April 1st--A Season for Growth and Change

I don’t know why but a few days ago was a “blah” day.  It was rainy and cold outside.  We still had leftovers so there was no need, or excitement, to cook anything.  I even fell asleep on the couch.  Can you believe I haven’t really napped since all this #StayHome business?  I kinda felt like I had wasted my day today.  I needed to feel like I did something worthwhile, I needed growth and progression, I needed to make a change.

So I did.

On this particular day I'm going to add to my herb plants by growing something small but delicious.  I'm using inexpensive styrofoam containers to start my seeds. 
I try not to throw things away if I know I can put it to good use.  And I did!  I used them to start my tomato seeds.  I don't know why but it makes me feel really good to recycle and reuse.

 First, you need some decent putting soil.  I bought four bags about  two weeks ago when Walmart didn’t have the other things in stock that I needed.  So I loaded up on soil.  If they don’t have what I need, I’ll grow it.  If only you could grow toilet paper...

Now I know it seems like a no brainier to just plant seeds in soil and be done with it.  After all, they just need water and sunlight right?  But what I didn’t know is that they need to have drainage.  So to plant seeds in four containers, I actually needed eight containers—four to plant the seeds and four to catch the excess water.  No drainage means you could get root rot, which not only stinks but also kills your plant.  So you can either drill, poke or cut a hole in the soil container to drain and release excess water.

THEN you can fill  it about 2/3 with soil.

Next, you’ll wasn’t to read the seed package to see HOW to plant the seeds—planting depth and width apart from each other.  My plan is to plant three seeds in each container.  That way if one or two end up being duds, I’ve still got one more to count on.  They’re so tiny!

Nifai drops them in the soil.

Then we cover the seeds up with 1/4” of soil per package directions.

Nifai takes the next step by putting a marble in each of the empty containers.  Nifai lost my marbles (her her) so we used 1 marble, 2 huge beads and an acorn.  Sometimes you work with what you got.

Then we put the soil containers inside the containers with a marble.  That marble leaves space for drainage if too much water happens to get in with the soil.

Last, we give our little seeds a drink and pray nature helps them fill the measure of their creation.

If money is tight, you don’t have to buy seeds from Walmart.  Use seeds from the food you already eat.  People have done that for millions of years! There’s free dirt right outside your door too.  And if you live in Texas right now, we’ve had an ABUNDANCE of rain lately so take advantage of that while you’re at it.  

Build a garden of your own and you will not regret it.