Starts Starts Starts!
Busy Busy Busy!For the first time I truly believe that we didn't put more money into our garden than we are going to get out of it. This goal is pretty straight forward. The work was harder that I expected...Lots of composting to build up the soil. Lots of pouring over seed catalogs (that was the fun part) and planning planning planning. We can a lot of our vegies and "put up" food for the winter. So this year I decided to really concentrate on what we eat! Duh.
Beyond saving money and putting it back into our little farm is is really mostly about higher quality produce and accomplishing goals. It is mighty rewarding to come in from the garden with a bushel of organic produce that you labored over all spring and summer. It is rewarding to not pick up and go to town for food or call in for take out.
Beyond the saving money part, the organic part and putting food up for the winter. There is peaceful and mindfulness part too. Gardening brings food and flowers to the table and sustenance to the soul. I don't aim for a perfect garden anymore. I have learned to give in to mother nature.
She directs my garden not me. I have learned through a lot of sweat and tears that the garden brings to me what I give it. I have had many days of rushing through chores and dreading gardening because there was always a weed to pull or a harvest of vegetables to process and at times I was angry and frustrated. I'm sure I failed on some parts of this year and last year and probably next year, as well. However, without a goal, there is nothing to strive for. Without loving my land and my efforts I will not learn mindfulness and gratitude.
Growing a garden means there is hope for the future. So now that you have started your little seedlings indoors it is time to transplant them outside! Yippie! Success so far!
But before you just plop the little tender babies in the ground you should have an idea of the relative hardiness of the plants you have. Warm-season crops such as eggplants, melons and cucumbers prefer warm nights, at least 60° F. They can't stand below-freezing temperatures. So you are going to want to start“Hardening off”. This is the process of moving plants outdoors for a portion of the day to gradually introduce them to the direct sunlight, dry air, and cold nights. Harden off gradually, so that seedlings become accustomed to being outside and bring them back indoors on the first couple of nights. strong sunlight, cool nights. Gradually increase exposure to cold nights, sun and wind.
Hardy plants, can be hardened off when the outside temperature is consistently above 40° F.
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