Can you believe it?
I have been posting every weekday for four years.
Here’s my first post from August 31, 2012.
It’s time to celebrate by eating a pile of genips!
Ah, that’s better.
My Original Goal
My goal when I first started this blog was to post every weekday for a year, try to build an audience and then publish a book.
I wondered if I could really stick to something so “big,” as I saw it. I did. And I have now published four books and a short booklet.
I never put my nose the grindstone like this before I started this blog.
It’s hard to believe I actually pulled it off. There are almost 1200 posts on this site. Though I can’t say for sure, that likely represents a half million words… or more.
As I wrote a few weeks ago, I’m not sure I’m getting the return I would like for all this energy and time expenditure.
I have two books sitting almost completed that I have not been able to finish.
I also have a rapidly growing YouTube channel.
I hit 7500 subscribers earlier this month:
Writing for other homesteading and survival sites has also taken a back burner to all of my weekday posts…
…yet I’m not sure I should slow down here.
Looking at all the work I need to get done this week, plus looking at the cast on my hand which really slows my typing down, I almost said, “this is it! I did 4 years, I’m cutting back to two posts a week!”
I’m good at cutting things.
In fact, that’s originally what I was going to announce in this post.
That I’m cutting back.
But I love doing this site.
It’s hard to drop off something that has become such a part of my daily life.
What I may do is cut back a bit on my more time-intensive posts.
I’m sure my publisher would appreciate it.
And Thanks to YOU!
For those of you who read me daily, thank you so very much!
Remember, I also write for ThePrepperProject.com, The Grow Network, Mother Earth News, The Ag Mag or and I’m even keeping my YouTube channel running at close to once a day (except on Saturday and Sunday).
Moving and reestablishing a homestead, along with keeping up my furious posting pace, has made it very difficult to finish anything other than just this site and the YouTube channel… yet I think I can work smarter AND harder.
Special Thanks
Some of you are always giving me good input and I know you read regularly. You keep me running.
A special thank you to:
Curtiss
Leon
Rachel
Grower Jim
Andi
Keith
Neil in Jupiter
Scrubland Avenger
Bellen
Rob Koss
Sarah
Chris
Jean
Shane
dfr2010
Damian
Chrissy
Steven
Tom Bri
Derek the Grower
Herrick
Christine
Peter C
Mart
Jason D
Scott
Erin
Annie
Wendi
Amanda
Russell
Crystal
MyamuhNative
Karl
Jake
Cathy
Brandon
SheSellsSeashells
Dan Frazer
Swampie
Renee
…and the many other friends who stopped by to share ideas and encouragement over the last four years!
Also, a very big thanks to the anonymous reader who bought me a better camera earlier this year. I still cannot believe that happened. It has made a big, big difference in my photography and video production and I’m still learning.
Can You Help Me in Year 5?
Would you guys help bring me some new traffic? This site makes me a few hundred dollars a month in advertising revenue and Amazon commissions, but it’s nowhere near close to giving me a “real” income.
I need a few dedicated Pinterest pinners, Facebook fanatics and Twitter tweeters to get the traffic here up to a point where it’s economically worthwhile.
If you could do that when you think of it, it would be amazing. Traffic boosts my ranking and helps people find my books.
The books are what pays my rent.
Thanks again. You all are the best.
Say “hi” in the comments… I’d love to hear your thoughts.
You can have greener thumbs by this weekend!
35 comments
Thanks for all you do David – I’m very appreciative of the entertaining side of gardening that you bring ever day. Keep it up! You have definitely made me a better gardener.
BTW those don’t look like longans they look like genip
Thank you, CB – and you’re right. Not longans! Will fix.
It’s all about passive income streams and networking, David. You only have to bust ass on the books once, and then you can enjoy income passively. Same reason why I’m switching over from growing annuals to perennials and fruit trees and bushes.
Also, keep writing guest posts for other people that already have established audiences. Each post you write for this site is seen by your EXISTING audience. Guest posts are seen by hundreds or maybe thousands of FUTURE AUDIENCE MEMBERS.
So:
1. Write books.
2. Do Guest posts.
3. Post here and do videos (video is faster than writing), only after you’ve done #1 and #2.
I like that. You’re right.
I’ve given your YouTube channel and blog info to patients who share my love of growing things. Trying to help out in my small way David. Love seeing what you do and I always learn something from you. Keep it up!
Thank you very much. You’re the best.
I love what you do and the way you share your info AND I have to agree with Shane’s comment on the priorities.. Sounds like a viable plan…
Thank you, Roberta. You’re a born encourager.
I’ll be a Pinterest person! All your wonderful material has and continues to grow my skills and I am truly appreciative.
I was wondering, people in the North talk about pollarding trees to feed their cattle and what trees are good for it.
Do the farmers where you’re at do something similar? Obviously mulberry and moringa are good choices. Are there other tropical trees that are good for that?
Yes! Pin away! I try to include decent photos in most of my posts just so they work there.
The farmers here do casually pollard trees. It’s more like a “chop the trees by the roadside and toss them to the tied-up goats” than a real plan, but they know which trees work well. A favorite is Leaucana. They are everywhere.
I agree with Shane also… I spread the word as I can but I’m so technologically challenged that I pintrest looks to complicated and never tried twitter… !!!! I love what you do and you have been a great inspiration to me. I’ve always planted edible landscaping and worked at growing livestock food, but had no idea what level it could be… And now that grass I mow is getting less and less… an every month I have something to harvest from the yard or close by…! Keep up the good work an do what you can and still have a life… Self discipline is good, just don’t be a slave to it….
Thank you, Annie. Personally, I only know tech now because I have been dragged kicking and screaming into it. Heh.
Keep knocking out that grass. I will try to maintain my balance, too.
You’re the main reason my front yard is covered in sweet potatoes, I can eat some moringa everyday, got plum, fig, peach,citrus, lemongrass, mulberry, blackberry, 20 blueberry bushes, all growing on our little urban homestead that’s about 1/10 acre. So much unused space still. I just keep adding. I was gardening vegetables in raised beds when I found your site but now shifted more into the food forest mentality. You’ve been a great inspiration. I’ve told many friends and family to look your stuff up. I appreciate all your hard work.
Thank you, Dan – that truly warms my heart. Love to hear it. Once I got excited about perennials and trees, it was like a whole new world opened. 1/10 acre is about right for a TOTAL DOMINATION size!
Well, congratulations to the most passionate and ambitious garden writer I know. Your dogged persistence, creativity, depth of earthy knowledge, and raw talent seems to know no bounds. You have far surpassed any garden writer I know. I ask you…. Can Eliot Coleman rap? I rest my case.
And thank you for the special thanks.
HA! Eliot Coleman rapping. That would be awesome.
Thank you, Herrick.
Well David I hope you continue to prosper. I wish I could help on those social media sites but I don’t face, I don’t tweet and although I signed up for Pinterest – I’m considering dropping it soon as it appears it could be a time vampire as well.
I will speak of your name when conversing with other gardeners and direct down your path.
Karl
Uh, … direct “them” down your path.
Karl
Yeah, stop drop and RUN!
Thank you, though – word of mouth is powerful.
You’ve opened up a whole new world of gardening to me! We live in Gainesville on 6 wooded acres- you and your wife inspire us!
Thank you. Six acres! Marvelous. Probably lots of good wild plants to forage there.
Thanks so much man for what you do! Monetary worth of this isn’t nearly as honorable as the profound beneficial waves that will and have been spread by your knowledge and kindness. That’s what in my opinion makes you the great success you are and why I see you as a mentor of mine.
I have utilized so much info from you and its inspired much I’ve accomplished in my gardening efforts. I would love to share pics with you someday but I’m trying not to make you feel obligated to answer back and cause more burden on your schedule. I’m sheet mulching it up, chop and dropping, throwing seeds all over, and growing plants that pretty much grow themselves (cassava, etc), and beginning to reap good consistant yields. All by your guidance for a good portion of everything.
Keep it up! I’ll be watching…
Thanks a ton. I always appreciate your comments, d-grower. You can share pics anytime. Heck, send ’em and I’ll share them here.
I absolutely love this blog! I will definitely share it on Pinterest and Facebook. I even force my husband to watch the youtube videos sometimes. His idea of gardening is sitting on the porch swing saying, “Looks good, honey,” and bringing me water. :)
Even though you might not make a huge revenue YET, you are making the world a better place. You are helping us save the earth, feed our families, and in my case…learn a lot about gardening. Gardening makes me happy! In our stressful lives, we need some time of peace in the garden.
So thank you very, very much for all that you do. You have answered my questions and I have appreciated it so much! You’re extremely helpful to me and to loads of other people. THANK YOU!
Thank you, Kerri!
I didn’t even really read the article, but I just have to say how jealous I am of the pile of genips you got to eat! I’ve always called them mamons, which is what they were called in Nicaragua where I was first introduced to them. I occasionally find them at the local latin market in Gville, but it seems they’re always out of season when I go hunting. So, so jealous!
Oh man… they are soooooo good. Wish I could mail you some!
Thanks for all you do. My wife and I really like your stuff, you’ve opened our eyes to better ways of gardening and showed us how to experiment and have fun. Your videos are great and you and Rachel are hilarious. We learn something and always have a good laugh. We just ordered two of your books and are anxiously waiting on them to be back in stock so we can read them. We are glad to hear you occasionally mention your faith, we are also Christians. I know that’s not your goal but it’s nice to hear someone speak freely about their beliefs.
We’re sharing your site & youtube channel with everyone we know. We’ve been pinning a lot on Pinterest as well.
Thanks again for teaching and sharing and keep up the good work.
Thanks a ton, Anthony – that is really kind.
My faith in Jesus Christ is part of who I am. I must speak. Though some will take exception, others will be encouraged. Glad to hear you believe as well.
Forgot about using Amazon on here… Can I buy anything through your link?
Also, you try roasting and eating the genip seeds? I just found them recently at my local spanish mart, just roasted and ate the seeds yesterday.. Not bad. Kinda like a peanut, but more mild.
Yep! In fact, if you click through any of the ads on the site and go shopping, it should work. Doesn’t cost you any extra and they send me a few percent.
So how about 2 dvd’s, one the Best of David the Good Musical fun stuff! The other Just the best of David the Good video clips! And again, THANKS!!
Ha! That’s a fun idea. I would have to look into DVD production.
I like how determined you are, and I think that’s what makes a good gardener. We don’t make every seed produce fruit, but we will spend an entire day planting seeds anyway. You’re planting words too.
I’m not very social media savvy, but will attempt to share some of your video’s on Facebook. I’m glad you can make a living at what you love to do, and it’s worth every word you endeavour to write. When I thought about giving up my blog a while ago, it was like giving up my garden. If I gave it up, I might as well turn myself into the compost and feed the worms already. ;)
Thanks for continuing to share your garden grit.
Thank you, Chris. I appreciate it.
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