Dig Deeper

It is toasty warm in the greenhouse. The kind of warm that goes right to your core and reassures you that after another long winter, spring is really here.

There is something truly magical about planting and nurturing seedlings. Time becomes irrelevant as I sit in the backyard greenhouse during cool spring evenings with my wife, a little space heater providing warmth to our wintered souls. We have been known to spend hours repotting sprouts just to look up and realize the sun has set and for a brief moment, we had disconnected with time. Feeling the soil, taking care to gently transfer the seedlings, and slowly watering the “big boy pots,”… Some may think of these tasks as work, but for me it carries a familiar feeling of wonder and magic like getting lost inside your favorite book.

At our home we still start many of our flower seeds indoors, as well as pepper seeds and tomato seeds. When the evening greenhouse temps are finally warm enough it is GO TIME!

Our home gardening adventures evolve through each growing season. With every passing year, we seem to say the same two things.  “Let’s plant fewer seeds” and “Where can we expand the gardens?” We learn about soil nutrients, watering, crop rotation, weeds and wildlife “snackers”. 

  

Over the past two years, I have begun to experience a small but increasing sense of community because of my growing endeavors. I do not sell plants or produce, but instead look for ways to use everything that I grow. It brings me joy to give plants to a friend or family member, and the reward is even greater when that plant inspires others to find their own passion in gardening. I now barter vegetable plants for campfire wood with a dear friend and share weekly produce with a neighbor in exchange for lawn maintenance and watering my gardens when needed. It is worth all that work it takes to grow Sweety Peppers from seed when I see the faces of our neighbor’s granddaughters, reacting in glee to a handful of fresh peppers.

This year I am planning to grow some extra vegetables to share with local summer school students and their families. I am always looking for new ways to share what I grow and love with the world around me.

Here’s to a new gardening season of wonder and adventure!

Liz Sheehan
Warehouse Clerk, Harris Seeds/GardenTrends