Encouraging Newcomers...

agraham

How should we do it?I don't mean how should we bring more people to the art,hobby(whatever).But,once they're interested,what kind of encouragement can we give them so that they don't lose interest through the trials and tribulations...and TIME that it takes to really grow a bonsai?



andy

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spoonman

im new, you can encorouge me by sending half your tree's this way

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agraham

if you lived closer...i'd give you one or two

TreeBay

Some clubs have mentoring programs, and beginner classes offered at reduced rates (or free). Kusamura Bonsai Club, in Palo Alto, CA had a beginner segment 45 minutes or so before the meeting. Midori Bonsai Club in San Jose, CA had beginner classes and hands-on assistance from senior members at club work sessions.

Maybe we could do something similar here? I don't know how we might go about signing up mentors, but it should probably be regional so folks can get some hands-on assistance?

Good question!

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Little Arborist

I am very thankful for this forum, and the effort it obviously takes to maintain it. I see it as a valuable asset in the learning process neccessary to understand bonsai, although not the only way to learn bonsai by any means.

This forum is inherently an encouragement for beginners such as myself.

Most folks here are very gracious, and willing to tolerate the inevitable repetative questions the new guy brings in. That is encouraging.

Matt, I am thankful for the way you consistently put up search queries for newbies with questions which were long ago answered or discussed.

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spoonman

yea the forum has made starting of in bonsai a dream. i can learn from other ppl's mistakes insteadof my own. and the qulity of advice here is best bar none.

__________________
"Little laurel trees, your roots can find
No mountain, yet your leaves extend
Beyond your own world into mine
Perennial wands, unfolding in my thought
The budding evergreen of time."
-Kathleen Raine, The Trees in Tubs

mr_burninator

yeah i think going along with what spoon was saying, the thread posted on this forum about mistakes made and trees killed really helped me realize that you're not expected to be perfect and keep every single tree alive. I'm not sure if that is encouraging, but it sure made me feel a hell of a lot less pressure and anxiety about bonsai.

Other than that, I think bonsai encourages itself. I think that it has so much to offer that can appeal to so many different types of people that just getting them to realize that is the most important thing. I think it's all about education and advertising, then it's either do-able or it isn't. Free stuff helps too.

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Emperor Fish

Matt,

Interesting idea about the mentoring, and it can work not just for people in the same location (although climate issues and supplies etc would be different). A couple of years ago I got a great deal of help from someone who had much more experience than I just using email and picture attachments. This one to one environment really worked well for me as it is not subject to the varying ideas presented in a forum environment and if the person giving the advice has some bonsai credentials, there is not the worry that a person could be giving you totally inappropriate advice.

Now I have moved on and get tuition face to face from my teacher, but that early e-collaboration help got me started when I wasn't prepared to spend hundreds on 'real' tuition.

There might even be a market for it, although given that many people contribute virtuals and advice for free currently, possibly not. Personally, I'd have paid my mentor for his time if it was reasonable.

See what others think.

Regards,

Fish.

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I would love to talk to people in real time, that would make it so much easier. I talk to spoon on MSN and we exchange ideas every now and then. I think that, plus people who have webcams in real time, is a fantastic way to show. For example, pros here can demonstrate how to wire a tree in real time thru web cam. Also, step by step picture instructions are fantastic. I learn so much that way.

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