Showing posts with label planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label planning. Show all posts

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Planting Seeds, Literally


Veggie Seed Packs

I am late planting my vegetable garden this year. So many things to do around here that I just get so far behind. Usually my "cold crops" get direct seeded into my main raised bed garden during the first week of April, but this year I delayed until just a couple of days ago. My excuse and my reason, was that I misplaced (still can't find it) my collection of various seeds that I have gathered over the past several years. I've looked all over my home and my storage spaces in the garage and in the sheds. Couldn't find my seed collection anywhere. So I had to order more seeds, fresh ones, from my favorite garden supply outlet Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply

That took some time and then I took more time getting the seeds into the ground. I had many excuses. Too busy, too cold, wasn't in the mood, had to go out of town to see the new baby... lots of reasons/excuses.

Anyway, I finally got some of the seeds planted into my garden. You can see the variety of seeds that I planted in the seed packet photo above. I have planted carrots, radishes, two kinds of beets, spinach, several kinds of lettuce, mesclun, chard, cabbage, broccoli and snow peas so far.

Do you remember that purple onion that decided to start growing on my kitchen windowsill awhile back? Well, I carefully divided it up into four growing baby onion plants that then grew lots of roots in a jar of water on my patio table until I planted it amongst the beets and carrots this week. Onions and root crops are good companion plants. They encourage each other to grow.

I didn't include a picture of my garden in this post because, well, it just looks like a patch of dirt at this point, with a few onion tops showing. I'll post a photo later on in the season.

Now I need to get going on my warm weather crops. I am running out of time for them. Mother Nature does not want to wait for me!

I love my garden. I find solace there.


© Copyright 2008 Mountain Harvest Basket

Friday, February 22, 2008

Seeds of the Mind

Since it looks like this here today:



Still beautiful but cold, rainy, wet and muddy outside......

I think I will stay inside, build a nice warm fire in the woodstove and spend some time reading, planning and dreaming with these today:



My 2008 seed catalogs.

I especially like the one in the middle from Peaceful Valley Farm & Garden Supply

I find that a good garden, or any worthwhile project for that matter, first starts with seeds planted in your mind. Ideas. Dreams. Visualizing great outcomes. This is the first step to planting a great garden.

Over the past 10 years that I have lived here at about 3000 ft elevation in the California foothills, I have planted organic vegetable and herb gardens nearly every summer. Right now my gardens are a mess due to the winter weather and also to my neglect. So I need to spend some time reading, planning and dreaming about my bountiful veggie and herb crops that I want this year. Today is a good day to do that. Do the mental work today. By the fire. All warm and cozy with a cup of tea and my cats. I can go out and do the physical garden work another day....when it's warmer....and drier.