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Raised bed considerations

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For us, building our raised beds is a matter of using what materials we can get without having to buy anything. We’re scrounging and salvaging whatever we can.

If, however, you are in a position to actually purchase raised beds, there are a lot of options, kits and companies out there to choose from.

Gardening in Canada covers some of the things to think about – and a few things I didn’t think about at all, since they’re pretty irrelevant to our situation. This video is well worth a watch.

After we’ve built more of our raised beds, I think I might do a video about them. Everyone has their own very individual situations to consider. Perhaps it might be useful to people if I go through my thought processes as to why we made the choices we did, and apply that process to their own situation.

What do you think? Should I make such a video?

The Re-Farmer

Why use seed starting mix?

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This is the time of year many are starting their seeds indoors, and there are many growing mediums available. Some swear by ordinary garden soil, straight compost or the compressed pellets of peat or coconut coir – though I hear many in my local gardening groups with a definite hate on for the pellets!! Then there’s potting soil and seed starting mixes.

What to choose? Let a soil scientist explain!

I currently have two different brands of seed starting mix, because those were the ones available at the time I was there to buy them. So far, I don’t see any difference between them.

Into the light

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Another gardening video from Gardening in Canada, about whether you need light to start seeds or not.

Considering the differences between our big aquarium greenhouse and the little one, light is definitely an issue. Unfortunately, we’re not in a position to invest in lights – especially not full spectrum lights or red grow lights – right now. The bright LED shop lights I was able to get at Costco, however, do seem to be helping a lot, once the trays move out of the aquarium greenhouses.

The Re-Farmer

G.I.C. video: seeds to start in February

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When it comes to deciding what seeds to start indoors, and when, your frost dates are more important than your zone. Gardening in Canada talks about what to start now, whatever zone you are in.

We’ve got our onions,shallots, eggplants and hot peppers started (even though the hot peppers are supposed to be a short season variety). Next up, I have herbs to start.

We don’t have luffa seeds to try this year; I will buy more to try again next year. I’m debating whether I want to try any gourds this year. I’m not sure how many beds we will have access to this year. I think I should skip them this year and focus more of the edibles than things I am growing for crafting purposes.

What about you? If you have a garden, what are you trying – or skipping – this year?

The Re-Farmer

A good one for beginner gardeners

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Here’s another great video from Gardening in Canada. With so many people looking to garden to feed themselves, because grocery prices are getting so high, it helps to know what’s actually cheaper to grow!

There are, of course, always outliers. With the dry beans, for example. It may be cheaper to buy them at the store, but you can grow varieties that you won’t find in stores at all. Similar for things like potatoes, which don’t even make her list. For example, there’s not much point growing your basic white, red, or yellow potatoes that are common in stores. For the space they need, you could grow other more cost-effective vegetables instead. But there are many varieties of potatoes you’ll never see in a grocery store, or if you do, they are much more expensive “gourmet” items.

But then, a novice gardener looking to save on the grocery budget probably wouldn’t be after special varieties. That’s the time to focus on tried and true varieties that will grow in their area, not experiment. We are fortunate to have lots of space to convert into garden beds. Most people don’t have that.

I still say it’s good to grow at least one thing, just for fun!

The Re-Farmer

Staying home today!

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I’m going to enjoy not going anywhere today. 😁

A good day for gardening videos, like this one.

We still have not been able to start seeds indoors. I need access to the aquarium greenhouse, but we’ve got too much shoved in front of it that we don’t know where else to put. Like an armchair that needs repair. It will probably have to get moved to the storage house, but there’s too much snow in the way to carry something like that.

We really need to get those onions started soon, though!

The Re-Farmer

Because it’s January

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The perfect time to plan your garden.

This is for the Zone 3 gardeners, with a shorter growing season.

One of the perks of growing your own food is being able to grow varieties that aren’t available at the grocery store.

The Re-Farmer

Feast of the Epiphany

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Today’s is the Epiphany, also called Three Kings Day, recognizing when the magi visited Jesus, bearing gifts. It is also the closing of the Christmas season.

I found this rendition of We Three Kings I’d never heard before.

This was one of those songs I really enjoyed singing in my younger days. There’s something about the melody that just pulls you in and lifts you up! Alas, I don’t really sing anymore, as it triggers coughing fits, so I just get to enjoy the singing of others.

The Re-Farmer