A Nod to the Future

Growing plants from seeds is a small act of hope (these days, one might say the same about going to the grocery store). Hope that with care, attention and a bit of time, a garden will provide ample rewards.

For the past ten years, mid-March has been my time for starting the warm weather seedlings - think tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. They need an early and warm beginning to be big and sturdy enough by mid-May to survive outdoors.

Yes, I know that you can buy plants at the nursery. But I also know that you can't always count on finding what you want, especially this year when so many nurseries are now closed down. Nor can you rely on them being disease-free.  So I plant my own.

Amish Paste Seedlings

Odessa Market Peppers

Two weeks ago as I was loading up little pots with potting mix, I had no clue that this might be the year when it could be very important to start seeds at home. I can't claim to be smart, only stuck in my ways. And a bit of a Nervous Nellie.

I am not alone. Seed companies are being hammered by a surge in demand from a new crop of Nervous Nellies. No worries, though - there should be plenty of seeds this year; getting them into your hands is simply going to take longer.

Anecdotally, two of my neighbors are starting new gardens. One poor soul has to battle a stand of ornamental bamboo. I'm impressed with his fortitude - it's been five days and he's still working on it.

Happy Gardening!

A Few Favorite Seed Suppliers:

Fedco
Baker Creek
JL Hudson

Grounded

My friend Adrian used to get "grounded for life" by his mother when she thought his transgressions were sufficiently serious. Right now it looks like we are all in serious trouble, perhaps even life-or-death for a few, which is why we are staying at home. Truth to tell, it's also raining (hallelujah!), and most things are closed down anyway, but that hasn't really been part of the decision-making process - except maybe for not taking a hike today.

So what to do except wash your hands, wash them again and then find something else to do. 

I started with the 2020 Census. It only took four minutes to complete - it must have been the short form - and now no one will be coming to the door to nag us. I suppose taxes are something else I could be doing while grounded at home, but that seems a bit too much like real punishment. 

And there is the hearty minestrone soup in the slow cooker, something that is always good for a rainy day, whether or not you are supposed to stay away from the world.

One family member is just going to sleep the time away - nothing new there, actually.

And I have a big, new book to read. I'm not in love with the cover, and the print is mighty small, but there are lots of pages to help make the time pass. I loved the other books in the series, especially the audio versions, but I can't say much about this one, yet.

Birdhouse w/o Its Top

So, one day down, and who knows how many more weeks of at-home days. The only big-little regret I'm having is that my ceramics class is cancelled, and I was so very close to finishing up a new birdhouse. Except for the top needing a bit more work, it's all ready to be fired. But I expect that it will all be waiting there when it's prudent to go out again.