Simply Sharing Seeds!
Simply Sharing Seeds! Once you join the gardening life, it’s a whole new world that opens up to you. Neighbors walking by might never have stopped to say hello, but, an edible garden in your front yard is like a magnet. Yesterday, Nancy, just such a neighbor, who lives about five blocks from me, gave me two of her seedlings of Japanese melons (we don’t know which is which).
She also offered her seed packets for me to plant a few seeds, which, she says, are not easy to find. (See the address on the packet!)
Such a generous gesture, but the kind of thing that happens all the time in the gardening world. I had been reading another gardening blog (sorry, I’m following so many, I forgot which one!) recently about Borage, and it sounded so cool, I just went a little crazy and ordered seeds online and my shipment came today. (2015 update: See my Borage episode, click here.)
I saw this idea on another site, reusing TP rolls (mine are already recycled cardboard from Seventh Generation) for seed starters.
But, since it’s already June 8, and all the herb packets say seeds can be direct sown at this point, I think I will throw them in the ground. Or, am I better off to start in these?
The big problem though, is, my urban garden is FULL. I saw this great post on another blog (you know who you are!) about reusing old file cabinet drawers with holes drilled in them to plant in and I may try something like that along the driveway, cause there’s entirely TOO much concrete there. Oh, I want to rip out my driveway so badly and and put in a narrow drive of permeable pavers, and reclaim some topsoil, but that costs a bundle. I’ll have to be patient. Thanks for reading! – Kaye
Stock up on pepper seeds!
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Oh, that’s me. 🙂 what about sheet mulching over some of the concrete instead of ripping it out?
I love the clean aesthetic of those Japanese seed packets. Fun!
What is sheet mulching? And when you say, “Oh, that’s me.” Say what’s you. I mentioned three different posts:-)! Thanks!
The drawers. 🙂 Sheet mulching (here’s my post:http://greenmommaadventures.wordpress.com/2012/05/13/sheet-mulching-take-one/) is a permaculture method because it is an agricultural no-dig gardening technique that mimics natural forests’ processes. You can build it on top of anything, even concrete. It wouldn’t solve your long-term issues or desire to install permeable pavers but would make the area more visually interesting in the meantime.
Hi Kaye – Shiso is a wonderful (!) Japanese herb – makes great sushi – hard to get going from seed (I’m told) but I bought plants from a Japanese nursery once and it reseeded itself for several years …. have you planted arrugula yet? I threw some seed around my roses 3 days ago and it’s coming up already – if you want seed I have millions – you’ll never buy arrugula again!!! – Edythe
Edythe, yes, save me some seed! I LOVE arugula! I have one small pot of it now, and could use more. Are you at the market tomorrow?
That is a great use for the TP tubes. I’m keeping that one for next season. I cherish the plants and sprigs as well as seeds that were gifts from friends or neighbors. They living reminders of the loved ones, some that have passed some that moved away etc. Maybe you can get a whole seed swap going. They did that a few towns over a while back and it has become a huge hit that is used as a library fund raiser.
*anna