she accelerates projects from conception to implementation with a mastery of writing, production, placement, budgeting and coordination.
During more than 25 years with Foremost Corporation of America, the nation's leading insurer of manufactured housing and recreational vehicles, Walker consistently produced effective communications programs that resulted in increased net written premium. Her expertise in crisis communications was a vital part of Foremost's exemplary customer service in the wake of hurricanes, floods and earthquakes. Walker specializes in communications targeting the 50+ demographic, with an emphasis in communications for the 65+ segment.
Among other achievements, Walker developed communications for the merger of Foremost and Farmers Insurance, addressing audiences including customers, employees, trade and consumer media. For Foremost's 50th anniversary, she created a celebration program of internal and external promotions, special events, recognition and a 162-page commemorative book.
Earlier in her career, Walker was a newspaper reporter, a TV and radio producer, and worked in national sales and traffic at network TV affiliates. Walker earned a BA in journalism from Michigan State University and an MS in communications from Grand Valley State University.
She and her husband Scott operate a small vineyard in Michigan's Leelanau Peninsula, producing premium vinifera wine grapes. The vineyard has been the largest local supplier for Suttons Bay wine label L. Mawby, recently named one of the world's top producers of sparkling wines.
