When you hear that honeybee populations are on the decline, you should be concerned. Bees do much more than just sting you when irritated- they also pollinate over 400 different plants around the world, while adding $19 billion to the U.S Agricultural economy. In Florida, many people depend on flowering plants for their livelihood and…
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Seed Starting on a Budget Series: Choosing What to Grow
Browsing a seed catalog or shopping at a local plant nursery can be overwhelming. Especially for a new gardener! I still have a tough time making selections. With so many choices, it’s hard not to go overboard. When I’m purchasing seeds, I try to consider my space and needs so I can maximize returns. I…
Seed Starting on a Budget Series: Germination
Germination is the process by which a plant sprouts from its seed. Because it mostly happens underground, it’s such a mysterious and almost magical occurrence. One day you’re popping seeds into moist soil mix and the next you’ve got bright green seedlings popping up. It’s a simple yet incredible feat of Mother Nature that such…
Seed Starting on a Budget Series: The Importance of Biding Your Time
My first serious foray into indoor seed starting began with a bang. My husband helped me set up a makeshift grow shelf, and I purchased soil mix, trays, and pots. I was so ready to get started that I assumed it would be better to get things going sooner rather than later. I quickly realized,…
Seed Starting on a Budget Series: The Importance of Labeling
It’s almost time for me to start my very first seedlings of the season. I’ve been busy gathering supplies, cleaning out my grow room, and sanitizing trays that I plan to re-use. I’ve been organizing my seed packets, and I’m thoroughly excited to try a few new varieties this year. I’m also shifting my start…
Why Bees Are Important to Humans
The bee is a fascinating creation of nature. While many people view bees as scary insects that may sting when disturbed, bees play a critical role in the daily lives of humans. From pollinating up to one-sixth of all flowering plants in the world to increasing the yield of food crops, bees are a vital part…
Seed Starting on a Budget Series: Indoors vs. Outdoors
I recently polled my social media followers to find out what kinds of questions they had about seed starting and a common source of confusion is figuring out which seeds need to be started indoors. You don’t need to dig out all your seeds and start everything indoors before the last frost date. Why Not Start Them…
Seed Starting on a Budget Series: Get Your Timing Right
When January rolls around, the seed catalogs start to arrive in the mailbox. Then, as soon as February hits, I get a constant flood of seed starting photos popping up on my Instagram feed. It gets me excited for the gardening year ahead, but I’ve also learned to slow my roll. Just because someone else…
Seed Starting on a Budget Series: DIY Containers
No rule says that seed starting requires fancy flats or trays. For the frugal gardener, spending money on pots and containers is a definite no-no. The smallest portion of your gardening budget should be allotted to containers. Why? Because they’re so easy to find for free or cheap! Including plenty of DIY options to consider!…
How to help Local Bees
Whenever you enjoy honey dipped popcorn during a movie night, or you go out to purchase beeswax candles, you may not immediately think about the importance of bees. Bees have much more value than what they directly produce. In fact, these insects play an important role in the local food chain. From pollinating food crops…
