Tuesday 29 March 2016

How to Start your own Seeds Indoors

How to Start your own Seeds Indoors
(using Peat Pellets)

This is my third year now starting seeds.  I'm not an expert by any means, but most of my seeds sprout and last long enough to bear some fruit, so somehow I've got enough of an idea to make do.  I've kept it simple, more of a how I start seeds now - which is way more streamlined and less messy than used to be!

First, here are four things to keep in mind when trying to grow plants:  

1. Water
Without water, the seeds won't germinate.  Too much water, and they will rot.  Different plants require different watering techniques, but a good rule of thumb is to water from below (let them soak up water from their roots), and let the soil become reasonably dry before watering again (note:  not parched).

2. Sunlight
Once your seeds sprout, they will require sunlight.  I use one simple grow light, with just one bulb and a reflector.  (I hope to expand my set up sometime in the future!).  Here is the model I use.  I currently have it hanging in the open cabinet above my fridge.  I also have tons of plants on my fridge as well, and regularly rotate them so that they all benefit from being directly under the light.  If you have large, south facing windows, you can more than likely get away with not using a grow light.  

3.  Temperature
Plans need warmth to grow!  This element is often overlooked.  My first year of seed starting, I used my basement.  The plants grew, but slowly.  I got way better results when I moved my set up upstairs the next year (also, more natural light!).  And even better results when I used the top of my fridge (which lets off some additional heat).  


4. Aeration and Drainage
I put these together, because both problems are solved by the same solution:  the container and soil you use!  If the water can't drain out of the container (or your soil mix) your seeds/plants will become waterlogged and diseased and/or rot.  You can have a pot that drains well, but aeration is important as well.  Think: when planting in the ground, if you plant in dense, clay like soil, your seeds will die or be weak.  The more organisms in your soil, the more aerated it will be.  I'm very much in favour of planting directly in the ground, both in order to improve your soil, and to reap the benefits of happy plants.  But when seed starting indoors, I use peat pellets (found here).  I've got very good results using these little guys.  For this demo, I'll be using the peat pellets.  


How to Start your Seeds Indoors

1.  Soak your peat pellets
These little guys require more water than you'd think!  Plan ahead a bit and give them a good hour or so to soak up enough water.  It'll be easier (and better for your seeds!)  if they are thoroughly soaked.  This means no hard disks, which you will easily feel as they begin to soak the water.  Check back occasionally, and add more water if they've absorbed it all.

Here they are completely dry:


I used several old mushroom containers from the grocery store, and added the water and pellets.


And finally ready to go!  


2. Grab your seeds!
I had all ready planted most of my seeds by the time I decided to do this post, but I picked up a pack of heirloom tomatoes from the Saskatoon Seed Library (more on seed libraries soon!) at a gardeners event I attended last Sunday.  


3.  Pull away the fabric, and plant your seeds

The fabric is pretty tightly over the soil, and I found it helpful to pull the fabric away.  This made it easier to push the seed down into the soil, and to cover it back up.  

Here's my daughter helping me out.  I'm pretty sure that one pellet has about 8 seeds planted in there ;)

Now place your new little indoor garden in a warm place filled with sunlight (or a grow light!)!

Wednesday 23 March 2016

Planning your yard landscaping

I drew a couple quick sketches of my plans for my back and front yard.  I've done scale drawings before, so I know the gist of the space I have.  But these are unnecessarily time consuming, especially when my plans constantly change and evolve.  However, it's a helpful exercise to help begin a to do list, and to help visualize what you want.

Here are a few tips when planning your own yard projects:

1. Observe other places

Take notice of what you like about other yards or public places.  Raised beds, spaces for entertaining, or quiet areas for reading or having a morning coffee.  What places in nature or in your travels have you most been at peace in, or been in awe of?  Try to capture a little piece of that magic for your yard

2. Work with what you have

Try to work with what is currently existing in your yard.  When we first moved in, I imagined digging up the huge concrete patio slab to put in something more aesthetically appealing, replacing the caraganas with something prettier, and doing away with the massive pine trees in the front and back yard.  Instead, I contented myself with removing the very back row of caraganas where the patio slab ended, which opened up the yard a lot.  I actually appreciate the privacy the other rows give to us.  
I still have a pine tree in the back yard I want to remove to replace with a cherry tree.  But I've come to love the two in the front yard.

3. Enjoy the Process

Be adaptable and enjoy the process.  You may find some of your original ideas don't work.  Don't let it discourage you - find a new way, and you will probably be happier in the end anyways.  

4. Don't Obsess Over Planning

Don't spend too much time planning.  Start doing.  Your plans are likely to change anyways, but it won't be for the better unless you become better acquainted with your yard, and what you are capable of.  Even if you are not financially in the position for your big plans, you can start by cleaning up weed patches, trimming hedges, planting a few flowers and vegetables, and a few cheap DIY projects with wood pallets or other recycled materials.  You might find that your big ideas aren't even wanted or needed.

My current back yard plan:  


My front yard plan (I spent much less time on this one!  Backyard is my current priority):



Tuesday 22 March 2016

Introduction - Journal Entry

Hello internet!  Welcome to my first blog entry.

I am using this site as a sort of journal of my experiences with gardening, landscaping, hopefully bee keeping, and my attempts to convince the mayor of my city to allow backyard chickens.  And maybe miniature milk cows.  Seriously, these guys are cute!  But lets think small for now.

This blog is primarily for my own reference, to chart and record my plans, projects, trials and failures, and successes.  But I hope that anyone who comes across it will be helped by the information and experiences I record here.

My overall goal is:

To use the land I have in the most ethical way I can, keeping in mind the environment, food quality and to some extent quantity, soil health, health of insects (especially bees! but not overlooking many others), and beauty.

I grew up on a farm, and my parents began to farm organic while I was in my early teens.  They grew (and still do) a variety of crops, experimenting with techniques such as no till farming, intensive grazing, crop rotation beyond the typical examples, and more.

I grew up surrounded by  a diversity of farm animals, including pigs, to cows, chickens, goats, a lama, ducks, sheep, horses, and a donkey.  And usually about 25 cats minimum.  In my city house, that number is down to 2.  And they have no chance of increasing that number by any of their efforts (sorry guys!).  Also, one dog, two adorable human children, and one sexy man.

I currently live in a Canadian Prairie City with a population over 275,000.  Our 500 square foot house is on, if I remember correctly, a 25 by 150 foot lot (note to self: fact check that).  We are within walking distance to downtown (if you consider 30 minutes walking distance, which we do in the summer.  In the winters, we usually change our opinion on that).

What can you expect to find on this blog?

I'll post my own projects and dreams for my yard, research and books I've come across on related topics, how to articles  and nature journal entries, (showcasing different insects, plants etc, that I come across in my yard projects and walks).  I also hope to showcase farmers and gardeners in the area, and share what I learn from them.

Until my next entry then!

Alanna