Getting ready for seed starting, yay! In these challenging times, gardening is the MOST helpful thing for my sanity (and it’ll eventually be a great workout too, as well as a great creative outlet).
I’m hosting a free workshop and seed exchange tomorrow (link to event in comments), and so I’m spending some time this morning working on my seed starting set-up. I have a fairly extensive one, but you don’t need a lot to get started! Some seeds, something to grow them in, water, light.
(I’ve actually been a little confused by the light thing — there are all kinds of pretty (and generally expensive) grow lights being sold now, but is there any reason not to just use a regular Daylight spectrum bulb in whatever light fixture you already own? Assuming you just want to add more light to an indoor houseplant, for example, and it’s not a plant that would do better with a different spectrum? Advice, please.)
I honestly have a ton of leftover seeds at this point, because I always end up buying more seeds than I have room for in my seed set-up or in my garden. But that’s okay — it just means that if you’d like to come and grab a packet of seeds, don’t feel like you have to bring a packet to exchange! I will have lots of extras. 🙂. Free seeds, as long as supplies last!
I’ll be demonstrating the Jiffy seed starters, just because they’re very easy for beginners, and for someone like me who forgets to water, they’re super-helpful. But they do use peat, which I think we’re supposed to be avoiding now, so I’m going to refresh my memory on what the other options are before tomorrow. If anyone local happens to know and is willing to come educate me, I’d love it if you could swing by and join us?
Also, if there are any winter-sowing people here? I keep meaning to try winter sowing, especially for natives that need that period of cold stratification, and I have a milk jug all ready, but I’ve never gotten around to actually doing it… Would love to have you come talk about it.
Anyway, seed exchange from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday 1/11 at my new studio space, 301 Harrison (Oak Park Arts District). I’m planning to talk about the Jiffy set-up at 3 p.m., but if you need to come earlier or later, I’m happy to go over it with you. And honestly, I don’t have anything scheduled tomorrow and will be mostly working in the space anyway, setting up for our soft launch next weekend, so if you need to come earlier or later tomorrow, just let me know — I can probably accommodate you.
Planning a perennial houseplant exchange Sunday 1/18, and people are welcome to trade seeds then as well!
