Interviews

This survey took place in e-mail format.

John Taylor works at Ball State Universities Christy Woods. Taylor's responses can be found in the blue font. 

Name: John Taylor

1)    Do you grow/tend to plants?  Yes, though not house plants.  Native (plants naturally found here before European settlement) plants on 6 properties.  I also take care of the greenhouses from time to time.

2)    Have you ever grown/tended to plants?  Yes, see above.

3)    If so do you feel better when you grow/tend to plants?  I don’t have anything to compare it to.  But I feel good most of the time.

4)    If you do tend/grow plants why do you do so?  I love nature and being in the forest when possible.

5)    If you don’t grow/tend to plants why do you not grow/tend to plants?

6)    What do you think of plants?  I would be a different person without plants. 

Do you think plants affect you?  Of course.  This question should be more specific.  Affect what part of me?

            If so how? Food I eat, air I breathe, fibers for my clothes, paper, construction, heating my house (wood), cooking food sometimes (wood or charcoal), the landscape (agriculture, forests, park trees, trees on streets, mowing the lawn, playing golf (for example), habitat and food for wildlife, etc.)

7)   How do you believe plants affect your health?  Food Shelter and clothing, air, clean water, etc.  And mood.

8)   Do you think plants change your mood? Yes

a.     For the good or bad? Depends – native plants, especially rare plants in protected habitats make me very happy.  I get a little discouraged when I visit places that were once stunning but have been ruined by human abuse, neglect and ignorance. But it’s not the fault of the plants – they just move in after disturbance or are brought in  accidentally by people.

9) Any thing you’d like to add pertaining to plants?  Yes, you (well, not just you) should get to know the native plants in Indiana, or at least learn which are not native so you can start to see the beauty in the places that have been protected and well managed.

Taylor's interview gave very useful information. Taylor works with plants everyday, he's also educated about them. Taylor also has a strong opinion about plants which agrees with my research findings. Plants do effect people!

My interview with Mary Shipley my grandmother didn't work out. She's an avid gardener. She has flower and food gardens! She did state that "Plants really can improve my mood, it's amazing how happy they can make you. It's a wonderful hobby!". Shipley had the flu at time of interview and could barely talk. I didn't want to make her feel worse than she already did. However I feel her information was very useful. I too feel that plants have improved my mood. I can't wait to go home and water them, and after I do there's always a smile on my face.