update on mason jar seed starts–3 months out

Posted by growing grace farm in farming, gardening, homesteading, nature, upcycling and tagged with acorn squash, cucumbers, farm, farming, garden, gardening, mason jars, peppers, plants, seed starts, seedlings, seeds, sprouts, starting seeds, tomatoes, upcycle, upcycling, vegetables April 30, 2013

So back in late January, I got a wild hair to start seeds in all the extra mason jars I have filling up shelves. If you’d like to follow the journey from the beginning, you can read here and here and here. It’s been awhile since I’ve given you an update so I thought I’d check in and give you my overall evaluation of how the mason jars worked this year.

In short, I LOVED THEM!

They were easy to use. They were being upcycled. They did not include plastic that would leach into the soil. They were easy to tote. I could replant sprouts into bigger jars as they grew. Sun could reach all the soil and keep it warm.

And best of all, I could actually watch things grow from seed to sprout, from root to leaf.

As you can see by the photos, all the plants grew well–very hardy. The tomatoes and acorn squash actually required staking bec/ I didn’t want to transplant outside too early.

The two issues I will keep in mind for next year are:

the soil will grow some green stuff (sorry, I don’t know the technical term for it) if it gets too moist
when the plants gr0w an extensive root system, it is harder to pull them out of a small mouth jar–will only use wide moth next year

As for the starts, this is actually the most successful year I’ve had. I’ve raised so many of each variety that I’ve given several away. In early April, I actually decided to go ahead and start some 2nd round seeds so that I can have produce later into the summer/early autumn. I’ve also had problems in the past with bugs eating my cucumber or pepper seedlings when I start outside. Now, I have plants that can hopefully take care of themselves in spite of a few insects that get the munchies.

As you can imagine, I am thrilled! There’s nothin’ I love more than finding another reason to use my mason jars. Just remember to save a few–canning season is right around the corner!

lessons learned: taking down the walls

Posted by growing grace farm in creation, farming, gardening, homesteading, journey, lessons learned, nature, permaculture, spiritual and tagged with creation, farm, farming, garden, gardening, God, meditate, meditation, nature, plants, pray, prayer, stones April 4, 2013

Those of you who follow this blog know how deeply I connect my time on the farm with time spent with God. I believe as human beings we miss so many valuable lessons that can be learned in the simplicity of nature and creation. I also find that gardening and homesteading offer me quiet opportunities to meditate and pray with God. It is in those hushed moments when I learn the most about myself and my relationship with the great Gardener who tends my soul.

In the last couple of years, I have spent time maximizing the growing space in my yard, not only for the purpose of growing more healthy food but also for nurturing native plants. I find that the flat rock borders that I once placed around gardens have either been covered up by mulch or seem to constrict what it is I am trying to do. In the last few days, I have realized that I don’t need those boundaries. God doesn’t keep creation inside a rock wall, why should I?

As I began to remove the large pieces of stone, I realized something. I have grown from a gardener into a homesteader into a farmer and in the process, have let go of some of the “boundaries” that have enclosed me. Creation has taught me that growth happens in its own time, not in stops and starts based on mile markers like educational degrees or professional accolades. Creation likes a little flexibility and artistry, she cannot be confined by fences, stones, trees, or hedges. She winds her away around them or spills over the edge of them and continues to grow and produce.

Creation thinks “outside the box.” While she has a purpose, she’s also a dreamer. She solves problems but takes risks. She works with what she’s got but isn’t afraid to ask for more. She reaches beyond her limitations to continue the journey as set forth that first day the seed was planted.

I am Creation, and so are you. We are part of the garden God is tending to. We can hope and dream, grow and create. We just need to be willing to remove the stones from the wall or open the gate on the fence and grow forth.

indoor mason jar seed starts-6 weeks

Posted by growing grace farm in farming, gardening, homesteading, thrifty thursday and tagged with farming, garden, gardening, indoor gardening, mason jars, nature, planting, plants, seed starting, seeds, vegetables, veggies March 7, 2013

So this week, someone found the blog as she was searching for ideas on starting seeds in mason jars. Well, she found the right place and asked for a follow up so here it is. Thanks, Stephanie!

Given all my kitchen deconstruction and reconstruction, I’ve not shown given the seedlings as much time and attention as I had anticipated. We check in every day when I come in after work, and I’ve been providing enough water and light, but as you will see below, it is time to thin and replant. Please, no judgment, long-time gardeners. The weather’s going to be warm this weekend so I’ll be sittin’ in the sun and given them the space they need.

As you can see, the mason jars have done quite well as seed starting containers. They are by far my favorite. You can’t really go wrong with them except to over water. I did that once, and all I had to do was drain off the extra water. If you are observant, you’ll do fine with recognizing when moisture is needed.

Photos below:

The beans, peas, and squash are really coming along. The squash seeds came from a regular ol’ organic acorn squash from the store. As you can see, the table is very full now compared to seed starting Saturday and the update to seed starting Saturday.

The peppers were my inspiration seeds this year–the pepper seeds that came from a friend’s pepper, and I threw them in some dirt in a clamshell then forgot about ‘em for a month. They sprouted on their own–so grateful. They’re coming along well in the jars.

I started some of my favorite sun-drying tomato seeds that I saved from last summer. I usually get these going too late and end up missing half a summer that could be giving me more tomatoes for drying. This year, I got a jump start by starting early, and I’ll start a new round this weekend.

The carrots are coming along, and I’m hoping that I’ll get to see them grow right in the jar (they are small carrots in tall jars). If it looks like they’re beginning to struggle, I’ll transplant. They are still a bit spindly to try to transplant so I’ll have to thin.

I decided to start some chard inside because I had some difficulty with it this past summer. I have already thinned it so it can get big and strong before I transplant.

Finally, I took this roots shot so you can see how healthy the plants can be in jars.

I’m looking forward to seeing how things progress after I do some transplanting and thinning. And I promise–it won’t be so long until the next update!