Do the Thing. Plan for it.

Start planning for your seasonal garden.

Summertime, gardening time, is what I wait for, always, after a lifetime of Michigan winters. The rhythm of the stark cold winter softening to a light and soggy spring thrills me each and every year. The thing that motivates me in the cold is being able to plan ahead for all that I want to add to my garden in the new season. I was just telling my husband, tongue-in-cheek, because he KNOWS this is true about me... I love to have a plan.

Gardening takes a little planning, and your late summer/fall self will LOVE you for it!

Tip #1 - Write it out.

Perhaps it is because I was born in the 1900's (what my kids tease me about regularly), but I love a good notebook and a list. Every January, I buy a new planner and start dreaming about what I want to include in my garden. This is my favorite planner this year!

Tip #2 - What do you want?

Don't feel like you need to do the same thing as someone else. I am saying this to myself as I write it.

Are you gardening for your own enjoyment? Are you gardening to share your harvest with friends and neighbors? Are you gardening to produce beauty and healthy food options for your family? Are you gardening to open a road-side stand? Think through what you want out of your seasonal garden.

"The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture the garden is to feed not just the body, but the soul." – Alfred Austin

Tip #3 - Shop around.

As you begin to look at seeds, for flowers or food, know that there is a pleathora of options. One of my favorite places to purchase seeds is Johnny's. They offer numerous options for both flowers and vegetables. As springtime gets closer, local greenhouses will start to open. If you want to leave the work of seed starting to the professionals (though you do not need to feel intimidated to try it yourself), shopping locally is an excellent option.

Tip #4 - Take your time.

It is still January. There is time until spring. But for me, the planning breeds joy and anticipation amidst the cloudy winter days, waiting for spring. Enjoy the process of thinking and planning and writing.

Best of luck doing the thing and making the plan.

Leave a comment and let me know how you're planning for your garden this year.

Warmly,

Sarah