GETTING READY TO GROW!

Spring is coming gardeners!

I can't wait, but I'm still glad that I have more time. I've got seedlings to start, gardens to plan, and bins and bins of seeds to sort through. I should probably do a few germination tests too, and get a few grow lights set up.

LET'S GROW!

Like many gardeners, homesteaders, and other people all around the world, we too like to grow some of our own food. Not only is it much more cost effective than purchasing produce, but there is a certain rewarding aspect to it too. After all, you are truly reaping what you've sown. You are enjoying the fruit of your labor. Plus, you are getting a delicious, edible return on your investment, and there is certainly something to be said for that.

My journey into the world of gardening was slow, and it wasn't really until after I married Hive account@mama-pepper and we began having Hive account@little-peppers that I actually "dug in" and began seriously gardening. At first it was mostly just hot peppers, but soon I realized that I needed to grow something else for my family to eat, and we have been branching out ever since. Now, it has become part of our lifestyle, and growing our own organic, healthy edibles is part of what we do.

With the move from Wisconsin to Arkansas, there came a lot of adjustments. Now we are closer to the equator so we have hotter summers and milder winters. Just watching the plants begin to green up already is exciting, because soon we will be planting again. It always seems that there are more plants that I would like to grow than the ones that I actually do, and my seeds supplies testify to that.

With the move south, we have also been given an opportunity to grow some varieties of fruits and vegetables that just would make it up in Wisconsin, so part of our recent efforts have focused on exploring some of our new possibilities. We've enjoyed a few new plants and have some more on our list to try this year. While we like eating all sorts of things, it is the plants that produce the most and thrive the best that are most beneficial to grow.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?

For all of you gardeners out there, what are some of your favorite garden plants to grow. Some of our new favorites are the Chinese Red Noodle Bean and the Kiwano - AKA African Horned Jelly Melon. They have been such a blessing to us that we have recommended them to others for two years now and we even gave away a lot of free seeds.

For those of you who have not started gardening yet, I'll let you in on a secret. If you plant certain seeds, they'll give you food! I know it sounds simple, but that is the main reason that I garden. If we didn't end up with anything to eat, then I wouldn't bother. Around here we've certainly got mouths to feed, and gardening is our favorite way to do it!

I know that a lot of people may not have a lot of room, you should take a look at steemians like Hive account@future24. He gardens on his balcony in Germany and get's to enjoy harvesting his own plants. If you've got room for a pot, then you've got room for a garden, it just may not be a big garden. Personally, I'd at least suggest that you give it a try sometime. For us, it's worth it!