Seed Organizing Time

My seed orders have arrived and I've sorted the packets into several groups.

• Seeds that will be started indoors such as broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers and so on. They are in order of what needs to be started the soonest down to the latest.
• Things that will be planted early outside such as peas, spinach, lettuce, etc...
• Flower seeds
• Beans, and lots of 'em. Both green and dry (bush and pole)
• Seeds to be planted in our field which includes companion planting of corn, pole beans and vining melons and squashes--it's sort of a loose model of the "3 sisters" Native American style of planting.
• Herbs (kitchen and medicinal) which I need to regroup into those that need to be started indoors and those that can be direct sown.
• Fruit seeds such as kiwi and yellow strawberry.
  

Nearly everything that I have (like 98%) is heirloom or open pollinated seeds. I am growing a wide variety of squash this year so I will not be able to save those seeds but nearly everything else is safe to save for next year.

Once again, Son #3 is chomping at the bit to get started. He's my garden buddy and I am extremely grateful for his help--for which I would not be able to garden without!! Daughter #4 showed a great interest and dedication in helping last year and is eager to get started this year too.

We are going to have to expand the garden space this year for sure. I have so many new varieties to try and lots of old favorites I can't imagine doing without.

My goal for this year is to really delve into hands on learning of medicinal herbs, permaculture and forest gardening (Robert Hart). I so admire the Dervaes family in Pasadena, CA who are urban homesteaders. They have an incredible YouTube video to get you started in this revolutionary way of thinking/living and a variety of other informational videos to whet your growing appetite (pun intended) for hands on information. We have lots more ground to work on our little farm but their weather is better. I'm hoping for greenhouse growing in the near future. I can dream, right?