How does your garden grow? (gonegardening.com)

Member Name: robinlawrie

Product:	gonegardening.com
Date:	30/09/01 (82 review reads)
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What is the most popular outdoor pastime in the UK do you think? Football possibly? Or Fishing? The answer is gardening, in all its many shapes and forms. Be it flowers, vegetables or just admiring Charlie Dimmock’s knockers, there is a little of the gardener in all of us. The popularity of gardening programmes on television, and the many magazines dedicated to the subject, make it obvious that there is a vast market for all things fresh and green. Take a look at any half decent garden centre or nursery on a sunny spring weekend if you doubt my word.

I have looked at various sites on the Internet over the years that are dedicated to the gardener and by and large have been disappointed. It is obvious to any gardener, amateur or otherwise, that any information must be seasonal, up to date and accurate. It is not a bit of good reading about daffodils in July, or how to graft roses in December.

It is also true to say that a really good shop dedicated to gardeners has been sadly lacking up to now on the Internet. True it is possible to purchase some things at the likes of B&Q and Argos, but never a comprehensive selection. We have been saddled with lines that make the most profit margins, and no real explanation why we need them in the first place.

I am pleased to say that all this has been corrected at a stroke with the introduction of a dedicated gardening website that covers everything from aphids to zinnia’s. The site is called “Gone Gardening” and can be found at www.gonegardening.com They describe themselves as the UK’s ultimate gardening web site, and I think that once you have been, like myself, you will agree with them.

It is an excellent fast site and navigation is very easy indeed. On the home page is a search engine that allows you to type in keywords to assist in your search. The main headings are:

•News
This gives up to date news in the world of horticu
lture with access to a database of past stories.
•Tasks
What is there to do this month? Here is where you can get help and information from the experts. Am I the only one who needs reminding to prune my roses?
•Journal
These are the musings of “Tom and Daisy” in journal form. Well written and interesting anecdotes, and once again, bang up to date.
•Tips
Here are the top 10 selected Tips from “Tony” who is the GoneGardening.com gardener. These tips change on a seasonal basis, but the only problem here is that Tony’s tips tend to send you to the shop to buy something.
•Library
This is one of the indispensable parts of the website. Here you will find a link to every single article or item that has been featured on GoneGardening.com.
•Links
Here you can find links to all the various websites related to horticulture. This appears to be under construction, but will be a handy place to look for that “link” to gardening sites worldwide.
•Glossary
This is exactly what it says, a glossary explaining gardening terms. Want to know how to chitt? Look it up here before you try for yourself.
•Discussion Board
This is another “must” as it allows you to interact with others in the world of gardening, and ask those nagging questions that have been bugging you for years, such as how to stop slugs getting all the beer.
•Shop
This is my favourite part of the site. The sheer amount of items on sale is staggering. For instance there are over 100 different type of lawn mower available. Do you want some live worms for your compost heap? No problem. Just go and see for yourself and see what I mean. They are offering NEXT DAY delivery, and here is the clincher, there is no charge for delivery regardless of the size. The site naturally makes use of the latest secure server for all transactions, and if all this is not enough, y
ou get 2 e-points for every £1 you spend with them.

I have noticed that the site leans toward ecologically friendly and organic techniques, which is highly commendable. They also cater for the disabled with regular articles aimed at these groups.

All in all an excellent website, and a lesson to others in just what can be achieved in on-line.

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