Growing (with) All Gardening & Phil Argent

Well, a small get-together got me thinking. How do I know if what I'm working on is going to be a success?

Join me Phil Argent as I open up my mind and share some thoughts and insights into Growing All Gardening and anything else that comes to mind.

Lawn about Lawn Plan

2024 is the year to do the big Lawn Reset. I ramble on about how to get started.

And as I've said before, whilst growing grass might be simple, running a business that does it is not easy. So few do. Join me Phil Argent as I open up my mind and share some thoughts and insights into Growing All Gardening and anything else that comes to mind.

Lawn about Lawn Plan

Ok, it’s raining a lot, the ground is very wet, and f you haven’t looked after your lawn your going to be growing a whole load in of moss. Let’s talk about how to manage it. And as I've said before, whilst growing grass might be simple, running a business that does it is not easy. So few do. Join me Phil Argent as I open up my mind and share some thoughts and insights into Growing All Gardening and anything else that comes to mind.

“You can’t hide passion”

Enzo Ferrari knew.

Ettore BUGATTI knew.

Henry Royce of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars knew.

They all started with the intent to produce the best.

That starts with an obsession with the goal.

Be the best.

To be the best it takes relentless focus.

Resilience to the ups and downs.

I’ve recently found a small group of clients committed to owning one of the finest lawns in the UK.

A small group of people who look forward to owning a piece of art, English garden art.

A fine English lawn.

I’m looking to find a few more.

Why art?

To grow the finest lawns in the UK it takes an understanding of art and science.

I look at everything with an eye for detail that seeks out perfection.

Growing the finest lawns is simple.

But, simple if different to easy.

So few do.

If owning one of the finest lawns in the UK is something you might want to know more about, the first step, a small one is intent.

DM me.

I’ll share with you an new service I’m working on, The Green Letter club.

The club opens on the first day of spring 2024.

100 members, never more.

I’m seeking those that think different, but, and most importantly see value in owning something that is simply the best.

And as I've said before, whilst growing grass might be simple, running a business that does it is not easy. So few do.

Join me Phil Argent as I open up my mind and share some thoughts and insights into Growing All Gardening and anything else that comes to mind.

Lawn about Lawn Plan

⁠https://www.allgardening.co.uk/pages/lawn-plan-complete⁠

For all the Growing All Gardening episodes head to

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/allgardening⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

To learn about Lawn Plan and All Gardening

I wanted to book mark a significant change in thinking.

For so many years the period from September to January has been hard, for my mind. I always thought it was a school thing, to do with my ADHD and Dyslexic ways, I'd run off looking for new things, or was it I was looking for a way out.

Well 4 weeks ago, I was held onto, and given the chance to start doing the one thing I never thought I could do, which was focus on my lawn service Lawn Plan during a period when everyone said you can't get customers.

I focused hard on finding a solution to the seasonality of my cash flow and business.

And I started to think about how I go about pre-booking the 2024 season.

Building a business can be fun, but you have to be super focused on getting so much right.

And as I've said before, whilst growing grass might be simple, running a business that does it is not easy. So few do.

Join me Phil Argent as I open up my mind and share some thoughts and insights into Growing All Gardening and anything else that comes to mind.

The more I stay focused on Lawn Plan and doing One Thing Well, the more I'm digging into doing things better, I mean really better, and the more I'm trying to even out the business model.

Today I concluded 2 major breakthroughs:

1. Grow Lights used on football pitches, grow grass all through winter, so why not do the same on a Lawn Plan reset.
2. Even thought its the end of the 2023 season, the 2024 season is coming, and because I can only work on a select number of lawns, to help with the business model, I can offer a 20% discount for those organised enough to pre book there Lawn Plan service set for 2024.

Building a business can be fun, but you have to be super focused on getting so much right.

And as I've said before, whilst growing grass might be simple, running a business that does it is not easy. So few do.

Join me Phil Argent as I open up my mind and share some thoughts and insights into Growing All Gardening and anything else that comes to mind.

Today I changed back the logo on the All Gardening website, a simple enough task, but a vital one.

You see I've started to settle on a real purpose for All Gardening, and it was a long way to go, but it's come from a heart felt place.

The All Gardening logo tells a story, an ALL story, it tells a story of doing everything, then one day doing just one thing.

Today and into the future I plan to grow the finest lawns in and around London and Yorkshire.

Deciding on that has been a journey I'll try and share in this podcast.

Join me Phil Argent as I open up my mind and share some thoughts and insights into Growing All Gardening and anything else that comes to mind.

I've been busy.

I've been trying to be myself.

But that's not been easy.

To do that I need to learn new things.

And I have to believe I can keep going.

The progress is very good but I don't feel like that.

In this episode, I try to share with you what I've done, what I've learnt and what I'm coping with.

I share my 5 feelings that challenge my every waking moment.

My value

My confidence

My anxiety

My uncertainty

My doubt sensitivity (I think I made this one up?)

You can see more about All Gardening on the website:

A trip to see Holland and Holland gave me a huge new insight.

At the weekend I did something I never thought I'd do.

I went for a short walk today.

It was an end of day kinda walk, with Oban my dog.

I walked alongside the river Nidd, my local river.

It reminded me that it's not long now till Henley Royal Regatta.

Henley I've raced at a few times, coached crews to complete, and enjoyed many Friday club days and BBQ's.

Here's today's podcast.

Phil

Founder of All Gardening

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The Growing All Gardening podcast with Phil Argent. Short personal stories, moments, ideas discussed. Just you and me. No ads, no guests.

Get more from your garden:

Blue skies are a metaphor for how I hope things start to progress.

So it hasn't rained for 3 weeks.

Not good for any lawn or garden.

But knowing when a lawn needs watering requires a simple test.

Grab your screw driver!

I tell you more on todays podcast.

Here is today's podcast

Phil

Founder of All Gardening

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The Growing All Gardening podcast with Phil Argent. Short personal stories, moments, ideas discussed. Just you and me. No ads, no guests.

Get more from your garden:

So I'm looking out the window of the office.

It faces south.

It's going to get hot. But not too hot.

But hot enough to start thinking about getting the BBQ on.

I love cucumber salad in summer. 

It simple, and as many of you know from listening to my podcasts and reading my blogs I love simple.

Simple done well takes years and years to learn.

And I'd say cucumber salad is like every other simple. 

Master the cut width, salting and dressings and you have magic.

How we grow and what we grow and why we grow, is not obvious.

But does it need to be.

Starting and doing is the key.

Learning and loving.

Muddy hands, smiles of joy.

There is no done in the garden or with the lawn.

You're in it for good.

And thats ok.

A few years ago I was talking to one of my customers, Roger Lister, old chap with a big garden, fruit trees, veg patch, compost areas and the fine English lawn I helped him take care of.

I asked him if he ever sat down to just look at the work.

His work.

His efforts.

The results.

Whilst holding a mug of tea he said to me, "Phil, how can I ever look back at my work, when there is so much to be done"

"Looking back, Phil, it would be like I'd agreed something is complete"

"If it was Phil, what would I do"

Roger gardened his garden well into his late 80's.

I sent him an email not so long ago.

He replied "Phil, nice to hear from you. I'm 94 now, I don't do the garden anymore, but I do now look on in admiration as others do for me".

Here's today's podcast.

Phil

Founder of All Gardening

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The Growing All Gardening podcast with Phil Argent. Short personal stories, moments, ideas discussed. Just you and me. No ads, no guests.

Get more from your garden:

Stop, look, you'll know.

Today Was like most days, I started by cutting lawns.

But whilst I was doing that I got thinking about the best things you can buy, I don't quite know why, but that's how my mind rolls when I'm cutting lawns.

I say this because yesterday I got thinking about what I really do, and what I want people to really understand that I do.

I got thinking about the best cars, how people understand them, the brands and the people behind them.

I have a few days left to schedule in this week.

Things need to change.

So I started thinking.

Fine Lawns are to be found everywhere.

So I thought I'd go and find them.

Which got me thinking about a song.

London Calling by The Clash

Here's the words.

London calling to the faraway towns
Now war is declared and battle come down
London calling to the underworld
Come out of the cupboard, you boys and girls
London calling, now don't look to us
Phony Beatlemania has bitten the dust
London calling, see we ain't got no swing
Except for the ring of the truncheon thing.
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Meltdown expected, the wheat is growing thin
Engines stop running, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning
I live by the river.
London calling to the imitation zone
Forget it, brother, you can go it alone
London calling to the zombies of death
Quit holding out and draw another breath
London calling and I don't want to shout
But while we were talking, I saw you nodding out
London calling, see we ain't got no high
Except for that one with the yellowy eye.
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear era, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning
I, I live by the river.
The ice age is coming, the sun's zooming in
Engines stop running, the wheat is growing thin
A nuclear era, but I have no fear
'Cause London is drowning
I, I live by the river.
Now get this.
London calling, yes, I was there, too
And you know what they said? Well, some of it was true
London calling at the top of the dial
And after all this, won't you give me a smile?
I never felt so much alike, alike, alike, alike

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The Growing All Gardening podcast with Phil Argent. Short personal stories, moments, ideas discussed. Just you and me. No ads, no guests.

Get more from your garden:

It's not often that I look at MY lawn and think its world class.

But today was one of those days.

I've been cutting it everyday for a week. 

It's been fed with All Gardening Lawn Food.

Blimey its awesome.

Here's today's podcast.

Phil

Founder of All Gardening

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The Growing All Gardening podcast with Phil Argent. Short personal stories, moments, ideas discussed. Just you and me. No ads, no guests.

Get more from your garden:

Brilliant minds work on brilliant things.

Last week I read an article from Richard Branson on AI and dyslexic thinkers.

Simply put, he said dyslexic brains, the most powerful brains, would know how to make the most of Ai and also perhaps make friends and understand how to harness with a relationship very very quickly would be Dyslexic brains.

We'll I've put my ADHD/ Dyslexic brain to work to see what we can do.

We spent a day together working on some new content for the All Gardening website.

There is a new section curated by AI and edited by me. 

The season is rolling in.

Today it currently feels like 16c but it's actually 17c.

There is a cooling wind.

There is clear skies.

It feels warm.

Which is nice.

Here's today's podcast

Phil

Founder of All Gardening

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The Growing All Gardening podcast with Phil Argent. Short personal stories, moments, ideas discussed. Just you and me. No ads, no guests.

Get more from your garden:

Well it finally came.

The first day.

The first editions.

The Yearbook 2 first orders went out in the post today.

It's a special day, a day that may seem small, but is really huge.

It took me 4 months to write the Yearbook 2.

It's now selling.

Every copy counts.

Here's today's podcast.

Phil

Founder of All Gardening

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The Growing All Gardening podcast with Phil Argent. Short personal stories, moments, ideas discussed. Just you and me. No ads, no guests.

Get more from your garden:

Hello Friends!

My Garden heroes!

Did you know I do a daily podcast?

I do it more as a daily journal than anything else.

BUT...Episode 250 of the Growing All Gardening podcast should have a guest.

It could be you.

I like people. I like chatty people. I want people with ideas. And most of all I like it when people make me think. 

I'd like to find someone who would be up for coming on the podcast for a chat.

Would you like to?

OR

Do you know someone who we might all be interested in hearing from....

Need not be someone gardening related.

It needs someone who can tell a good story.

And in doing so inspire us

Help us think different.

And think grow!

Phil

Founder of All Gardening

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The Growing All Gardening podcast with Phil Argent. Short personal stories, moments, ideas discussed. Just you and me. No ads, no guests.

Get more from your garden:

I've been talking to a few clients today.

I've also been in need of suncream.

When the sun comes out and its scrong enough to resuire suncream I know one thing is on the cards.

Clients will be using there gardens and lawns.

There need to be perfect.

This year it's all turned from cold and wet to sun cream day in a matter of days.

Here's today's podcast

Phil

Founder of All Gardening

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The Growing All Gardening podcast with Phil Argent. Short personal stories, moments, ideas discussed. Just you and me. No ads, no guests.

Get more from your garden:

So yesterday if you're following my blogs I thought I'd put some shape around my email capture strategy, but I also released I hadn't told anyone who is currently on my email list that I have the Yearbook 2 for sale.

I wanted to buy emails.

But I hadn't thought about the 272 I already have.

Here's today's podcast

Phil

Founder of All Gardening

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The Growing All Gardening podcast with Phil Argent. Short personal stories, moments, ideas discussed. Just you and me. No ads, no guests.

Get more from your garden:

Here's to the small.

Well it's been a rather non May time week.

Wet.

Cold.

Raining.

But, it's the weekend and we got stuff to do.

Here's today's podcast

Phil

Founder of All Gardening

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The Growing All Gardening podcast with Phil Argent. Short personal stories, moments, ideas discussed. Just you and me. No ads, no guests.

Get more from your garden:

It wasn't men't to be like this today, but it was.

Wet, very.

I mean the rain bucketed it down.

But it was warmish.

Which didn't make it so hard.

Here's today's podcast

Phil

Founder of All Gardening

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The Growing All Gardening podcast with Phil Argent. Short personal stories, moments, ideas discussed. Just you and me. No ads, no guests.

Get more from your garden:

10th May 2023, with the warmer temperatures it can now be seen just about everywhere in North Yorkshire that the grass is growing.

So, I think it's time to do a few leaflets in a few areas I'd like to look after some lawns. in and around Harrogate and the surrounding villages and towns.

I also thought it would be a timely opportunity to see if I can get the All Gardening Cafe Yearbook stocked in some of the local book shops.

And not forgetting, I've started to ask a few customers to give me a testimonial.

Here's today's podcast

Phil

Founder of All Gardening

------------------------------

The Growing All Gardening podcast with Phil Argent. Short personal stories, moments, ideas discussed. Just you and me. No ads, no guests.

Get more from your garden: