2020 Lessons Learned

Last year was the first year we transitioned from mostly veg to mostly growing flowers  It was meant to be an experiment, with the goal of being able to give away about 20 blooms. I loved flowers, and thought it would be a good time. Little did I know how many other people would also enjoy our blooms! We far surpassed our 20 bouquet goal  at the summers end, and were able to sell several as well for next year seeds. It was then that we started toying with the idea of making this official. 

I've been gardening for about 4 years now. In the process, I've learned quite a bit. From the obvious lessons of making sure my puppy didn't get near my seedlings (she killed atleast 3 trays worth last year.) to the less obvious- landscape fabric, if the stems are touching it, can fry the plant as it gets too hot. The past four y ears have offered lessons almost daily.

Here are a few basic lessons that I'm learning are worth their weight:

1. The soil, and the sun matter. Perhaps it seems obvious, but I somehow thought that seeds could grow just about anywhere. I didn't realize that the when, and where matter just as much as the 'what' you're growing.  Two years ago we decided to fill our beds entirely with plant based compost from a local farmer. He grew all his veg in it, and we wanted to source some good compost after getting a very sad report of our soil from the NH extension offices. I tried to skimp on this for many years and for many years had a skimpy harvest. What you grow really does depend on what it's grown in. 

I think filling the raised beds with compost was the most important decision we made that year.  Our gardens were prolific! We had such a good garden year. This year we grew in the same soil, and the beds were less prolific, which was a good lesson that you can't skimp out year to year. So this year, I've already put my order for more compost in. Amending the soil may be the most important thing a gardener can do. 

2. Start small. The best garden is the garden that can be maintained. Its far to easy to become overwhelmed with the todo list. In the early days of the year we get ansty and buy more seeds than we can ever manage to care for properly. I've learned each year to scale it back a bit. And if come jan/feb, I start to remember ALL THE SEEDS I forgot to buy, I remind my husband to say these words "No. More. Seeds." 

I've since learned to just sit down with what I've already ordered and plan that out. Even if I plan it out time and time again, each time I get more familiar with the needs of each set of seeds. Come planting time, rather than feeling overwhelmed, I feel ready. Start small. Grow slow. And enjoy those blooms!

3. Let the learning be worth the weight- At the end of the year, I revisit our goals. There have been some years where our harvest wasn't nearly as lush as I hoped it would be. But the learning always is greater than what I could have hoped. Learning how to garden sustainably, to work with the land and my neighbors its sitting in (looking at you groundhog and chipmunks) have been a practice that has grown me in humor, compassion, and grit. Even if the harvest isn't what we hoped, measure the learning. 

 Also, be mindful of comparing yourself to fellow farmer/gardeners. One practice I have learned to do, particularly when I'm feeling green with envy at how prolific their gardens are, is scroll back and see just how far those gardeners have come. Most of those amazing instagramers have been working at this for years. YEARS. Be mindful to look at things critically and with this all in mind. 

4. Some practical advice: Buy seeds early. They often go quick. Last year I bought most of mine before the new year and I was grateful as I found so many of my favorite seeds sold out come January. Great places for seeds are Bakers Creek Seeds, Johnny Seeds, Floret, and others. 

5. Expect Failure, then celebrate the successes. Gardening is a hard hobby. It comes with a lot of failure and a lot of recalculating. An entire crop can be wiped out by insects or storms. It definitely has taught me to hold things loosely and hope for the best. While its a hobby filled with failure, the victory is so so sweet (both literally and figuratively!)  Fail Boldly!