The Minimalist Approach to Hobbies (and why you shouldn't feel guilty!)

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Today we want to talk about minimalism and hobbies. Hobbies often require lots of extra stuff...minimalism works against extra stuff...how do we find the happy middle ground? Let's talk about it today as we get our garden ready for summer!
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[@TheMinimalMom]

Thank you to Allform for sponsoring! Visit the link below or go to allform.com/minimalmom for 20% off any sofa of your choice! (Note: Our sofa is the color TEAL :) Looking forward to hearing all of your gardening tips! We hope you have a great weekend! - Dawn & Tom

[@thepioneerhomestead]

Carrots 🥕 are super easy and fun for kids. Picking them fresh is delicious and can pretty much grow in any soil. Also, my great-grandpa used to grow massive gardens and his trick was putting fish in the ground before planting. So I guess start eating fish and put the bones and such in the garden.🤷🏻‍♀️ Completely understand the soil issue, we came from Western Washington where it’s extremely wet and moved to North Idaho where it’s extremely dry and we have Sandy soil, it’s been a learning curve but don’t give up! You will get better and better each year.💗💗💗

[@rachelleandrichard]

It must feel good every time you step outside and look at your garden. And I like what you say about narrowing our focus on our interests. I have overloaded on art supplies as a newbie and it is overwhelming. I'm going to think about what I want to actually do, minimise my supplies and donate my art supplies to my niece and also an art school cos supplies are expensive and students usually have limited funds. I'm just starting my journey again. I want a simpler life and an easy to maintain home. Thanks Dawn for what seems common sense but is actually really hard to do. This will help me lots. xo

[@nursekja1]

Try not to step on the soil in your garden beds. It tamps it down and prevents good drainage and aeration. Square foot gardening technique is a good way to avoid excess weeds. Also not stepping on your soil keeps it light, so pulling weeds is a lot easier. Throw in some red wriggler earthworms If you didn't see a lot of earthworms when you were planting. They will help keep the soil light and will fertilize your plants. Do you have a compost bin? Other things you can fertilize with are used coffee grounds for acid loving plants and ground eggshells to add calcium. I have recently used banana peels put in a jug of water to water my plants and had better growth. Peppers grow really slow. It's good if you can start them in the house at the end of winter on a heat mat. Have a plan to deter birds and rodents. I use metallic streamers for birds and pepper spray for rodents. Keep a close eye on your garden. Walk in it and look at things every day. That will enable you to notice if an insect infestation or a disease is starting to ruin you plants when it's still early enough to save them. Insecticidal soap and beneficial nematodes are a staple for me. Only plant what you love. Better to get good at a few things you really want than to have many different things. Don't forget sunscreen for your skin.

[@ahmedaaronaaron7176]

Hello

[@janilsson7766]

Watch the "Back to Eden" Video. He has a really cool gardening technique.

[@cheryl370]

I would do an entire bed with herbs. There’s nothing better than cooking with fresh herbs. It really does make a difference! Your garden is beautiful 💕

[@Watchoutforsnakez]

Yeah. It attracts bees and flowers and is less work than other crops. Plus it’s useful. AND, years ago, grandmas always devoted garden space to some easy old fashioned fragrant roses and cut flowers (seeds to throw out and barely cover or scratch in and they are low maintenance like cosmos, chamomile, baby’s breath, zinnia, sweet peas, carnations, wildflowers, stuff that reseeds itself, will supply you with almost always having fresh flowers for the table. This way all your effort is in one area, and not spread out.

[@botanicalbecca8443]

I was thinking an herb spiral! 🌿

[@lbmartinet]

Plus it’s nice to bring an herb bouquet to a friend if you’re visiting

[@stitchhousecreations4082]

I was thinking the same thing

[@alexmathias8938]

Another vote for herbs!

[@TheChoiceofMotherhood]

I used to have a million different "hobbies". Now I let myself have a maximum of 3. One that is productive (sewing), one that is relaxing (painting), and one that is free and educational (video game design). This helped me get rid of a TON of supplies I was never going to use. I also have hobbies like reading, camping, etc. but I limit my "crafting" hobbies

[@devparmenter]

Four words: Garden Answer KZbin Channel. Laura is seriously the best, and her veggie garden is amazing. I’ve learned so much from following that channel for the past several years. Good luck on your garden. It looks good so far!

[@christinab9133]

Yes!

[@vzeimen]

I never miss an episode of Garden Answer but it's easy to search specifically what you want to know about as well. Laura is an encyclopedia of knowledge on all things green!

[@chines68]

I would also recommend Linda Vater. She lives in the city in Oklahoma, but she uses every single inch of her front and back yard for garden and incorporates fruit and vegetables with flowers and herbs. Very smart lady who just published her first book.

[@ingekaivola4685]

Garden Answer is one of my favorites! Addicting ... don't want to miss a single video!!

[@amycallender1319]

I came here to say just this!! Love,love, love Garden Answer ☺️

[@ess2607]

"Rules" that changed my gardening time and life: #1 Know that every time you till or turn over the ground or pull out weeds - you are bringing weed seeds to the top so they can thrive (so minimize churning the dirt - be lazy!) #2 Add as much compost as you can ( I usually have a pyramid of compost at the beginning of each growing season - not green manure but well-developed compost. It smothers weeds! It feeds the soil microbes! It helps to leave the soil nice and fluffy - so weeds gently pull out, roots of vegetables spread out and stabilize in the wind (in a bit) {you can make a pile and just add green and brown for a year plus then transfer it to the beds} Then top with mulch, Every year don't remove the mulch layer (unless it's a hard solid sheet) - just add more compost and top with mulch! The mulch breaks down into nutrients - microbes eat the mulch, poop the nutrients, which feed the plants. #3 be aware that adding sand to clay or heavy soil is a great way to make cement - talk to your extension service about this #4 kids love to pick a veg as their veg - I had mine pick one plant seed every year from Seed Savers Exchange (their catalog is known as plant porn in my house). They have some wild veggies like purple carrots, striped zucchinis. Once a week they had to make notes on a page in my plant notebook. This could be pictures or science notes (measuring the stalk or blooms). I use the same notebook to put notes as to what I planted, what we liked the tastes of, weather, misc garden stuff - lives in a tub with my garden gear. Off-season, Master Gardners are an amazing resource - like why your berries aren't fruiting. I'm learning about Bio-char this year (burning plant matter in a non-oxygen environment) -it's a hubby hobby!

[@teamug769]

This reminds me a lot of the "perma-culture" style of growing. I was so amazed to learn, no digging is required - also because you mix up the soil layers so worms don't find their food. You can attract worms by first putting some cardboard (not too much print on it) on the soil and then continue as described above: compost and mulch. A French couple turned a poor field into a fruit, veg and nut forest with much bigger harvest then a field worked in the regular way with machines that make the ground denser and denser thereby needing chemical fertilizer. It's so amazing what can be done when we treat nature with respect and understanding.

[@DonnaCookAuthor]

Thank you for this helpful comment!

[@megcross3451]

Yes! Charles Dowding is the guru I watch on no-dig gardening on KZbin- I'm on year 3 of no-dig; the plants are loving it, and it's taking a lot less time and toil now!

[@dgraham4966]

Great tips! Have you looked into JADAM? Its also great!! Tony and Denise at Bare Mtn Farms have tons of amazing how to videos on their channel.

[@ess2607]

@@dgraham4966 I will now!

[@kathyerikson637]

For 20 years I thought I had to garden . Once I decided I really hate dirt and gardening it was life changing. I saw so many local farmers markets that sell local produce in Minnesota. I love going to them. But I love to sew that is my go to hobby.

[@queenbee7819]

I hear you. I've been struggling with gardens 35 yrs. Finally gave up. What a relief. Beekeeping instead. Is infinitely easier (8th yr).

[@DH-qz2so]

This comment sounds like I wrote it! I also hate getting my hands dirty...but do love the look of a nice garden... I also would rather be quilting/sewing in my spare time!!!

[@sharonberg4817]

Hate hate hate the dirt on my fingers and hands. A long time ago my next door neighbor had some blackberries that grew through his fence into our backyard. That would be the only plant i wouldn't try and grow. I was devastated when he cut those plants down

[@hopefulforhumanity5625]

Oh my goodness! I used to garden until I realized I absolutely hated harvest time. I have no interest in canning and preserving sooo...I quit growing veggies and started growing flowers. I love it!!!

[@sarahmitchell9366]

@@hopefulforhumanity5625 I only grow things I can just eat and not preserve. Just enough tomatoes and cucumbers and berries to eat through summer.

[@mariareimer3706]

Plant flowers in the last bed. Use the flowers for cutting so you can have a bouquet of flowers in your house. Gladiolas are nice, asters, straw flowers and snap dragons to name a few.

[@Sandra-kd2rf]

Flowers are great for bringing the bees to pollinate the tomato’s and 🍓. Try zinnias , and sunflowers , dahlias for beautiful colour . The marigolds will be great , but some flowersto cut for the home are lovely too. Great team effort getting the work done .

[@yvonneevans2172]

Yes, and maybe some lovely perennials, like black eyed susans, that would bless you every year. They look great, bloom a long time, make great bouquets for casual dining or posies for gifts.

[@kathleengarness1660]

@@yvonneevans2172 and they are great pollinator magnets too.

[@Diniecita]

Gladiolas have to be dug up every year in MN. Its too much work in my opinion. I do love them though.

[@sarahburke8955]

A tip I just learned this week: If you twin plant your pepper plants, they will provide support to each other and give you more fruit because they're not as stressed to form a thick stalk. Also, plant some companion plants with your tomatoes to deter pests! Basil is fantastic in a tomato bed, since the tomatoes plants offer a little shade to keep the basil from bolting. If you want more info on companion planting, read "Carrots love Tomatoes"- it is such an informative book!

[@fiercegirldesign1]

I’ll have to check out that book. Thanks for the suggestion! The Vegetable Gardener’s Bible is another great book that also talks about companion planting. Very informative.

[@alexiamcbride7441]

I watched homegrown by The Magnolia Network on Discovery + and she talked about Basil & tomatoes, and I did that this year! My tomatoes plants are thriving!

[@DonnaCookAuthor]

I hadn't heard that about pepper plants. Thank you!

[@feedingourwolfpack3956]

Yes! Pepper plants like to hold hands is what my daddy always said.

[@DonnaCookAuthor]

@@feedingourwolfpack3956 Aww that's cute. I love it!

[@sandieknies9453]

I remember the lightbulb moment when you shared this before. I had a hobby room with beading, small woodwork tools, sewing, card making, photography, painting and scrapbooking. In the kitchen I had baking, essential oils items and outside the gardening. I evaluated which ones were bullying me, two hobbies left, which were bringing me joy, so I minimized the others and focused on three. After decluttering what I didn’t use from these I was happy I’d gone far enough and I had space to do them well.

[@ciannacoleman5125]

You have a very good point about getting really good at a hobby instead of gathering a lot. My three hobbies are reading, knitting/crochet, and painting. I keep it under control by mostly reading library/digital books, growing my skill with knitting and crochet and consolidating my tools (still working on the yarn lol), and I focus on watercolor and water soluble pencils rather than all mediums. When I get interested in something new I give myself some time before deciding if I truly want to do it or it is just an idea.

[@JL14858]

I love the idea of replacing "I should" with "I could". Just thinking about it releases some guilt. Loving this video. I've recently realised I can't focus on a lot of extras in life at a time. This spoke to me. Thanks Dawn!

[@MindyourMatters]

Yes! I’m working on that “I could” not “I should”

[@jessiek7041]

This is great advice! 😊

[@stephanieallen7001]

Ideas for the last bed: Plant flowers that attract bees to pollinate the rest of your garden; Include marigolds to deter other pests, herbs, currents (for making cider), Asian pear tree, artichokes. Everyone told me pumpkins were a waste of time but my crop did so well we do it every year now and pumpkins are so expensive at the store.

[@pougie8337]

I have gardened most of my life of 57 years, but I still ask my oldest brother gardening questions. About 20 years ago, I decided that every year, along with the usual plants, I would plant something new just for fun & experimenting. I try to learn as much as I can about that plant. If it doesn’t grow well, it’s no big deal, just the doing of it enriches my mind. Your garden is beautiful! Grow what you like to eat. Keep on gardening as a family. Pray over your garden. God will bless your hard work. It might not be in abundant food, but in sweet fellowship with your family. ❤️

[@Handlehere256]

I love this! Thanks for sharing.

[@osheas]

That's such a beautiful idea to pray over the garden. I'm going to do that.

[@cltinturkey]

You're also teaching the kids important life lessons. They can grow a salsa garden, with tomatoes, peppers, basil, garlic and other herbs. Mix it up and eat the fruits of your labor with chips or vegetables.

[@robinscheffert9407]

Onions, carrots, garlic are all good easy options to grow. Espoma products are a game changer. Bio-Tone when you start your garden with Land and Sea compost. Herbs are really fun to grow. Dill is wonderful for your pickle recipes. Chive is also a great perennial herb. Gardening is always an experiment each year because there are so many variables. Gardeners are learning something new every season. Gardening is my happy place!

[@cindynielson4231]

I love the Espoma products.

[@icebearninja7256]

I have used Espoma products for years and I have always gotten excellent results. My dogs used to sneak mouthfuls whenever they could.

[@elizabethsydnor3257]

Adeline really works hard and is learning VALUABLE life skills! Great Job!!!

[@lintb6030]

- Crop rotation - most of the berries need acidic soils, you could look in to that for this specific berry. - My grandfather always used organic cow manure as fertiliser. So that's what I'm using. - Carots and radish are easy to grow 👍👍🍀

[@mrsducky3428]

A few years ago, we got what was advertised as organic, but apparently, the feed the cows had been eating had pesticides and it killed the entire garden, including weeds, for several years, then the first thing to come back was devil grass, which overran the garden crazy fast. Then we got turkeys to eat the devil grass, and to fertilize the soil, which worked great, but so far this year, not a single weed has grown!

[@FrogeniusW.G.]

Eggshell, coffeegrounds, the inner of used teabags. And you can plant different beeflowers (lavender and others) around the garden to attract pollinating insects to come (the few strawberry- and tomatoflowers etc. are much harder to smell/find from far).. *And* you definitely need your own compost for good/fruitful soil!! 😄 And btw.: I love you too!! ♡

[@anneke9464]

I’ve scaled back my garden these past couple years because of the guilt of not keeping it up the way I think I should. I replaced one of my raised vegetable beds with things that just make me happy and aren’t food resources. It’s sort of a combo of lavender/ things that smell good, plants that I thought were pretty and rescued from the clearance shelf of the plant nursery, and other things I just thought might be fun to experiment with. These projects should be fun. 🌿

[@michellespriggs7789]

We recently moved into a multigenerational home with my parents. My dad grew up where if you didn’t have a garden, you didn’t eat. We always had a garden growing up but I didn’t glean information from him. As an adult, it’s nice to shoulder to shoulder to learn. I’m like the research assistant and my dad is the muscle and hands in person. It’s been a very interesting dynamic. I know I’ll cherish these times of learning.

[@helenebennie3961]

Nice that your dad is willing to teach you. Learn while you can. My dad was a master gardener but would only let me weed.

[@TheRuckFarm]

You can plant tomato plants extra deep, especially if they are tall and leggy. They root all along their stems when in contact with soil. You can even remove a few sets of leaves. I always remove the lower leaf sets to avoid splash back from the soil when watering, which can cause fungal and bacterial infections on your plants. If you happen to know anyone with rabbits, their manure is amazing for your garden! It is a cold manure, so it can go directly on your beds without having to compost. It will not burn your plants like other animal manure, which has to be composted first. Happy gardening! 🪴

[@rover790]

Yes, planting small tomato plants deeper makes them much stronger.

[@amerriefaerie]

I keep a garden notebook and add to it each year. What I did, what I planted, what worked and what didn’t. As far as decluttering, I finally realized I used the same tools over and over. I kept those and released the rest. Finally, try birdhouse gourds or some other type of gourds or sunflowers. Great fun and kids will love them. Happy gardening 👩‍🌾

[@RobinL4715]

It takes about 3 years to become a “gardener”, as much of the first years are learning your soil, what grows, pest management, etc. I wish I could ship you my sand from FL! I would not plant big trees in the garden, as the shade and roots will impact future years. Maybe consider dwarf fruit trees. Planting corn or peanuts could be fun, as well as a storage bean, like black beans or black eyed peas. They don’t take much management, and they are fun to gather when the pods are dry. I enjoyed seeing the before and after!

[@maggierobertson2962]

What I'm seeing from this video is the value of family buy-in for hobbies. Working on DIYs with my husband or maybe teaching a child to sew with me. I love the idea of growing vertically.

[@colleenselby8818]

When doing research, Luke from Migardener has a wealth of accurate information! I have gardened for years and have learned so much from his KZbin videos! He is from Michigan but gears his videos toward all climates. His audience is from all over the world. For the tomatoes, use elastic instead of string....a tip from Migardener.

[@magenta4443]

I agree. Learned so much from Luke at MI Gardener. This season we bought all our seeds from his website.

[@traceye3488]

When I plant tomatoes I plant them almost all the way up to the leaves. It gives them a stronger root base. I am a low maintenance gardener in I dont regularly fertilize but when I do I use an Epsom salt and water mix. Organic neem oil and Dawn dish soap helps with pests like those green beetles. Best of luck! Gardening is a hobby you will never run out of things to learn.

[@davesonpasta6039]

Hi there your comment are wonderful 👌,,I don’t think we know which other here on KZbin,,I’m so sorry for invading into your privacy but if you don’t mind I would really love to know you more better 🥳

[@DonnaCookAuthor]

I'm always looking for easier ways to garden so thank you for this!

[@brendan5070]

Herbs can be very beautiful, repel insects and flower for bees- even if you don’t cook with them, they’re excellent in gardens. Lavender, thyme, sage and basil are great for that. Wildflowers for the bees to promote a healthy garden- giant zinnias or any mum are hardy and easy to grow. They flower a lot so if your kids like to pick flowers, they offer many blooms. Your garden looks gorgeous!

[@fiercegirldesign1]

The Espoma line of organic fertilizers are great! Also Alaska fish fertilizer has worked well for me (warning: It smells terrible! 🤣). One of the best things you can do for your garden is mulch with compost. Also, if you’re looking for inspiration and lots of helpful tips, check out Garden Answer’s KZbin channel. Thanks for your encouraging and genuine spirit. I always feel encouraged and inspired when I watch your videos.

[@kyburke6500]

I love Garden Answer for learning and also The Gardening Channel with James Prigioni

[@juneshockley3279]

KZbin Garden Answers is the BEST!!!!!!

[@cv7357]

Yes! Highly recommend "Garden Answer" youtube channel as well. 🌻

[@sharonwilliams6787]

Garden answer is a great resource. I would plant green beans (if that is something your family would eat)

When I started my garden I had lots of different types of veg growing and I got completely overwhelmed. Now I stick with a couple of veggies and lettuce that I know I can manage and that we will definitely eat! So much easier!!! Also check out no-dig gardening especially Charles Dowding's videos. It has made gardening much much easier! ❤️🙏

[@atroy1983]

Dawn, I can’t believe you made this video today. I just had a mini breakdown this morning over how overwhelmed I am with all the projects. I have a lot to think about. Having 3 kids under 4 doesn’t help. Please tell me it gets better!! Here are my garden tips: For fertilizer, Espoma Garden tone and Tomato tone are probably all you need. Just remember, N in the beginning of the season for leaf development (your chicken manure is high in N), P&K for when fruiting starts. The calcium from the egg shells helps prevent blossom end rot in tomatoes. Look into deep mulch gardening in the future for weeds. That’s a perfect trellis for tomatoes, look into the florida weave technique for peppers and smaller tomatoes. If you want to do pumpkins, just dump a bunch of compost into that bed. Pumpkins grow well in pure compost. Worm castings are also an awesome amendment to add to your bed at any time. Good luck!!

[@elizabethfraser2996]

I needed this message today. I retired 3 years ago and I felt I needed to fill my life up. Now I want to do a few things well and enjoy them. THANKS !

[@thebarefootflutist]

I may have missed the window for you to read any more comments, but I wanted to add a few things I had not seen and reiterate what some said in previous comments. I have not heard of cracking whole eggs in the tomato hole, maybe that's a good thing also, but what I have heard and used in the past is drying my eggshells (I rinsed mine first but don't know if that's a necessary step) and then grinding / blending them into a powder. I put one or two tablespoons in each tomato hole. This adds calcium to prevent bottom rot. I think you can use that for peppers also. I have also added it as a fertilizer on top of the soil later in the season. I also would recommend herbs! They are so fun to learn about and use. People have mentioned great ones. I have been gardening for 10 years and last year was my first time harvesting garlic. Loved it! But we have to plant it in the fall here in NC. Not sure if that's true everywhere? Tried onions for the first time last fall also. I will get to harvest them soon... I want to personally focus more on greens and lettuces since they are some of the worst for pesticides when you buy from stores. Perennials are a great thing to have so that you don't have to replant! So excited to see you have asparagus. Blueberry bushes might be something you want to try in the future. Birds have been the bane of our existence on that though. This year we finally built a more permanent netting structure over our bushes. Rest assured, if there is a hole in your structure, the birds will find it. 🤪 It is definitely a process of learning as you go and doing better each year! Keeping a garden journal is a great idea. Jill Winger has a great one and you can also check out Melissa K Norris. Or don't spend much money; just use a notebook and jot down things you notice: What varieties you bought/ brands, when you planted things, how much you harvested.... I was pretty nervous also watching you put down weed barrier and the bags of mulch in your food-growing areas. If you can get away from that in the future, I think you will do better. Definitely compost as some have said is the best option. We use grass clippings as mulch and it decomposes quickly, adding more nutrients to your soil. Also leaves from the autumn. Weeding is the curse of man and there is no way around it! When we try to get around it, we run into other problems. 🙃 I love the cut flowers idea people have said and wild flowers and pollinators. What about sunflowers? I had not noticed anyone mentioned that. It can all get overwhelming! I hope you are able to digest the comments people have left and flourish with your garden! So fun. Hope to see what kind of a harvest you have later this summer/fall. Blessings to you all. I never miss a video. ❤️

[@juliekonigskind6434]

Dear Dawn, how most lovely, that you are taking on gardening “for real” this year - so am I after having watched your videos and getting rid of pretty much all of my fantasy-self hobby-stuff… ;) Here are my two tips for you: 1.) On the topic of herbs: Make sure to plant “Mediterranean herbs” like thyme, rosemary and lavender on sandy and not too fertile ground and don’t overdo it with adding any fertiliser. In my experience they grow better and taste more intensively, when they have to develop a bit of resilience, if that makes sense. 2.) The best fertiliser I use for tomatoes, zucchini and pumpkins are good old nettles. We collect them, when we are taking a walk in the forest (make sure to wear gloves, although they are supposedly an excellent cure for any arthritic diseases like rheumatism and painful joints) You either cut them and mix them in with the soil before planting or you put them in a bucket with a lid and let them soak in the sun for about 10-14 days. The mixture will start to smell and develop a foamy surface. After the period of soaking, you can drain the liquid in a clean bucket and compost the nettles. Now your liquid fertiliser is ready to be used in 1:10 mixed with water. So one portion of fertiliser, 10 portions of water. This is a traditional German fertiliser and we have been successful with it for years. Good luck on your gardening, I would love to hear, how things are working out for you.

[@mejsh87]

Omg I’m like two mins in and this video is gold already!? Pick one thing and do it well! 👌 I also love your ‘seasons of life’ question - it has helped me come to terms with the fact I’m not in the season of life to be scrapbooking and papercrafting at the moment like I used to be and so now I feel so much more comfortable with the idea of selling and donating my supplies 🥰

[@stitchinginthebarn8307]

Great video. Years ago my husband limited me to one major hobby because his mother had so many and it was a mess. I chose sewing because it has so many aspects, its practical and in particular quilting satisfied my brain like nothing else did. I'm so grateful he limited me 22+ years ago. I still love it and there's still always something new to do & learn even if I just stick to quilting. I keep improving and adding on to my skills that I couldn't have done if I had a lot of hobbies. When it came to decluttering my hobby stuff, some from before he asked me to chose one hobby, it was easy and I donated a lot of stuff and kept primarily the quilting items. I found I had enough to do so many quilts I stopped buying fabric & I'm focusing on using what I have. This was an awesome subject Dawn! Thanks so much & blessings to you & your family.

[@victorianelson8282]

I learned to garden from Roots and Refuge Farm, MIgardener, and Self Sufficient Me (all here on KZbin). Their channels would be a good starting point for you. Also, peppers stunt if exposed to temps below 50F, so don't plant them outside until your temps are above that. I've also always heard "peppers like to hold hands" meaning plant them close. I plant mine 9 inches apart and they always do great.

[@somewherenorth4092]

I've been growing my peppers in large nursery pots, two to each pot, in a cheap plastic kit greenhouse. I still have frozen chopped bell pepper from my 2020 harvest!

[@cathyweber4250]

love all those channels! and I learned much from them!

[@cathyweber4250]

also, agree on peppers! don't plant them until soil warms up to 50°!

[@beverlyhootman5464]

And I would add Next level gardening to your list. All my go to's.

[@sarahburke8955]

I love the expression, "Don't should on yourself". We need to reframe the way we think sometimes!

[@davesonpasta6039]

Hi there your comment are wonderful 👌,,I don’t think we know which other here on KZbin,,I’m so sorry for invading into your privacy but if you don’t mind I would really love to know you more better 🥳

[@phaedr4276]

I spent the weekend decluttering and reorganizing my garage. The clutter had taken over the parking space, and now I just have about 10 things left to move/remove. I was feeling stuck on these last things, so I took a break and watched this video. Now I am feeling refreshed mentally and physically. Thank you, Dawn, for your encouragement, enthusiasm, and love. It means so much to me. I love your garden. How about sunflowers? You can eat the seeds or feed them to birds.

[@tiffanyjorgensen6915]

One thing I’ve learned that helps me is to not “should” on myself. And I don’t let anyone else “should” on me either. It’s from Linda Bassett and it’s a super easy way to remember to change the way you talk to yourself.

[@janemiller2812]

I love that your family works together in the garden. Building memories

[@jukes243]

OR ... planting memories .... :o)

[@HeidiLilley]

I will always remember spending the time with my father helping in the garden. There was something special to have that time in the dirt and knowing that what we were eating was something I helped to create.

[@laurent4809]

Not a gardener either but I just wanted to thank you for all your minimalism guidance. It’s allowed me to begin planting flowers. I started out really small so I could test the waters to see if I like it or not. It’s nice having the bandwidth to explore new hobbies. 💗💐💗

[@sarahbourbon4298]

I’m from Missouri (south of STL) and we have a lot of red clay in our area. It’s hard to garden unless you have top soil brought in or are lucky enough to find spot that actually has good soil. Last year my dad had planned some peppers but they stopped growing so I did some research for him and discovered that if you use epsom salt it will help pepper grow. He tried it and it worked great. They start growing and producing peppers fairly quick. All he did was add the epsom salt to water to make a solution and watered the plants. Then he sprinkled some epsom salt on top of the soil to help maintain and add nutrients to the soil. He had so many pepper by the end of summer we thought they would never would end. I recommend doing research as you go and using trial and error until you find what works best in you area. Happy Gardening! 😊

[@betsydelavan1173]

epsom salt works great on tomatoes too

[@patsycaudill284]

One observation is, plant tomatoes much deeper. Even if they are really tall they can be planted up to just under the top set of leaves. If your family likes them grow green beans. Bush type beans don't require trellises. Green beans freeze well, and can well. Consider carrots, the shorter versions. The best success to your garden.

[@cinnie2543]

Yes, my farmer friend told me that as well!!

[@pbryant69730]

I agree with planting tomatoes 🍅 deeper-nice tip

[@VeryGreenly]

You could cut a bigger X in the landscape fabric to get those tomatoes deeper.

[@rebeccah1292]

She mentioned she typically would but it was hard to do with the new weed protection cloth.

[@donnadrummonds2444]

@@VeryGreenly or dig the holes 'before' the weed-block is laid out, then cut the X out. The hole will be ready for planting the tomatoes very deep.

[@ginathompson2040]

One of the things I love most in our garden is having a few designated areas for cut flowers! We do zinnias, cosmos, and this year added snapdragons and sunflowers! Attracts bees and so great being able to cut fresh flowers during the season!

[@laurissarobinson6535]

Skip the sand for drainage, it doesn't have nutrients, instead use compost.

[@rebeccah1292]

I love hearing about garden journeys! "The most important asset to the garden is the gardener." (jess from Roots and Refuge Farm) Make it a place you want to be so you are drawn in to care for it. Make a sitting area, add pretty things like affordable solar lights, or decor that brings you joy, so you can't help but find yourself in your garden.

[@jenniferrich5292]

Here’s an idea for your extra space. Sow lots of zinnia seeds. Zinnias are so much fun to cut and bring inside for temporary color, and they also attract pollinators. It’s also fun to save the seeds for the next year if you feel like it. There are also other easy annuals for cut flowers, and they are easier to take care of than more veggies that your family might not eat.

[@lovuforeverable]

Make sure to plant your herbs. Those are expensive at the store and you can dry them for future use. Plant mint in a pot it's invasive (and under leaky faucets, it likes moisture).

[@1970Steffie]

Oregano seems to be invasive as well 😊

[@susanprice3377]

I've planted mint along the edge of the garage -- when it grows out, it is only invading the lawn, and it smells great when I mow ...

[@davesonpasta6039]

Hello ,,how are you doing today?

[@davesonpasta6039]

@@susanprice3377 hello ,,how are you doing today?

[@jenniferloraas9672]

I live across the border from you in ND, so similar soil. We mix peat moss into our soil every year. Works better than adding sand in my opinion. We only use manure for fertilizing and have not needed anything else. We planted a pollinator garden to try get more pollinators to our area, for better yield on things like pumpkins, they are very helpful🙂. Love your videos! Keep up the good work!

[@sarahbrown4551]

We try to avoid using peat in the UK because it's a valuable natural habitat, but loads of the compost suppliers still include it in their mixes 😞

[@jessicabradley8307]

To block weeds, we put down wood chips - it works great and breaks down into mulch/compost in time. I just add compost on top of the garden in the spring, plant seeds/sprouts, then spread the woodchips on top - so easy!

[@JackieSiperko]

Thank you for this! I have too many hobbies that I find I can't focus. This is perfect advice!

[@pattytarnowski7740]

Garden looks great Dawn. Most important thing is soil prep.Add Compost to your soil before planting. Manure is great as long as it is not hot(fresh). Aged is best. I Always added crushed egg shells and Epsom salts in each tomato and pepper hole ( mixed with soil) before planting plant. Fertilize many times during growing season as tomatoes and peppers are heavy feeders. Espoma as mentioned from other commenters are a great source. Fish fertilizer are a great organic fertilizer. Alao rotate crops . Do not grow same crops in same beds more than 2 years in a row with raised beds.Your going g to have a crazy amount of cucumbers with 24 plants! Good luck!!!

[@ashleyyeske8660]

Am I the only person that saw a new addition to your videos today? Maybe it's the foster parent side of me, but? 🤔☺️

[@diannerumsey2171]

Love the concept of " grow vertically " and giving yourself permission to pass on something that is a " past " activity. I canis much more positive language. Thank you.

[@andreamiller6200]

The freshness and renewal are bursting forth from this affirming video! Our gardening tips are tailored to life in the desert Southwest, and as a Michigan girl, I am amazed every year that our few citrus trees produce grapefruit, lemons, limes and oranges that we can actually eat and cook with. We have a tiny raised bed that last year we did grow basil, beans, chili peppers and other herbs in, and right now we are in the midst of renewing it before the searing June sun toasts everything to a crisp. I hope your asparagus and tomato crop give you a great yield! We grew strawberries, too, and they do pretty well in the desert but we had to make sure they were in the raised bed because at ground level. the wild rabbits find them delicious, too :-)

[@AlexisStrickland09]

A worm farm would be a great addition! It's a great way to compost your kitchen scraps and they produce really great fertilizer for your gardens. My husband started one recently and I've enjoyed learning more about the process. They really don't take too much effort either

[@davesonpasta6039]

Hi there your comment are wonderful 👌,,I don’t think we know which other here on KZbin,,I’m so sorry for invading into your privacy but if you don’t mind I would really love to know you more better 🥳

[@angeliquereischman4195]

Came her to say this.

[@crystalj1786]

I didn't start gardening until we moved to our farm last year, at 57 years old! I used cattle mineral tubs for container gardening because I'm not able to reach the ground due to back problems. Those worked GREAT!! I had to laugh at your pumpkin story, I cleaned out the former owners garden and tossed everything in the fire pit and it grew lots of little pumpkins that I got to use for decor lol!!

[@katerobinson1736]

I love this.

[@davesonpasta6039]

Hello,,how are you doing today?

[@davesonpasta6039]

@@katerobinson1736 hello ,,how are you doing today?

[@heatherj3030]

We have rocky hard clay soil and I put in daikon radishes in the fall to break up the soil underneath the raised beds. I found out that my chickens and duck absolutely love the daikon radish greens. It's a win win. Your garden is lovely and I appreciate the advice. I'm going to use it to downsize my quilting clutter, which I'm not doing right now. 😊

[@bernicedial3675]

“Garden Answer” on KZbin posts a video daily that is very informative. She (Laura) along with her husband, plants vegetables, flowers and even trees. It’s the best gardening channel I have found on KZbin.

[@thejbeeful]

I absolutely agree. She's so knowledgeable and full of enthusiasm.

[@Anaturalpharmacist]

Apparently I’ve been around since the beginning. Still enjoying the channel and we have parted with 50-75% of our belongings along the way.

[@daniellemiller9158]

Gardening has really become my one true hobby over the years. I have two recommendations. First, for fertilizer please try Espoma BioTone starter fertilizer, and once things are going Espoma Plant Tone. Hands-down they changed my gardening experience. Second, nothing has improved my gardening like watching the pros on KZbin. I especially love Garden Answer, Epic Gardening, and MI gardener. The snowball effect of 20 minutes a day watching other people garden (even in zones completely unlike my own) has grown me in depth like nothing else ever had. Happy Gardening! PS- I have had the best luck in my raised bed with the square foot gardening soil formula by Mel. I made mine myself, but it is the perfect amount of loftiness and nutrients. So amazing!

[@TheFlamingoHouse]

Great advice! I love Roots and Refuge Farm too!

[@daniellemiller9158]

@@TheFlamingoHouse Haha! Me,too! Once I pushed publish on my comment I thought of several more great channels. Just trying to keep my recommendations to a minimum. 😉 But I totally agree about Roots and Refuge! I love her attitude towards gardening.

[@intherockies]

Thinking about gardening but I'm a vegetarian. What is the Espoma Bio Tone fertilizer made of...can you garden without animal poo 💩😂

[@lindamaskus5142]

"The Mac's", also "Off-grid with Doug and Stacy". They're both on KZbin. Both women are wonderful!

[@jukes243]

Wow, just yesterday I started "weeding" my craft supplies. Narrowing it down to one (maybe two) projects, clears the head and frees the mind. I've still got a way to go but I'm already feeling more relaxed and content. Good video. Perfect timing. Happy gardening! P.S. Worm castings

[@sheilawhite9056]

I’ve been using worm castings and everything is looking great! I ordered the bag from Amazon.

[@SnowySpiritRuby]

My parents put cottage cheese or sour cream containers with the bottoms cut off around each thing they plant, then, whenever they mow their lawn, they put the grass clippings everywhere in the garden except inside the containers (so everywhere except on the plant itself), and it really helps keep the weeds away, to the point were they essentially don't have to weed at all the entire growing season.

[@mrsducky3428]

One year, we bought seelings that were grown in cardboard fast food cups from a co-op. They said to just cut out the bottom and plant the whole cup. It will eventually biodegrade. Worked fantastic!

[@jannaparker5758]

Love you and all your videos Dawn. In the theme of hobbies, I once heard is the hobby the hobby or shopping for the hobby is the hobby. Good food for thought.

[@intherockies]

My mom (who has passed on) and I always had more fun shopping for the scrapbooking hobby. I sure do miss her.

[@cltinturkey]

Only plant what you like to eat! Interplanting vegetables and even berries with some flowers and herbs is great to help everything grow better. Add organic matter every year to your beds to improve the soil. At the end of the season you can grow cover crops which improve the soil over the winter. Every year amend your soil (add to the top) compost, manure, raked leaves, and grass clippings to enrich the soil. Avoid chemicals as much as you can, and the microorganisms and minerals will combine with your soil amendments to make your garden soil more fertile and workable every year.

[@mrsmoore1567]

We thinned out some plants that were taking over one of our flower beds. I put them at the end of our driveway and posted on our neighborhood fb page "free plants." It brought a BIG smile on my face to see someone else take them and enjoy them.

[@sarahouser3100]

My son is 20 and I committed to scrapbooking our family life until 18. The memories going forward are sweet because I’m in the moment and Not trying to get the perfect photo. I downsized my supplies and gifted them to a neighbor.

[@natalieschroeder1338]

Egg shells help if you have problems with blossom end rot on tomatoes. It can be a sign of lack of calcium. If you don't trim your tomato plants during the growing season you should learn how to trim them. There are specific growths that should be removed because they don't produce fruit & just take energy from the plant. Same with lower hanging/shaded leaves. The growths to remove are commonly called suckers, they grow in between the leaf branch and the main stalk.

[@susanwatson8183]

Hi Dawn, I love listening to and applying your ideas from your videos. You are such a positive uplifting person. Gardening suggestions: 🌻 my husband and I grew up in Wisconsin. We have lived in California the last 40 years. The the soil here is clay. You can hardly get a shovel through it when it’s dry. My first idea was to add sand. I talk to a master gardener and they said it sounds intuitive but do not add sand, it does not loosen the soil, it makes it like cement. Remember they add sand to make cement. Your soil is probably looser because of all the organic material from the chickens and straw that you have been adding. The more organic material you add the better your soil will become. Another suggestion: if you can avoid it, do not walk on your garden. You want air in the soil. If you walk on it you compress it. If your beds are not too wide and you can reach from the path to the middle that is perfect. Look up the French intensive method for gardening vegetables. Good job. Your garden is looking great, and I love asparagus!

[@themaggattack]

"Don't grow [hobbies] horizontally, grow vertically." Instead of: "I SHOULD", say: *"I COULD."* WORDS TO LIVE BY!!!!!

[@muchadoaboutkovu]

Wow.. what a garden! I am starting a garden at our new home and it’s all trial and error right now. We want chickens at some point too! This is inspiring and I love it. Gardens where you can feed your family… it’s not just a hobby. That is life skills!

[@gabriellebrantley8053]

Garlic is easy and always a staple in our house. When we plant our tomato and pepper seedlings I always put a capful of "Mater Magic" in each hole.

[@dawnhermann3352]

I loved this video and found so much joy just from watching. I would love to have a garden like that someday. I had to chuckle because last year I planted tulips and daffodils and the squirrels dug up all of my bulbs. But they also ate through a small decorative pumpkin on my back patio last year to get the seeds, and they buried some of those seeds and we grew accidental pumpkins. They were the tabletop sized pumpkins but we grew over twenty of them and the kids thought it was hilarious! So, how to become a pumpkin farmer: let the squirrels do it for you;) we are in Michigan so we also have a short season too

[@christine55416]

funny, squirrels at my pumpkin too, but they didn't plant the seeds for me ;-)

[@marym346]

I had a therapist years ago that told me I needed to stop "shoulding" on myself. She was right and I've mostly quit.

[@theBenson5]

OMG mine said the same! Such good advice.

[@momoffour2072]

I've had great success simply planting tomatoes,. peppers, and eggplant in the large styrofoam cups. I put them under one of those cheap garage fluorescent lights with 2 daylight LED bulbs. I use cardboard play blocks to raise the light up as the plants grow, and it's on a timer so that it's on for about 16 hours per day. Works great!

[@betsydelavan1173]

Hi Dawn, helpful tip that has helped me with pepper's-they like to hold hands plant 12 to 18 " apart. If pepper's bloom before July 1st, pinch the blossom off,once it's July-great.

[@elizabethgridley8587]

A tip for the fall…put a layer of heavy black plastic over your beds to close up your garden beds. It has a two fold purpose- 1) it creates a hot environment on sunny days to kill weeds/weed seeds by roasting them underneath it, and 2) it also blocks out the light from the soil to inhibit growth when you don’t want it. When you’re ready to plant, remove the plastic. Although, peppers and tomatoes do like it hot and wet, so you might have better luck planting them with the black plastic around them :)

[@girlonaswing9439]

Garlic and other herbs in the extra bed. Also I know that planting basil next to the tomatoes are planting companions. Strawberries, I heard, that coffee grounds (not too much) is a good thing.👩‍🌾

[@pattiereiter9265]

Hi Dawn....you are very nearly my favourite!!!!! 😆 i have a tip for you as someone who has "gardened" a LOT in my life! Plant MARIGOLDS IN YOUR GARDEN BEDS!!! ESPECIALLY IN THE BEDS WHERE YOU'RE STRUGGLING TO GET VEGETABLES....also, marjoram is AMAZING to companion plant with all plants! Marjoram is known as "the sick plant's plant"!!! I can't wait to see how everthing is growing in the next video!!!!!

[@TheMinimalMom]

Yes! You may not be about to see them well but there’s marigolds in the middle of the beds 👍

[@pattiereiter9265]

@@TheMinimalMom yah!!!!! That's awesome!!!!!!!

[@lorijohnston-wheaton3058]

We did raised beds also this year with topsoil which gets hard also. We were told to put a scoop of cow manure in the hole before putting plants in. Also a cup of prepared miracle grow in the hole with plant. after water is soaked up fill in with dirt. Every other week I sprinkle dry miracle grow around plant root area and then water in. My garden is amazing this year. For pumpkins, they like more Sandy soil. We got three pumpkins from one plant. Good luck and God bless, Lori

[@andreawalburg4641]

Fellow Minnesotan here, my Mom starts her seeds during winter using milk jugs which gives her a head start on the growing season, and they can stay outside even in the cold temps. It works pretty well with no greenhouse. Also my in-laws get manure from a sheep farmer to fertilize their garden and it seems to work well. I’m just getting started on gardening myself, thanks for this video and love that yours is a family affair!

[@ArrowHillCottage]

great point! we can only do so much! Finding one hobby you love and learning more about it and getting better at it can be super rewarding!

[@33snowgal]

I started seeds in my house the last few years- so nice to grow something when snow is still on the ground!

[@beverlyolson1373]

Hi Dawn, I love watching you and Tom! You speak so much wisdom! For gardening I would recommend leaving about 3" of space around each plant when adding mulch. If you put it right up to the stems (or trunks) it can encourage rot, be a nice hiding spot for bugs, or, with too much moisture next to plants, it can lead to fungal or bacterial problems. My adult children aren't big on gardening so I wish I had my kids work in shorter jaunts, as you mentioned, instead of pounding it out in the garden to get all the weeds. Live and learn :)

[@UtahRoadbase]

Only tips for tomatoes are: plant them deeper (maybe dig the holes before laying fabric?) and my dad always put two plants in each hole. It makes for more fruit in each hole. Also, we have hard pack soil and I've been mixing in organics every chance I get. So next time, mix that bark into your soil before you begin. I've never gotten a pepper to grow for me so I have no advice. I've been looking into bringing my peppers in for the winter. Apparently they winter inside pretty easily. Speaking of winter, I'm looking into small hydroponic systems for tomatoes, lettuce, and microgreens in my kitchen. Just an idea for vertical growth. Happy growing and enjoy!

[@hollybetts5838]

You should try growing popcorn sometime! We really enjoyed doing that. My kids also loved when we planted potatoes when they were young. Digging them up is like a treasure hunt! 😊

[@lisabromley6824]

A friend's husband planted a mix of squash seeds in their corn and the pictures she posted on Facebook of their 2 kids picking treasures in the fall was priceless. So many kinds and colors. Great for eating or disposable decor.😊

[@Its.me_Christina]

How do you grow popcorn??

[@lindamaskus5142]

@@Its.me_Christina just like regular corn.

[@hollybetts5838]

@@Its.me_Christina You just buy popcorn "seeds" and plant them like you would regular corn. When you harvest it, you shuck the ear and hang them to dry. When the kernels are dry, you remove them from the cobs and enjoy all winter long! 😊

[@madebylora]

I have loads of crafty hobbies, although I tend to focus on one at a time until I get bored and then move on to another and it goes around in cycles. I’ve not really decluttered the number of hobbies but I have decluttered stuff from within each hobby and got rid of a lot of “just in case” supplies. I’ve got cube storage units and now I keep just one or two cubes per hobby. It makes it so much more appealing to just grab a box and get creative and not having to dig through tons of stuff before I can even get started.

[@juanitaglenn9042]

Me too!!! I need one more cube shelf to finish my cube wall of crafts. Just waiting for a sale. I'm so excited to get it all organized so I don't need to run around to find all my different supplies:)

[@ginadowd1713]

COMPOST those kitchen scraps....coffee grounds, dried eggshells, banana peels etc. I put some in with each plant and they LOVE IT! And worms!! Get earthworms for each bed. I use Osmocote Time Release Fertilizer Granules at planting time. I totally agree with you about bonding with the dirt. I LOVE IT. I had a friend who lost her husband in an accident and I told her I would help with all of the plants she received around the time of his passing. We potted them with our hands & she was a townie so she had never done it before. When we were doing the potting she commented how calming the process was and that the was so much satisfaction in being able to see improvement right away.

[@karigruppen1405]

I always plant herbs and zinnias in my garden. The zinnias grow easily & they’re perfect cutting flowers.

[@poolfield2]

I’m totally sold on no dig gardening as described by Charles Dowding. I have a friend that has a horse so I have a delivery of stable muck that I leave for 6 to 12 months then put it on in 2” thick layer each year and my soil is so improved.

[@TheMinimalMom]

Ohhh...I need to learn more about this!!

[@nickyhyde2473]

This is absolutely the way to go! If you have a good supply of compost (like your matured chicken bedding, kitchen and garden waste etc), and use it each year, it will hugely reduce the effort required to grow food - far fewer weeds, less watering, feeding etc. Charles Dowding is the man! :)

[@cathrino]

You can also do a compost from your own food leftover. It takes a little while and you don't want to throw everything on there, but it's works very well.

[@marcidrag]

I would try some onions and potatoes. They are pretty easy to grow. Grab some seed sets from Menards. We planted our potatoes a couple weeks ago, but just put our onions in.

[@intherockies]

My teenager planted a couple of potatoes and we had a rabbit for the first time ever in our yard. The rabbit ate almost all of the potatoes. My boy was so mad. I loved seeing the rabbit though (I didn't tell him that 😂)

[@sarahevanschwartz1000]

You are such a joy. Thank you for your channel and for inspiring me on my own journey to simplify my lifestyle so I can be free to be of service to my children, husband, aging parents and community.

[@davehilliard2558]

Hi Sarah ,,how are you doing

[@julieb2033]

We've had a garden for at least 20 years. Early on our tomatoes had black spots on them. A friend recommended putting a Tums in the hole before planting. No more black spots. Now we put a Tums and a banana peel (tomatoes need potassium) in the hole before planting the tomato plant. Also, for excellent dirt, start composting. We compost in place, but with the weed block you'll probably need a compost barrel or something of that sort. Compost produces the richest soil. Your garden will thank you.

[@dellapitre4520]

I hated weeding as a kid but enjoyed it so much more as an adult. 🤪 You have a beautiful garden! Looking forward to seeing it when it's florishing! ❤️🥰

[@ferretfan.]

Wait a minute, did I catch sight of a new family member at about 14:36?! ❤️❤️ Potatoes are so easy, so delicious, and the only garden thing my daughter loved was digging up the potatoes at the end of the summer. Thanks for doing a gardening video, I love to hear about your approach to it! Also, as a Wisconsinite, our gardening conditions are virtually the same☺️

[@mirandab1945]

Yesss!!

[@laura-ns3ig]

I noticed too!! I'm so curious! ❤️

[@angiegorman9935]

I noticed that too. Very curious!

[@jengus1951]

It was a fast look but saw her too.

[@heatheramyprice]

why are we assuming she's a family member? why not a friend?

[@tanjastraumberg]

We put the plastic pots (the ones the tomatoes came in from the store) next to the tomatoes into the soil and use them for watering, because tomatoes hate water from above, therefore we plant them next to a wall with a roof on top, like a half greenhouse. And planting basil next to the tomatoes, they'll get a better taste. And we use compost to mix it with our soil.

[@TheFlamingoHouse]

I’ve been watching you for a couple of years, and gardening is also my hobby. Since I first heard you mention that you have a garden a little while back, I have been so hoping you would share it with us. Naturally, I was so excited to see you post this video! Your garden is beautiful! Sending love to you and your family from Florida! ☀️🦩🌺

[@alyssanovak5952]

We’re trying potatoes this year in a grow bag on the patio. Thought it would be fun for the kids to see where French fries come from 🤪 would do well in one of your raised beds! Seconding all of the comments about Garden Answer, MIGardener and Epic Gardening - definitely a lot of content there to grow vertically in knowledge!

[@fiercegirldesign1]

Love Garden Answer and Epic Gardening! Great idea to get your kids involved with growing a food they eat.

[@vzeimen]

Potatoes are a great idea. Easy and pretty fast and easy to dig.

[@audreymaldonado5655]

Potatoes are so easy! You can start with organic potatoes from the store. Keep them mulched pretty deep. Then just dig em up!

[@franpatzcraig6713]

We grew potatoes for years. Our best crop was when we grew them in raised open trenches thickly covered in salt marsh hay. grew well and were so easy to harvest. We could even lift the hay a bit early and pull out a few new ones for supper!

[@gaild9003]

What a beautiful garden you guys!! Are you salad eaters? Maybe a salad bed with different lettuces, spinach, carrots, beets, radishes, green onions, etc.? Or how about potatoes? We like growing zucchinis, yellow crooked neck squash and pattypan squash. We grow our zukes in old tires filled with soil. My parents were amazing gardners and they grew everything it seemed when I was a kid! They spent hours going through seed catalogs and planning the gardens. We canned/froze things to enjoy in the winter which was wonderful! I love your idea about growing vertically instead of horizontally. I have soooo many interests, and I've been thinking about what you said. I've cut down some already, so I don't feel as overwhelmed by all the "stuff", but I still have a variety of craft/hobby supplies. I zoned my hobby room which was helpful, and I parted with partially finished projects that I didn't think I'd ever do. I used the container concept to reduce inventory. My son and I play guitar (as well as my siblings), my family loves to kayak, I love doing diamond dots and I recently got a new cricut. I also enjoy painting, gardening, making stuff on my looms, photography, making felt story boards for working with kids, cooking and sewing. Too many hobbies! It's hard to narrow them down to one or two. Help!

[@brendajennings5438]

I grew up in Nebraska and my mom had a huge garden. I was blessed to grow up eating home grown everything! (Even the meats from local or family farmers) We just moved from the city to a rural area and I can't wait to plant a garden. The soil in NE had a clay texture so we added lots of sand to loosen it. Mom took off the bottom layer of leaves off the tomato plants and planted them really deep so it could strengthen the stalk. (Lots of wind there) Your garden looks amazing! If I had an extra garden bed, I would plant rhubarb and herbs. (If you plant mint make sure it is in a pot or it will take over a garden.) Have fun! I can't wait to see the progress!

[@caseyplanck6005]

We bought two backyard composters to compost all our non meat and dairy items. If you rotate it regularly it "cooks" pretty quickly and that compost has been a game changer for our plants. We use the compost in our flower bed and shrubs area. They bloom beautifully