People who are into technology are called techies. Food connoisseurs are foodies. So since I’m head over heels for gardening, would I be a seedie? I think so!

Yes, it’s snowing outside today, but I have happiness growing on my countertops.  Last year was my biggest adventure in gardening to date. I’m a total novice gardener and up ’til now I’ve been winging it.   I built up my container gardens, planted wildflower seeds around the pool, and harvested all kinds of good things during the warm summer months.  In the fall, I decided to step up my game and find out how to really make it worth my time.  In January, I purchased a few gardening books and read them cover-to-cover. The Heirloom Life Gardener and Backyard Harvest were the two favorites that I’ve bookmarked and referenced time and again. After placing a big seed order from Baker’s Creek and starting a few peat pots with seeds, the payoff is finally starting with the arrival a few tiny sprouts. I’m also thinking about taking an online vegetable gardening class so I can really maximize my time and energy.  Pinterest is a great help too.  The seeds you see in the photo above are various greens, peas, beans, cabbage, and leeks.  I’m really excited about the bok choy because it is supposed to grow pretty quickly.  I love to add greens to my pasta, so this is something that will definitely get good use here.   My greens sprouted the second day (yay!) and I’m eager to see them start to get leaves.  It’s hard to see them in this photo but they are definitely looking happy in their little pots.  I’ve got some Grow Bags on the way as well….anxious to see if those will work.

If you’re interested in learning about starting plants from seed, there are lots of resources to help you.  Check out the book selection at your local library.  You can also get in touch with your area’s agricultural department to see if they can recommend varieties that do particularly well in your area.  I love this planting guide app from Baker’s Creek — it’s customized to your zip code and makes it really easy to plan your garden.

I’ve got so much in store to share with you!!   Plenty of experiments are in the works, like hanging baskets of tomatoes and straw-filled strawberry towers.  I’m on the search for someone to teach me how to can and preserve my harvest.  I also bought several new gadgets to try and I’ll let you know how those turn out.  In the meantime, remember that growing your own produce can be a really fun way to stretch your family’s food budget.  It’s a good hobby for the summer and what an exciting way to encourage your kids to try new foods!

Are you a gardener?  What’s your favorite fruit or veggie to harvest?  I’m always eager to learn, so feel free to share your expertise!

(By the way, if growing real flowers isn’t your thing, maybe you could go with these sugar flowers instead: )

These are my affiliate links; all opinions stated are 100% mine.  I was compensated by Craftsy for this post.