Educating the public - your thoughts and opinions please

[sweetjblue]

Originally Posted by Paul Mc

So here is a general question that I would like to hear your experience and thoughts on: "If you were to educate the general public, friends or family on why orchids are important to us, what would be your talking points and reasoning?"

Good question Paul.

I have 2 young grandaughters who have asked why I have so many plants, this is what I've used on them.

First off I started by telling them there are many different "kinds" of orchids, just like there are many different kinds of dogs and cats, of which they have both. Imagine what the world would be like if every one of them looked the same, how would you be able to tell your dog/cat from your friends? well, orchids are somewhat the same.
Why are there so many kinds? Well each kind grows in a different way, some tall/short, fat/ skinny, in cool or warm areas.
Life would be boring and not very tasty without orchids because vanilla was a kind orchid, and they immediately wanted ice cream.

Judi

[ALToronto]

It's mostly a case of, 'When the student is ready, the teacher will appear'.

And the 'teacher' is this forum and others like it. The general public looks at us as eccentrics with just another time- and money-consuming hobby. Some people collect stamps, some collect antique dolls, some collect and build toy trains, and we collect and grow orchids. I see very little difference. I've seen toy train people very excited about a new type of motor or switch for their tracks - how is this different from us getting excited about a new catt hybrid?

My husband refers to my orchids as 'very slow moving pets'.

That said, I'm going to be doing a bit of educating soon. I'm exhibiting at Toronto's Green Living Show, and some of my exhibits will be my living walls full of orchids. I'm building two new ones, since the existing ones won't be moving anymore. So I will be telling people that orchids are actually the easiest plants to grow on one of my living walls (which is really just a large mount with water runoff containment). At least this audience will be prepared to learn. Here's a photo of my biggest living wall in process.

[Sharry]

I second Orchidman: Orchids are fun for me to collect but I don't think that they are all that important in themselves. Beauty is important and that orchids are a good way to do it. I have never had as much success with houseplants as I have with orchids. Once you get the hang of it they are easier than many.

I also make clear to people that it is an addiction, but what an addiction.... !

[Paul Mc]

They are addictive if you have the inclination to let them be so! LOL! I love all of these answers! They are very insightful!

My question was meant as a survey to see how we perceive misunderstandings and how we deal with them, regardless of viewpoint and interest. In that context, all of these answers are valued! When I originally posted I was still working through the ultimate question I was asking. The answers have some very true relevance to what I am attempting to understand and do.

Anyone else?! All answers are helpful!


Paul McMahon
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[My Green Pets]

So here is a general question that I would like to hear your experience and thoughts on: "If you were to educate the general public, friends or family on why orchids are important to us, what would be your talking points and reasoning?"

1. They are delicate living things that respond to us, and eliciting a positive response from them is incredibly gratifying.

Orchids and my other plants are my green 'pets.' I care for them, and if I do it really well, they show me. There are no words to describe the sense of accomplishment and joy that come from cultivating such a sensitive organism and knowing that you have made it 'happy'.

2. Orchids are stunning examples of the incomprehensible complexities of nature.

Flowers catch the eye because that's their purpose, to attract pollinators. Orchids are the masterpieces. Just look at one. There are so many perfect details—the form, color, function—that can be examined for hours. Like studying a painting brush stroke by brush stroke. But unlike a painting, it is alive. And it changes, day after day, year after year. The orchid you see today is slightly different from the same plant tomorrow. And watching it change is infinitely more fascinating than the finest painting.

3. Orchids were all over the planet before we even existed.

They grow in almost every environment on Earth, including our own back yards. And this is a very powerful concept: that their particular evolutionary strategy has been so successful. They've been here long before us and will be here long after we've nuked ourselves into extinction. So when I admire the beauty of these plants, I'm also reminded of the eons that have passed before me and humbled to stand before a creature that has survived millions. One could say that the universe can be seen in the flower of an orchid.

Amazing topic, great food for thought. Thanks for posing the question!

[Discus]

These challenges are not unique to Orchids; there's a load of literature on communications. If you want a single good entry point, you'd find it hard to go wrong applying the lessons from Communications Skills for Conservations Professionals by S.K. Jacobson.

Your key take-home message is not generally to explain yourself to them, but to find something that is important to them (already) and why what you're doing matters to that topic or concern.

It can be quite hard with "niche" topics, but with some lateral thought, you can do quite well.

In terms of "getting new blood", the easiest entry point will probably be along the lines of demonstrating how easy orchids can be - this is a one-two approach - first, you need to show what kinds of orchids are fairly easy to care for "on a windowsill" (and how to care for them), dispelling the myth of orchids being difficult to grow outside of an expensive climate controlled greenhouse; secondly, make a plan to get them an orchid, somehow - ideally one that is in bloom for "instant gratification". Just like cuttings, some will take, others will succumb to rot...!

---------- Post added at 09:11 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:59 AM ----------

You could also consider "there's an orchid for everyone" showcasing the diversity of orchids in terms of climate, flower morphology, growth habit, size etc. Point out that there are X varieties of (audience specific thing - cars, dogs, cats, birds, mammals; whatever) and at least 30,000 orchid species and 160,000 registered hybrids (or whatever the current number happens to be).

It may also be worth pointing out that orchids tend to be quite slow-growing, and aren't really a game for the impatient at the end of the day - it's more an ultramarathon than a sprint. And hey, as much as the green fingered among us shiver at the thought, it's OK if you just want to have a disposable in-bloom Phalaenopsis for as long as it lasts (how many of us started with a sickly Phalaenopsis...? - which are of course another potential "connection" between you and your audience).

Another thing that puts off a lot of people is that orchid names are funny-looking "foreign words", for the most part; that really puts some people off. Consider ways of addressing this.

[Paul Mc]

Hi Discus! I am not familiar with that work, so I will read it.

Perceptive as always, you perfectly understood what I am examining. My last job was marketing for a niche product and service nationwide. One thing I learned through study groups was what we perceived as important about our products and services were completely lost on others. So we did studies on those "in the know" and those who didn't know us. It was disturbing how many inside the organization had no clue themselves why we were "so great". Hehehe...

We must examine all sides/arguments, find commonality and a way to educate to ensure all in contact understood (employees, clients, etc...). Niche marketing is much more complex than normal.

Paul McMahon
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