You reap what you sow...at least I hope!

Yesterday, as the mass snow fall we got this past weekend began to thaw, I started to feel the urge to get my indoor seedlings started. I started my first tray in a 72 peat disc Jiffy "mini" greenhouse tray now sitting on top of a Hydrofarm heat mat to aid germination in my office. I started mostly peppers, herbs, eggplants and a few exotic tomato seeds that will need 8 weeks before the last frost. Granted, this will put most of my seedlings at about mid-May which may not be past the last Ohio frosts. I am thinking that I will do several batches of seedlings spaced 1-2 weeks apart to be safe.

I still have a two trays of mixed and Cubanelle peppers in the backyard since January that I have winter sown per instructions at http://www.Wintersown.org. Per this website, you can basically start your seedlings in the dead of winter, put them outside and then let the seeds germinate as nature dictates it. However, I am fearful that the recent rain/freeze/thaw/snow "Stormageddon" cycle is really going to test my efforts this year in winter sowing.

Speaking of Wintersown.org, they generously send out shared/donated seeds to folks each year by SAS request. I got a few tomato seeds and a huge cache of flowers seeds to winter sow, including wildflowers native to the Northeastern United States. (Wintersown is located in upstate New York.) Since I just bought the house this past year, I haven't planted anything ornamental including any trees so the flower seeds/seedlings may come in handy in late spring.

Let's face it - I'm getting antsy to start digging up the backyard to plant. Come on, warm weather!

Welcome!

Welcome to my garden blog...

There are many garden blogs out there...but this one is mine and slightly more militant than the next. You see, I garden for a number of reasons - political, spiritual and practical. I'm not your sweet Aunt Ida planting cucumbers just because they taste good...I'm a suburban/urban garden warrior that wants to put a grinding halt to the growing US dependence on foreign food sources, local poverty/hunger and further damage to our environment - one small "farm" plot or patio garden at a time!

So, sit back and enjoy the on-going saga of how I am turning my suburban home's small acreage into a viable, multi-season garden...or die trying...