Go Green for Valentine's Day

When I was growing up, my mom used to send me a valentine's day card in the mail with the sentiment "from Guess Who"  Thinking back on that - what a sweet thing for her to do.  What a great way for her to let me know she was thinking of me, and would mail me something even though we lived in the same house.

Everyone likes to get mail!

If you want to show someone you care about them this February 14th - send them a card, and include something they can plant and watch grow.  For those of us in the northeastern corner of the United States, March is the month when we start tomato and pepper seeds inside on a sunny windowsill.  I've posted earlier about the simple steps to start seeds, so why not send a Valentine's Card with a few seed packets in it?  Then, your beloved can grow their own fresh, organic, and local food or flowers that they will enjoy the rest of the year. 

If your beloved is an avid gardener, then consider a selection of seeds - like this Garden Seed Collection or a Gift Certificate from a seed company.  Alternatively, you could sign them up to get fresh and local vegetables from a farm through a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).  A great source for CSAs near you is Local Harvest, a national web site that has CSAs, Farms, and seed sellers like Frog Pond Gardens too.  Even if you don't send seeds, send something and have the best day ever!

2010 - The year to go Organic

So you've made your new year's resolutions (mine is to be more patient, something I've already fallen down on), and you want to exercise more and eat better.  I have the solution!  Start your own garden and grow your own vegetables.  Whether you are in the city and grow in containers or create a 4' by 8' garden bed in your side yard - or something even bigger, you CAN grow seeds.  Here is a picture of some seeds in my planting area - a sunny south facing window.

Urban and suburban gardening is becoming hip, and there are lots of resources out there to help you.  One of my favorites is You Grow Girl.  If you want to buy seeds, there are a lot of great resources, my own little seed shop on Etsy Frog Pond Gardens or any of the EtsyPHAT team members (search etsyPHAT) have good, chemical free seeds that are "hand grown".  My web site is Frog Pond Gardens. 


There are also a ton of amazing commercial seed companies out there, including:

Territorial Seed specializing in seeds for the Pacific Northwest
High Mowing Seeds in Vermont
Johnny's Selected Seeds in Maine
Seed Saver Exchange in Iowa, THE leader in preserving heirloom varieties

To get started here are the simple steps:
1) buy seed, review the instructions for growing (should you start inside, or plant directly outside when soil is warm enough)
2) to start inside -
  a)    plant seeds in a container (can be as simple as a frozen food container, yogurt containers, or other small container);
  b)   cover with plastic wrap or plastic cover (try an empty plastic bottle with the bottom cut off) that will keep the seeds moist
  c)   watch them grow!
  d)   transplant into the garden when warm enough
3) Seeds commonly started inside include:  salad greens, swiss chard, tomatoes, greens, green and hot peppers, and many others.  Generally, plant inside one or two months ahead of planting time.  For example, if you plant in May, start seeds inside in early March. 

Et tu Blogger

Yes - a Blog for Frog Pond Gardens...I've joined the throngs who have something to say. I'm not sure I DO have anything useful to say, but that isn't stopping me.

The purpose of this Blog is to share information about Organic & Heirloom gardening, saving seeds, and growing (perhaps even propagating) your own plants.

The plan is to provide useful and organized information - on this site, and with links to the wonderful sites that already exist.

There will be opportunity for readers to jump into gardening by ordering seeds from my shop on Etsy at www.etsy.com/shop/frogpondgardens.com as well!