Random Monday morning thoughts
After months of my hiatus, I returned to the park for my morning walk today. I already have been having a better collections of creative juices flowing of late, but the past couple days have sparked even more ideas that I want to take a moment to capture here!
First, we are back on for our Mastermind group meetings. I need that so much, and so do the rest of my creative comrades. We all agree it helps to meet up and process ideas together. We had hoped to meet this Friday but our schedules are making it a challenge. Maybe next week. It would be better if we actually committed to a day and time... maybe I need to do that.
Second, my thoughts are starting to clarify a little about what it is I want to do with these ideas. I found that I can be clear about this: there are things that I absolutely want to do that are not ventures to make money. I am committed to NOT trying to gain financial benefit from sharing hope, faith and the gospel. No way. I will do whatever it takes to remain very clear in my mind and in my choices about that, with no overlap. I have been trying to get this across in conversations with John and with Robin and other members of my family who understand what it is I love about blogging. I will link this article for future reference. It explains very well what my concern has been about the growing trend of my favorite bloggers. It’s a place I didn’t want to follow, and now I see it more clearly. This is exactly why I prefer to keep my blog on blogger, with a simple template and no ads, no monetizing, no whatever. Yes, there absolutely is room for blogs and websites that do sell things, that include ads for things relevant to the topic of the blog, and links to the plethora of also relevant resources. But I love (and miss) the truly pure personality of a good blog, with it’s sense of friendship and camaraderie. Let’s bring them back people!!!
Third, as I mentioned above, there is also great space for blogs that do promote ideas, services and products. I have a few ideas about that too. I am pondering a separate blog or website for that purpose. I’m pretty excited about it. But to be honest, what I have in mind still really is more like the traditional blog, but it would include lots of helpful information and products relevant to things I want to share about. Things people might actually be willing to pay for. I would have paid for these things had they been available. Maybe they are available, and I’m just unaware. There are many different platforms for the ideas I have but I haven’t run across any that exactly meet the criteria for my ideas. Can’t tell you just yet. I have some kinks to work out before I step forward. :-)
Fourth, HERBS!!! I realize I have several things I am passionate enough about that pursuing building a business around them could very well be worth the effort. Herbs are one of those things. Last night I was doing some research on herb farms. Just herbs. Most herb farms actually grow other things too. I love a big garden (I don’t always like the work that goes with it, especially come August), but I think focusing on my one true passion in the world of agriculture would increase the potential for success. So gardening to fun, yes, gardening for profit, not so much, except those pesky little herbs!
So on my walk this morning, clearing my mind and freeing my thought process, I found this fantastic idea forming. We have two canopy frames we purchased years ago from Sam’s Club that we don’t use very often anymore. Would’t that make a great frame for a greenhouse? And all that wood we have around the yard that we never ended up using? Woudn’t it be great to use that to help frame up some areas of the greenhouse that need extra support or a place to attach the plastic? Yes, it would. And wouldn’t the space right outside our basement door be the perfect place to erect such a greenhouse? Right next to the garden shed? Right where the best sunlight of the season always shines best? :-). See where I’m going here? A phone call to the best friend and husband a girl could ever have resulted in an immediate - “Yes, that would be great. We could definitely do that!” Girl, I think I’m gonna have a greenhouse this year!!!
I know, I know. What about the plans to get this house ready to sell so we can get the hell out of dodge? Well, if I can sell said herbs in a variety of ways and places, I could make some actual money! And the greenhouse I’m talking about really is temporary, and serves as a great trial run to see if that’s something that we do, indeed, want to include in the new digs. And it’s almost free. The 6 mil plastic is just about the only thing I’d need to buy. I already have the frame, the wood, probably the hardware for attaching it all, the pavers for the walkway. The soil and seeds would be purchased in a typical year anyway. Even the years I have absolutely insisted I wasn’t growing a single thing, I ended up buying at least a couple hundred dollars worth of starts. This serves so many more purposes. It’s an experiment to be sure. But I will also get some experience starting from seed. I haven ‘t really ever done that on a serious level. I’m not sure I’ve ever started herbs from seed, just some other vegetables and maybe some flowers. A learning experience to help me move forward even while we seek our new property and home. It’s a good thing, right!?
My plate is full, and my cup runneth over!! So excited about all these ideas!!
Joy!!!
First, we are back on for our Mastermind group meetings. I need that so much, and so do the rest of my creative comrades. We all agree it helps to meet up and process ideas together. We had hoped to meet this Friday but our schedules are making it a challenge. Maybe next week. It would be better if we actually committed to a day and time... maybe I need to do that.
Second, my thoughts are starting to clarify a little about what it is I want to do with these ideas. I found that I can be clear about this: there are things that I absolutely want to do that are not ventures to make money. I am committed to NOT trying to gain financial benefit from sharing hope, faith and the gospel. No way. I will do whatever it takes to remain very clear in my mind and in my choices about that, with no overlap. I have been trying to get this across in conversations with John and with Robin and other members of my family who understand what it is I love about blogging. I will link this article for future reference. It explains very well what my concern has been about the growing trend of my favorite bloggers. It’s a place I didn’t want to follow, and now I see it more clearly. This is exactly why I prefer to keep my blog on blogger, with a simple template and no ads, no monetizing, no whatever. Yes, there absolutely is room for blogs and websites that do sell things, that include ads for things relevant to the topic of the blog, and links to the plethora of also relevant resources. But I love (and miss) the truly pure personality of a good blog, with it’s sense of friendship and camaraderie. Let’s bring them back people!!!
Third, as I mentioned above, there is also great space for blogs that do promote ideas, services and products. I have a few ideas about that too. I am pondering a separate blog or website for that purpose. I’m pretty excited about it. But to be honest, what I have in mind still really is more like the traditional blog, but it would include lots of helpful information and products relevant to things I want to share about. Things people might actually be willing to pay for. I would have paid for these things had they been available. Maybe they are available, and I’m just unaware. There are many different platforms for the ideas I have but I haven’t run across any that exactly meet the criteria for my ideas. Can’t tell you just yet. I have some kinks to work out before I step forward. :-)
Fourth, HERBS!!! I realize I have several things I am passionate enough about that pursuing building a business around them could very well be worth the effort. Herbs are one of those things. Last night I was doing some research on herb farms. Just herbs. Most herb farms actually grow other things too. I love a big garden (I don’t always like the work that goes with it, especially come August), but I think focusing on my one true passion in the world of agriculture would increase the potential for success. So gardening to fun, yes, gardening for profit, not so much, except those pesky little herbs!
So on my walk this morning, clearing my mind and freeing my thought process, I found this fantastic idea forming. We have two canopy frames we purchased years ago from Sam’s Club that we don’t use very often anymore. Would’t that make a great frame for a greenhouse? And all that wood we have around the yard that we never ended up using? Woudn’t it be great to use that to help frame up some areas of the greenhouse that need extra support or a place to attach the plastic? Yes, it would. And wouldn’t the space right outside our basement door be the perfect place to erect such a greenhouse? Right next to the garden shed? Right where the best sunlight of the season always shines best? :-). See where I’m going here? A phone call to the best friend and husband a girl could ever have resulted in an immediate - “Yes, that would be great. We could definitely do that!” Girl, I think I’m gonna have a greenhouse this year!!!
I know, I know. What about the plans to get this house ready to sell so we can get the hell out of dodge? Well, if I can sell said herbs in a variety of ways and places, I could make some actual money! And the greenhouse I’m talking about really is temporary, and serves as a great trial run to see if that’s something that we do, indeed, want to include in the new digs. And it’s almost free. The 6 mil plastic is just about the only thing I’d need to buy. I already have the frame, the wood, probably the hardware for attaching it all, the pavers for the walkway. The soil and seeds would be purchased in a typical year anyway. Even the years I have absolutely insisted I wasn’t growing a single thing, I ended up buying at least a couple hundred dollars worth of starts. This serves so many more purposes. It’s an experiment to be sure. But I will also get some experience starting from seed. I haven ‘t really ever done that on a serious level. I’m not sure I’ve ever started herbs from seed, just some other vegetables and maybe some flowers. A learning experience to help me move forward even while we seek our new property and home. It’s a good thing, right!?
My plate is full, and my cup runneth over!! So excited about all these ideas!!
Joy!!!
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