Seed Starting Cool Season Crops- January

Waiting was so hard. I could not believe those little baby seeds were actually going to sprout, I was crazier than I was during my last week of pregnancy: today maybe? But they did and it made me so happy. Jesse was like, “wow my wife is crazy about seeds”, Soren was like “I wonder what it would feel like to poop out dirt”.not really. Squirt doesn’t talk yet, his favorite activities include watching mom and dad dance, playing chubby bunny with his fist, machine gun pooping and playing the “ how many times can I roll over in the middle of the night and wake mommy and daddy up screaming” in one night game. Love of my life, joy of my soul, I love that little bean.

There are basically 3 growing cycles Cool Jan-may. Warm March-August. And Cool again May-September. Cool season crops I chose: carrot, celery, spinach, lettuce, broccoli, Indoor and outdoor herbs: cilantro, basil, oregano, lavender, mint, rosemary.

I am starting plants from seed because its cheap. Not easy but not particularly hard either.

YOU NEED
Seed. I purchased my BURPEE seeds from Home Depot. I did this because they sell smaller quantities than catalogs=cheaper. They are warranted, but the drawback is you loose variety selection that are more disease resistant and better producers.
Growing medium: high tech word for dirt! I also bought seed starting mix from there. Its $4 for a tiny bag, but for a home garden its all you need and it is already fertilized. Mixing my own would have cost more.
Sunlight: I have one south facing window. So that’s what I used
Heating pad- not necessary if your house stays warm, but I didn't wanna give these buggers any reason noy to sprout.

CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP- I used recycled egg cartons for seed containers MAKE SURE YOU SANATIZE WITH BLEACH!. ½ a two litter coke bottle for greenhouse cover. I chopped up old plastic blinds for labels.
WATER- must keep soil damp. not wet. damp.

COST: seeds cost about $15, soil $4 = $19

Seeds domed by coke bottles . Seed mix. Egg carton and 'blind' lables

Garden Research and Resources

Unfortunately evolution failed and we are not born with an innate knowledge of how to provide for ourselves. Crap. Even if it had. I lost my brain with my newborn baby and need all the help i can get!

Your Local Extension Office- I have wanted a garden forever, but when I started working for the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Extension office in Fayette county as a 4-H teacher, I became even more interested in the science of Gardening. It is actually not as easy as throwing seeds on the ground, each crop is like an infant with different needs and soil preferences. I became certified as a Georgia Master Gardener so become at least knowledgeable if not experienced as a gardener. This Certification, and the free classes that the Extension office provides to everyone has helped a ton in the last 2 years. Find the extension office in your county- www.caes.uga.edu/extension/


Websites help for a lot of stuff…just make sure it is catered to your zone…for weather and soil considerations! Yahoo questions and garden sites can be helpful especially for home remedies http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/gagarden/ (like sprinkling human hair around your garden) , but for documented scientific information it also helps to find scholarly publications by typing “.pdf” and “uga” (or whatever you state university is like Clemson University of Arizona ect.) after you topic. Example GOOGLE: tomato insects and diseases uga .pdf

Books: help a ton! I have a variety. One for needs of specific plants, one catered for Georgia especially, one for a calendar to help my planning, and one topical for seed starting, composting ect.

The Backyard homestead: Produce all the food you need on a quarter acre. Carleen Madigan

Week by Week Vegetable Gardener Handbook. Ron and Jennifer KuJawski

Month by month Gardening in Georgia. Walter Reeves

Georgia Master Garden Handbook. University of Georgia College of Agricuture and Environmental Sciences (CURRENT YEAR)



CHEAP TIPS:
-Check books out at the bookstore, but buy them online- you will save at least 30%
- I Got a few awesome gardening books at Goodwill for $2
-Ask for Gift cards for Christmas/birthdays/even Valentines Day!

What I found through researched is the most crucial most amazing element in your garden: next blog Sunny spot selection and pest control

My Gardening Goals and My Catchy Alliteration Skills

*I debated on whether to make this blog bloggy, like verbal diarrhea of everything I am thinking or feeling. OR an informative step by step process as to how to garden. Since I am pathologically indecisive, both audiences must go dabble through both my rantings, and my lists. Tough.

Ha, audiences. Pretentious.

1. My goal is to make 90% of the fresh produce I consume.
2. I am broke as a joke, so I also want to recover my cost in the first year, which I hear is impossible, which just excites me. I spend about $10 a week on produce, so during harvest season assuming I don’t can -May-September) I’d spend about $250 on produce. I have a possible option of selling to friends and family if I have excess. Right now I am aiming for a $400.00 budget for the fence, beds, cold frame, soil, plants, and tools. Geez, I am ambitious.
3. Anything I can recycle instead of buy, I will.
4. Teach my son where food comes from.
5. Bless others with the fruit (and vegetables) of my labor! (and God’s grace)
6. Blog with video/photos at least twice a month.

Picture: future suburban garden plot

Green House Manor

Jan 1, 2011. I wish I lived on a farm: sunshine, hard work and a life free from asphalt and air conditioners, problem is I live in the suburbs in south Atlanta on less than an acre.

I could complain about it, or I could defy culture (and some county zoning laws) and pretend I live on a farm anyway!

Now, I can’t rip up our driveway, and my husband is sort of attached to our air-conditioner. Since he works hard, I’m not going to fight that battle. Vaguely, I want my home to be old school, like when people would cook thier meals, grew thier food and economized as a way of life. That’s a hefty goal, especially since I am a full-time mom, a full time pastor’s wife, a part time 4-H teacher, balloon artist and seamstress. That’s 1 person = 3 ½ times. Oh yes and I have no money. So how will I begin? I’m glad you asked. I am going to plant a garden.

photo: our Green House. (and a cute kid i found at wallmart)