What's happening with the Cottage Garden site?

You know I feel I have to make mention of this. I just noticed logging on today that the cottage gardening forum is now a paid site. I think that stinks. It's nice when there's at least a couple of sites which are not paid. I understand the need to cut out pop up advertising, but this is really going too far. There are people who do enjoy gardening but may be on a bit of budget. I myself did have a two-month subscription but my husband didn't like the idea of yet another expense to our long enough budget even if it was only $6 bucks. We're already having to pay a hefty internet bill as it is even with a discount from our provider already built in.

I'm wondering just how long the beginner landscaping and garden tours sites will be open to non-paid subscribers. I really enjoy those two sites as well but if they go to a paid basis I'll just have to forget about it. Just curious if anyone else noticed this.

Dave did close several forums a day or two ago so they're now only for subscribers. I would imagine the beginner forums would always remain open to everyone, that's really the whole point of them so I don't think there would any purpose to making them only open to subscribers. There are still a few others that are open too, maybe not the ones that you had been spending time in though.

Hi GoNative, really sorry that you are upset about the site you liked being removed and now for subscription only, you are right ofcourse, that a lot of gardeners are on a really tight budget, and at one point used to be a cheep pastime for lots of people, but I guess the way of the world now is, get them in then get the money, everything seems to come with a price tag these days, eventually. I know you fell really annoyed, but is there any gardening clubs that meet in your area, there you can meet the actual gardeners, exchange ideas and on a lot of occasions, swap, buy or exchange plants, I know here in the UK, gardening is really popular again, as a need rather than an accessory, and there are clubs and like minded groups starting up all over the country, or maybe you could advertise and start one for your speciality garden plants, I guess finding time for that is a problem for busy people, but it would be a real shame if you lost your gardening pleasure because the site you liked was pulled, if the other sites were eventually pulled, it would be to the detriment of all, as the people who run it would find the forums almost empty, with the exception of the few who can/wish to pay, if you could afford to pay for a few sites, you'd be as well buying the books, so it is a fine ballance to find, but lots of people enjoy cottage gardening, so maybe for now, you can still join in the other forums for these plants, And stay in touch with old friends you feel you have met, I hope so, good luck and happy gardening. WeeNel.

I would think that all garden.com forums would be open forever(I know that's a strong word)

I don't post in cottage gardening, but I think a lot of the philosophies are common sense and carry over into everyone's style in some way.

I had posted a comment on garden.com 2 days ago when I noticed it. There are free gardening forums out there. One I got is very friendly and helpful. My time here at dave's is limited now to the Bird Watching forum and the Beginners Gardening. At least until they become closed.

Dear All,

Thank you for the kind words, support and info. Your're right, for now at least the Beginner Landscaping is open to everyone as are the garden tours and a few others. Actually, I'm a landscape professional but I've always enjoyed this site as well. Some beautiful gardens have been posted here and some good advice as well.

GoNative,
So sorry you lost out on the cottage garden forum. I too am on a tight budget (we're retired) but understand from a different perspective about having to charge for these forums. My son used to be an administrator for a "free" forum and believe me, it's only "free" to the folks who use it. He put in untold hours working on it in various ways so I understand DG having to close some of the forums like this. I started out using a free gardening forum and it was fun but not NEARLY as informative as DG. I gave up two magazine subscriptions so I could have DG instead and have not regretted it.

No need to worry, I don't think there's any intention to close the various beginner forums, the whole point of them is to get people started and interested in gardening and get some help on problems, then maybe if someone gets really into it and has the money they will sign up for a subscription, but if the beginner forums don't stay open, then there's no way to get people interested in the first place. So I don't think those would ever be closed.