When I was at the Press Publish conference in Portland each of the speakers names was written up on the board, and screens, with their Twitter address next to their names, not the URL for their web-site or blog but their Twitter moniker. I found this interesting.
Later on, talking with some of the Automattic people, as we tried to work out how thekitchensgarden had “flown under the radar” (their words) for so long when the blog is daily and the Fellowship is such a strong and numerous force, we came to the conclusion that it is because I have a very teensy Twitter footprint. (Plus I am still learning about SEOs and Tags) So much to learn! Though I am being choosy about what I learn, my wee brain is only so big you know.
Even later on – talking to the people who have published books – I asked about having a Facebook page for a book. That is one way they said -but – “Publishers love Twitter. They are all over Twitter.” Once again with the Twitter as a vehicle to get your message out there. Interesting. 
And this blog does have a message . You know the message. I am adamant that if I can farm – anyone can. I want people to know this. This is why you are invited on my journey to discover how to farm. How to create an old fashioned American farm (using modern tools of course). That it is vital to take control over as many aspects of our food as possible. If only growing herbs, or choosing to buy local or a small vegetable garden in a sunny spot, or chickens in town, or a goat in a semi rural setting or a full old fashioned farm like I have, utilising barns for what they were built for or (my joy of joys)- growing food for others to eat.
I think that we can all be involved in this and every time one of The Fellowship reports back about a chicken coop they built or a farm they visited or a market they go to on Saturday and we are all supporting each other in what is an endless struggle to keep small farms alive, to keep our connection to real food alive, then Sheila and I are succeeding with the message. But can we do better?
So, after watching how this Twitter thing works I think that we should ALL encourage each other to push the Twitter button at the bottom of each others posts, if we like what we see and if we think other people should read this too. One speaker told us how sharing other peoples work is a generous move. It invigorates the work. Empowers each other. And Tweeting information and inspiration is generous too. (Though I have to get over my aversion to the word Tweet!)
And I think this is what Twitter can be used for. Tiny written sound bites. Short and simple. And good.
“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” – Da Vinci.
Twitter is definitely simple.
And we could tweet actual quotes from each others work. The line that catches our eye and the link. I know this is not what they mean but I think this is how The Fellowship might create a twist to the Twitter game. Imagine us being important enough to quote! And we are.
An interesting fact is that the best time to Tweet (cringe) is just after lunch on a week day. 
What do you think? (And now I am looking at my writing more critically and wondering what I have said that is quotable – that is a good thing – makes me work harder at saying what is worth saying).
I hope you have a lovely day.
Your friend on the farm
celi
P.S. One more day just to be sure then Poppy is going to make her announcement. (It is looking promising).
P.S.S. From dawn today the Give Away has closed. I hope you were in to win. And The Cadet is going to choose the winner of the signed print! ASAP. 
P.S.S.S. (is there a P.S.S.S?) Last night I collected one Korean student, one Japanese student and one student from Hong Kong (all university students) from the train station. They are here for a farm stay until Monday. And if they work as hard as Gracie (who sent them) we are going to get heaps done this weekend. This is another mission of mine – to bring young people back to farming.
See you tomorrow.
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
114 responses to “Twitter for Bloggers – Can I Quote you?”
This is all quite interesting. I had a blog 3 people followed it; and I took Writer’s Digest course; which insisted on FB (I had); Twitter and Linked in. I am inundated with email as it is and Twitter became so too much; I don’t have time; but perhaps there is a way to handle excess twitter mail. Linked sent me people I hadn’t invited, so I stopped both. If anyone has suggestions, I am open; I get about150 emails a day; and that’s too much for me; but I am global, I communicate with a lot of people, and I’m also intensely curious. Love to all, esther
Hmm.. I have NEVER had that much action generated by twitter..goodness.. for me maybe one or two a day or possibly a week.. I am deeply under the radar! But I think if it is a bother and you are achieving nothing – dump it – life is too short. c
Hi Celi,
It was lovely to meet you in Portland at WordPress. I really enjoyed your talks and photographs of the farm. I appreciate your words here on the importance of having a Twitter account. I’m slow to all this stuff including blogging so this is a new journey for me but one I think I need to embark on for the benefit of the book I’m writing. Your blog is my first to follow and it’s a beautiful blog. Now soon I’ll have to get a start on mine. For now back to my writing…
Carmel – How lovely that you followed me over here to the other side. The Fellowship is an amazing group of people and we welcome new people and LOVE commenters. I honestly think it is best to be Slow at This Stuff.. I was. It is the best way to approach anything new.. when you watch the animals, any of the animals, they approach new things with head stretched out, body way behind, very still, sniffing, checking it out first. It is a good way to be I think. And DO let us know when you start your own blog..what a wonderful place you are in.. The Beginning! c
I wish there was more time in the day! 😃 Twitter will just have to wait ..lol
Agreed, Julie!
I love your mission of bringing young people back to farming. I too would like to bring young people to our farm. We raise cows, goats, chickens (both purposes) and garden. I think it is so important to teach the skills of farming because they can be applied to any and everything in life. We should not be helpless humans and have everything, including our food, handed to us without some sort of effort to produce or procure it. I commend you!
I have a Twitter account but never do a daily sweep …..more new vocab….I only signed up so that when there’s risk of the river flooding the SES…..emergency service….Tweet updates and warnings…..about the only useful purpose I an see for it. I think LinkedIn is a pain too, I was also inundated when I joined after someone invited me……I uninvited myself! Pleased to see though we can now Pin straight from your photos 🙂 Now Pinterest, there’s a some social media I quite like 🙂
Lovely cow photos today, gorgeous photo of the cadet and how exciting to have multicultural Farmy help…..Happy Easter to all and enjoy.
oh and I do have a Fb account, but only because I administer a couple of community groups, but I don’t have a page I do anything with. Time consuming stuff, I’d rather be sewing or gardening or doing a bit of blog reading.
I love the faces on your cows. They mooove me. I always wanted a cow but alas, it’s not to be. I’m happy there are people like you teaching the next generation of farmers. I hated that so many chemicals and repeat crops were being used on the farm we owned, (mother-in-law). I couldn’t get anyone to listen to me so we eventually sold it. It was in the tornado belt of Kansas/Missouri. It’s good to know they are coming from around the world to learn how to do that.
I will probably never tweet. I have 23 friends on Facebook and they are all family. I don’t want to expose anyone else to them. They can’t figure out how to get to my post even when I posted it on my Facebook page. Waiting for tomorrow. 🙂
Oh, again I agree with Viv! And age does not come into it: perhaps ‘wisdom/ and balance do!! Got out of Facebook five years ago: going from 2 FB friends to 780 plus six world-wide foodie groups in one year was frightening and my time certainly ceased to be my own!! I seem to get weekly Twitter ‘encouragements’ – no way: a fulltime paid job, and my studies and hours spent every day on international welfare orgs more than fill my day and barely leave enough hours for friends, cultural events and ‘real’ life’!! Sorry, won’t be there but should I miraculously ever say anything worthwhile you are more than welcome to quote me 🙂 ! What a a wonderful photo of The Cadet . . . again hope you all are having a happy Easter!!
I know very little about twitter but I’m willing to learn. I’m familiar with Facebook and use it for my blog and for staying in touch with some people that I otherwise would not. Happy Easter to all of you, I will miss the big Easter bonfire in my village in Germany this year.
I’ve been “Tweeting” for a few years now and I am in two minds about it,part of me loves the immediacy of it,you know,how your thoughts are available for reading anywhere in the world within seconds,but part of me hates reading nasty bitchy tweets from people who have (or seem to have) nothing better to do than to put down others,but for the most part I think it’s a good thing and I would love to connect with more people who are interested in sustainable agriculture,cooking etc. by the way I refer to my tweeting “friends” as “tweeple” and yeah I use tweeted as the past tense,but does it really matter,it’s just another form of communication.Cheers from downunder.
Tweeple – Love it!
love seeing auntie del….her markings are exquisite…..fingers crossed for miss poppy !
twitter, twittered..twitted…. love our fellowship
thank you miss c for the courage to farm and let us watch !!
nanster
The cadet is SO pretty.
She reminds me of my cousin – Alison, when she was young. Lovely.
To tweet or not to tweet? Thanks for the tip. I am going to look into it having never ventured to twitter.
Twitter holds no interest for me at all.
I, also, have never ‘twittered’. Hell, I don’t even have an up-to-date phone ’cause I don’t want to have to learn how to use a new one….. I know what The Aussie Chef means about ‘nasty comments’. I did receive a few…early on.. when I started posting my recipes on ‘Reddit’ – and they were hurtful. Like Facebook, I think it’s sometimes far to easy for someone to post something they would never say to the person face-to-face. But I can NOT imagine anyone having anything rotten to say about your wonderful blog !!
I could not bear it if the nasty people came out to have a go at me.. it is certainly one of the risks of being on the internet.. c
I hope Auntie Del is settling in. You have an amazing cast of young people. Thank you for offering them this opportunity.