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Garden time is coming
- Thread starter Jimi
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Ready to explore a year in the life of an herbalist?
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we just try jimi tats all we can do my friend
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Sowing a plastic world: microplastics from BioSolids (Marketed as Natural Fertilizer) Can Carry Dangerous Pollutants Into the Air
Sowing a Plastic Planet: How Microplastics in Agrochemicals Are Affecting Our Soils, Our Food, and Our Future (May 2022) - Center for International Environmental Law
The increasing use of intentionally added microplastics in agrochemicals presents a threat to the environment, soils, and food supplies.
www.ciel.org
The top one....reminded me of my Aloe plant....poor thing, it's been with me for over 17 yrs. Been repotted, has almost died several times, but some how it has survived. The weirdest thing is, I moved it to the coldest part of the house, in to the shower in master bathroom and it's been the happiest it's ever been, even during the winter time. It has to be from all the humidity from the hot water and gets good sunlight when the sun is in the west sky. Though, when it was in the hall way it had good sunlight from the south, but not enough humidity/steam. Now I know it's secrets....humidity/steam and sunlight (duhhh)
How to Transplant Plants Without Killing Them
Do you know what bioSolids are? I posted an article on that in the health section before I started my health thread, BioSolids is just a kind word for BioSludgeSowing a plastic world: microplastics from BioSolids (Marketed as Natural Fertilizer) Can Carry Dangerous Pollutants Into the Air
Sowing a Plastic Planet: How Microplastics in Agrochemicals Are Affecting Our Soils, Our Food, and Our Future (May 2022) - Center for International Environmental Law
The increasing use of intentionally added microplastics in agrochemicals presents a threat to the environment, soils, and food supplies.
We understand—there’s a lot of conflicting information out there, right? This is why we contacted Grow Your Own Vegetables Friend Kim Murphy, who is a certified plant-based health coach, Amazon best-selling author, and founder of Simply Plant Based Kitchen, where she helps people transform their health through the power of whole plants. This month, Kim is hosting the Plant Based Beginner’s Bootcamp, an INCREDIBLE 5-day challenge that we thought you would enjoy. It’s a great way to get started with a plant-based diet, and Kim’s offering it to the Grow Your Own Vegetables Community absolutely FREE! 
 Click HERE to Join the 5-Day Challenge During this challenge, which begins January 29th, you have access to daily masterclasses to learn the critical truths of how a plant-based diet helps you to improve your health and even lose weight. You also receive a complimentary Challenge Workbook and membership to a private Facebook group to speak with others considering a plant-based diet. There is also a daily live cooking demo so that you can see how easy and delicious this lifestyle can be. This bootcamp offers so many great tips for saving time, saving money, and making a plant-based diet simple and doable for almost anyone. Kim's recipes are simple and made with ingredients you can find at almost any grocery store OR grow yourself and take LESS than 30 minutes! Don’t worry if you can’t join live— replays are available each day. However, live attendees have the chance to win great prizes and ask Kim their questions directly. So try to attend as many live classes as possible. Click below to grab your complimentary ticket before January 29th. Space is limited, and you don’t want to miss this event if you have ever considered a plant-based diet. 
A plant a day keeps the doctor away!  Grow Your Own Vegetables Team |
Jimi, there has never been a more important time than NOW to focus on what makes YOU happy. Activities like gardening help reduce your stress and improve your mental disposition. So, gardening not only provides you with fresh healthy foods to eat but benefits your mental health, too!
We have a special event coming up that expands on the mental benefits of gardening entitled the Joyful Gardener Docuseries.
This complimentary 8-Day Online Event occurring February 20th - 27th shows you how to grow the FRESHEST, most nutrient-rich foods right at home and experience the wonderful JOY of gardening at the same time.
YES! Save me a spot for the Joyful Gardener Docuseries
We have a special event coming up that expands on the mental benefits of gardening entitled the Joyful Gardener Docuseries.
This complimentary 8-Day Online Event occurring February 20th - 27th shows you how to grow the FRESHEST, most nutrient-rich foods right at home and experience the wonderful JOY of gardening at the same time.
YES! Save me a spot for the Joyful Gardener Docuseries
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Hey Jim We all know that growing our own fresh food is great for our health, but we often overlook the mental health benefits it brings. Think about the happiness you feel when your cute pet eagerly greets you, or the joy you experience when your favorite season arrives. That same feeling of joy can be found when you spend time with the plants in your garden. Watching your plants thrive and produce beautiful vegetables can bring a smile to your face and fill your heart with happiness! If you're not currently experiencing this joy or facing challenges in your garden, then the new docuseries from Grow Your Own Vegetables titled The Joyful Gardener is certainly a must-watch for you! Register now to watch this 8-part online series for F.REE. The series streams from February 20th - 27th, and will show you how to grow the freshest, most nutrient-rich foods right in your own home while experiencing the pure joy of gardening. Here’s a breakdown of the episodes to look forward to:  Episode 1: Making the Most of Your Local Climate Episode 2: Healthy Plants Start with Healthy SOIL! Episode 3: Making Compost & Compost Teas Episode 4: Small Plot Growing & Packing In Plants Episode 5: Fitting Gardening into Your Lifestyle Episode 6: Simplifying Irrigation Systems Episode 7: Harvesting & Pruning to Improve Yields Episode 8: Pests, Diseases & Weeds: Show them who’s the boss!Activities like gardening not only provide you with fresh, healthy food but also have the power to reduce stress and improve your mental well-being. And now is the perfect time to focus on what brings you happiness… and you just might find it in your garden! Can’t wait to discover how to grow vegetables that fit your lifestyle and your local conditions? Get your F.REE ticket now to watch The Joyful Gardener from February 20th - 27th! To your health and happiness, The Cause Health team |
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While I love the downtime of January and February to plan the garden, buy seeds, and dream about the perfect (ha!) garden season ahead, there is actually a thing called “winter gardening.”
No, it’s not chipping through frosted soil with numb fingers. Thankfully!!
It’s starting frost tolerant seeds in milk jugs and then setting them outside to slowly sprout and grow.
It’s super easy because after planting, you only need to check them every so often and open the jugs as spring starts heating up before planting in the garden.
The two things I appreciate most about this technique are:
Curious to know more? I’ve written a whole article with all the details you need to get started - and it’s not too late, but you do need to get to it asap!
Even More Winter Garden Ideas
No, it’s not chipping through frosted soil with numb fingers. Thankfully!!
It’s starting frost tolerant seeds in milk jugs and then setting them outside to slowly sprout and grow.
It’s super easy because after planting, you only need to check them every so often and open the jugs as spring starts heating up before planting in the garden.
The two things I appreciate most about this technique are:
- It saves indoor seed starting space. I only have so much room under the lights and growing the cold weather crops outside frees up space for more flowers and warm weather crops.
- There is no traditional hardening off needed - yay! That’s my least favorite part of growing plants from seeds, so this is a big positive for me. You only need to gradually open the lids as the weather warms.
Curious to know more? I’ve written a whole article with all the details you need to get started - and it’s not too late, but you do need to get to it asap!
Milk Jug Winter Sowing
Even More Winter Garden Ideas
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Hey Jimi,
This week on the farm has been all hands on deck to harvest and process our willow cuttings. Willows indeed are a remarkable and multi-faceted genus of trees and shrubs, bringing a wealth of benefits to any landscape they're part of. Their versatility and value extend across aesthetic, ecological, practical, and medicinal dimensions, making them a cornerstone species in sustainable and regenerative practices. We first started growing willows several years ago, and love them for a variety of reasons:
Incorporating willows into a landscape not only enhances its beauty and biodiversity but also brings these multifaceted benefits, contributing to a sustainable and resilient ecosystem. Whether for their beauty, practicality, or ecological role, willows stand out as a valuable addition to any homestead or garden. We offer a range of varieties, but our favorite are our winter glory (beautiful catkins for show) Rams horn- unique and decorative leaves, and Flame (absolutely stunning in the snow. Also checkout Rubykins, which has tiny beautiful catkins. For our florists and flower farmers, we have limited amounts of the coveted Mt. Aso pink willow as well!
They are all available in our shop and will be shipping soon!
This week on the farm has been all hands on deck to harvest and process our willow cuttings. Willows indeed are a remarkable and multi-faceted genus of trees and shrubs, bringing a wealth of benefits to any landscape they're part of. Their versatility and value extend across aesthetic, ecological, practical, and medicinal dimensions, making them a cornerstone species in sustainable and regenerative practices. We first started growing willows several years ago, and love them for a variety of reasons:
- Ornamental and Aesthetic Value: Willows are visually stunning, with their graceful form, delicate leaves, and the gentle sway of their branches in the breeze. Many are prized in the floral world for their catkins or unique ornamental shapes and colors like fantail and curly willows.
- Basket-making and Craftsmanship: The flexibility and strength of willow branches have been harnessed for centuries in the craft of basket-making. This traditional skill continues to be valued for its sustainability and the beauty of the handcrafted products.
- Natural Barriers and Windbreaks: Willows grow rapidly and densely, making them excellent for creating natural barriers or windbreaks. They protect soil from erosion, shield smaller plants from harsh winds, and enhance privacy and noise reduction. They even can help dry up wet areas of the yard, we recommend the weeping willow for that use.
- Biomass Production: The quick growth rate of willows makes them an excellent choice for biomass production. They can be harvested on short rotations, providing a renewable source of material for energy production or organic matter for composting.
- Support for Pollinators: As early bloomers, willows are crucial for bees and other pollinators, offering a vital source of pollen and nectar early in the season when other food sources are scarce.
- Medicinal Properties: The medicinal benefits of willows, particularly the salicin in their bark, have been recognized for centuries. This natural remedy has paved the way for modern medicines and continues to be valued for its anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties.
- Rooting Hormone Production: The production of rooting hormones is another unique aspect of willows. 'Willow water' or 'willow tea', made by soaking the branches, can be used to encourage root growth in other plants, enhancing propagation efforts and gardening success.
Incorporating willows into a landscape not only enhances its beauty and biodiversity but also brings these multifaceted benefits, contributing to a sustainable and resilient ecosystem. Whether for their beauty, practicality, or ecological role, willows stand out as a valuable addition to any homestead or garden. We offer a range of varieties, but our favorite are our winter glory (beautiful catkins for show) Rams horn- unique and decorative leaves, and Flame (absolutely stunning in the snow. Also checkout Rubykins, which has tiny beautiful catkins. For our florists and flower farmers, we have limited amounts of the coveted Mt. Aso pink willow as well!
They are all available in our shop and will be shipping soon!
5 Reasons Why You Should Wait to Start Seeds
5 Reasons Why You Should Wait to Start Seeds
We know, as January ends, spring feels like it’s just around the corner—but the thing is, it’s not. Unless you live somewhere tropical or you have a garden in the Southern Hemisphere, starting your seeds now could cause you a lot of problems in a month or two. Maybe your Seeds ‘n Such seeds just...
seedsnsuch.com
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Making the Most of Your Local Climate
Jimi, the seeds you purchase are the essence of the nourishment that you wish to receive from nature's abundance.
And nature is incredibly abundant!
But if you're new to growing, understanding the differences between seed types can be really confusing.
How concerned do I need to be about GMO seeds? What’s the difference between hybrids and GMOs? What about hybrids vs open pollinated? What makes a seed “heirloom” anyway??
These are just a few of the many questions that you may be asking yourself. It's easy to end up down a rabbit hole of misunderstanding.
That’s why we’re excited to share our newest quick eGuide: Types of Seeds
Download your FREE Copy of the Types of Seeds eGuide HERE
GYOV Garden Trainer Crystal Meserole created this eGuide to help demystify the process of purchasing seeds. In it, you learn about different seed types, how they overlap, and where some of the confusion lies.
You also learn the lingo of seed shopping:
Conventional vs organic
Open pollinated
True to type
Patented seed
Heirloom
Hybrid
GMOs (yuck!)
Click HERE to Download the Types of Seeds eGuide
When you understand the differences between seed types, you can make choices that are more in line with your values.
Save your Types of Seeds eGuide in the folder where you keep all your garden goodies! That way, you’ll have easy access to it whenever you’re shopping for seeds or need a refresher.
To planting a future you can be proud of!
Grow Your Own Vegetables Team
And nature is incredibly abundant!
But if you're new to growing, understanding the differences between seed types can be really confusing.
How concerned do I need to be about GMO seeds? What’s the difference between hybrids and GMOs? What about hybrids vs open pollinated? What makes a seed “heirloom” anyway??
These are just a few of the many questions that you may be asking yourself. It's easy to end up down a rabbit hole of misunderstanding.
That’s why we’re excited to share our newest quick eGuide: Types of Seeds
Download your FREE Copy of the Types of Seeds eGuide HERE
GYOV Garden Trainer Crystal Meserole created this eGuide to help demystify the process of purchasing seeds. In it, you learn about different seed types, how they overlap, and where some of the confusion lies.
You also learn the lingo of seed shopping:
Conventional vs organic Open pollinated True to type Patented seed Heirloom Hybrid GMOs (yuck!) Click HERE to Download the Types of Seeds eGuide When you understand the differences between seed types, you can make choices that are more in line with your values.
Save your Types of Seeds eGuide in the folder where you keep all your garden goodies! That way, you’ll have easy access to it whenever you’re shopping for seeds or need a refresher.
To planting a future you can be proud of!
Grow Your Own Vegetables Team 
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Your urban farming hack for this week is how to grow perfect tomatoes.
If you’ve already grown tomatoes or tried sun-ripened tomatoes fresh from the vine, you know how superior homegrown tomatoes are to those bought at the store.
To be honest… I can hardly stand the taste of store bought tomatoes now that I know how juicy and delicious homegrown tomatoes are.
Check out this article from Jason Johns on Growing Tomatoes from side shoots.
And while you're preparing to plant your tomatoes, bookmark this oven roasted tomato soup recipe for your harvest!
Tomatoes are the perfect crop to grow at home because they also do well in containers. Ready, set, grow!
P.S. Tomatoes are only the beginning! With a permaculture mindset, you can take your growing beyond the garden and apply it to other areas of your life. We have had the privilege of preserving an incredible online permaculture course taught by Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden, that will change the way you connect with the land and the world (and it's more affordable than a Permaculture Design Course). Click here to learn more and enroll in Creating Your Permaculture City.
If you’ve already grown tomatoes or tried sun-ripened tomatoes fresh from the vine, you know how superior homegrown tomatoes are to those bought at the store.
To be honest… I can hardly stand the taste of store bought tomatoes now that I know how juicy and delicious homegrown tomatoes are.
Check out this article from Jason Johns on Growing Tomatoes from side shoots.
And while you're preparing to plant your tomatoes, bookmark this oven roasted tomato soup recipe for your harvest!
Tomatoes are the perfect crop to grow at home because they also do well in containers. Ready, set, grow!
P.S. Tomatoes are only the beginning! With a permaculture mindset, you can take your growing beyond the garden and apply it to other areas of your life. We have had the privilege of preserving an incredible online permaculture course taught by Toby Hemenway, author of Gaia's Garden, that will change the way you connect with the land and the world (and it's more affordable than a Permaculture Design Course). Click here to learn more and enroll in Creating Your Permaculture City.
Jimi, thanks for registering for our upcoming Joyful Gardener Docuseries! We are excited to put the JOY back into gardening!
In the meantime, we want to offer you our Your First Step to Grow ORGANIC Vegetables eGuide. This FREE eGuide is designed to help you discover your garden personality and inner Garden Hero!
While you’re there, don’t forget to watch the video “Prioritize What is Important to YOU.” In this video, you learn the first simple step that successful gardeners do. You don’t want to miss this!
Please share what Garden Personality represents your gardening style and goals in our wonderful Facebook Community Group HERE. Not a member yet? Join HERE and share!
Be sure that you have marked your calendar
for February 20-27. The Joyful Gardener Docuseries is a don’t miss event!
Thanks for being a part of our garden community—you are a-maize-ing!
The Grow Your Own Vegetables Team
PS—Tell your gardening friends about this, too!
They can go to JoyfulGardenerDocuseries.com to grab their Premier Pass to the Joyful Gardener Docuseries. Please feel free to share this on your social media as well. 
Together, we can expand the “grow your own vegetables” revolution!
In the meantime, we want to offer you our Your First Step to Grow ORGANIC Vegetables eGuide. This FREE eGuide is designed to help you discover your garden personality and inner Garden Hero!
While you’re there, don’t forget to watch the video “Prioritize What is Important to YOU.” In this video, you learn the first simple step that successful gardeners do. You don’t want to miss this!
Please share what Garden Personality represents your gardening style and goals in our wonderful Facebook Community Group HERE. Not a member yet? Join HERE and share!
Be sure that you have marked your calendar
for February 20-27. The Joyful Gardener Docuseries is a don’t miss event!Thanks for being a part of our garden community—you are a-maize-ing!
The Grow Your Own Vegetables Team PS—Tell your gardening friends about this, too!
They can go to JoyfulGardenerDocuseries.com to grab their Premier Pass to the Joyful Gardener Docuseries. Please feel free to share this on your social media as well. Together, we can expand the “grow your own vegetables” revolution!
Why Our Soil is Dying and What Does this Mean for You
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How to Plant Your Garden According to the Moon Signs
How to Plant Your Garden According to the Moon Signs
You may scoff at astrology, but there are plenty of gardeners who swear by planting by the moon signs. Old-time publishers like Llewellyn’s and the Farmer’s Almanac used astrology as a basis for their calendars on when to plant and harvest certain crops. These resources are still popular today...
seedsnsuch.com
Are you excited, Jimi, for the upcoming Joyful Gardener Docuseries. It is going to be THE garden event of the year to help you overcome any obstacles standing in the way of growing an abundance of fresh vegetables and herbs for your dinner table AND maintain the JOY of gardening, too! 
Our goal is to ensure that you have great resources at your disposal—whether you are new to gardening or looking to continue to grow your garden knowledge. Here is a FREE eGuide that is one of our favorites: Double Your Vegetables in Half the Garden Space. This eGuide contains the 5 keys
to a successful vegetable and herb garden.
While you’re there, don’t forget to watch our video “You May Find MORE Gardening Space” that shares how to grow the vegetables you need in a space as small as a medium-sized car!
See you soon when you turnip for the Joyful Gardener Docuseries!
The Grow Your Own Vegetables Team
PS—Tell your gardening friends about this, too! They can go to JoyfulGardenerDocuseries.com to grab their Premier Pass to the Joyful Gardener Docuseries. Please feel free to share this on your social media as well.
Together, we can expand the “grow your own vegetables” revolution!
Our goal is to ensure that you have great resources at your disposal—whether you are new to gardening or looking to continue to grow your garden knowledge. Here is a FREE eGuide that is one of our favorites: Double Your Vegetables in Half the Garden Space. This eGuide contains the 5 keys
to a successful vegetable and herb garden.
While you’re there, don’t forget to watch our video “You May Find MORE Gardening Space” that shares how to grow the vegetables you need in a space as small as a medium-sized car!
See you soon when you turnip for the Joyful Gardener Docuseries!
The Grow Your Own Vegetables Team PS—Tell your gardening friends about this, too!
They can go to JoyfulGardenerDocuseries.com to grab their Premier Pass to the Joyful Gardener Docuseries. Please feel free to share this on your social media as well. Together, we can expand the “grow your own vegetables” revolution!
I just thought this was interesting
How long do you think it takes to get a cow from grain fed to fully grass-fed?
On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Tim Joseph, the pioneering founder of Maple Hill Creamery, the largest 100% regenerative, grass-fed organic dairy farm in the U.S. After leaving his corporate job, Tim positioned Maple Hill at the forefront of the dairy industry, championing grass-fed organic dairy and regenerative farming practices.
Tune in to hear all about Tim and Maple Hill’s dairy farming journey.
How long do you think it takes to get a cow from grain fed to fully grass-fed?
On this episode of the Thriving Farmer Podcast, Michael is joined by Tim Joseph, the pioneering founder of Maple Hill Creamery, the largest 100% regenerative, grass-fed organic dairy farm in the U.S. After leaving his corporate job, Tim positioned Maple Hill at the forefront of the dairy industry, championing grass-fed organic dairy and regenerative farming practices.
Tune in to hear all about Tim and Maple Hill’s dairy farming journey.
hi jimmi hope all is going well, pass on a hug to jeanAre you excited, Jimi, for the upcoming Joyful Gardener Docuseries. It is going to be THE garden event of the year to help you overcome any obstacles standing in the way of growing an abundance of fresh vegetables and herbs for your dinner table AND maintain the JOY of gardening, too!
Our goal is to ensure that you have great resources at your disposal—whether you are new to gardening or looking to continue to grow your garden knowledge. Here is a FREE eGuide that is one of our favorites: Double Your Vegetables in Half the Garden Space. This eGuide contains the 5 keys
While you’re there, don’t forget to watch our video “You May Find MORE Gardening Space” that shares how to grow the vegetables you need in a space as small as a medium-sized car!
See you soon when you turnip for the Joyful Gardener Docuseries!
PS—Tell your gardening friends about this, too!
Together, we can expand the “grow your own vegetables” revolution!
Thank you my friend
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Did you know that the USDA recently updated the plant hardiness zones for the first time in over a decade?! The new map shows that half of the country has shifted to a warmer zone.
But what does this mean for you? It means you may be able to grow plants that you couldn't grow before. Maybe. Click here to see if your hardiness zone has changed.
But what does this mean for you? It means you may be able to grow plants that you couldn't grow before. Maybe. Click here to see if your hardiness zone has changed.
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Just so folks know... The new USDA map only affect perennial plants (trees, shrubs, plants that stay planted over winter, etc.) not your annuals. Annuals you still need to plant based on their frost tolerance and heat tolerance.
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For those not familiar with Dorothy Parker, she was a writer/poet who founded The Algonquin Round Table, a group of writers that met daily for lunch at the Algonquin Hotel in NYC. And yes, this really is going somewhere gardening related...well, kind of. A little horticultural humor anyway.
According to the story I read, the Round Table would sometimes play a game where someone in the group would throw out a word and the other writers would have to come up with a sentence using that word in an original way. One day the word given to Dorothy Parker was "horticulture." (see, told you this was gardening related)
It's possible you have heard the sentence she came up with before, but without knowing the origin. Her sentence was:
"You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think."
According to the story I read, the Round Table would sometimes play a game where someone in the group would throw out a word and the other writers would have to come up with a sentence using that word in an original way. One day the word given to Dorothy Parker was "horticulture." (see, told you this was gardening related)
It's possible you have heard the sentence she came up with before, but without knowing the origin. Her sentence was:
"You can lead a horticulture, but you can't make her think."