A Spring Message Especially For New Gardeners

Hydroponic Kale

Spring is here. Ok, it’s not here where I live these days. It was below freezing this morning, but I know many of my readers in Oklahoma, Texas, Georgia and Florida for example, are ready to plant. It fact, some of you in Texas and Florida have already begun planting. Good for you, and yes, I’m jealous.

But most of us are still in the planning mode. Some are beginning to work you beds and build your raised beds. It’s a busy and thrilling time.

My advice to you is: relax and enjoy it. Take time to smell the grass and the flowers. Pick your soil up and let it run through your fingers. Don’t let yourself become so busy that you miss the fun. You are one with creation when you take your time. You can enjoy God’s world in such an intimate way. Don’t let your garden work get in the way. Let it be a time of relaxation and worship.

Oh, and don’t let people make your gardening or farming too hard. It doesn’t have to be. It never has been for me.  First of all, don’t plant more than what you want. If you just want tomatoes and strawberries, have at it. If you want corn, go for it. And don’t think about what you can sell. Think about what you want to eat. Maybe someday you’ll want to grow stuff for other people, but if you’re just getting started, grow the things you’ll enjoy eating. And it you have extra, give it away or sell it. But you’ll increase the fun of your gardening more by growing only what you want than you will ever do by focusing on a market.

My favorite years were the ones where I just planted what I wanted and what my wife wanted. We wanted strawberries and peppers and tomatoes and lettuce and broccoli, and stuff like that. I had so much fun starting early or planting late in the evening. And to be honest, I had better results with the garden.

So, if you’re new, don’t focus on what you can grow and sell, but concentrate on growing, preserving and eating. I promise you won’t regret it. And trust your instincts. Be careful who you take advice from because there are a ton of people who like to do things the hard way. BTW, that especially true for those of you who want to start with hydroponics or aquaponics. There are lots of frustrated engineers who don’t know how easy both of those growing methods can be.

Happy Spring, y’all.

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Just In Time For New Gardeners

Beginning in Mid November, I’m going to add a YouTube series especially for New Gardeners. If you’re a first time gardener or homesteader, this will be your new home. Don’t worry, it will benefit you old timers, too.

I’m going to start with my Winter Clean up (Trust me, that will be a major undertaking) and take you through the process of getting a spring garden all started.

I know there is a lot of material out there, but there is also a great deal of misinformation, as well, so I feel compelled to do this. You deserve it.

Along the way, I’ll point you to some really trustworthy blogs and YouTube channels.

For Now, enjoy Halloween. My wife and I are still in Scotland, so I assure you, we’re having a blast.

 

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