To a lot of gardeners, the only thing more exciting–or at least, as exciting–than actually gardening is planning the garden. Though it might seem inconsequential to a non-gardening person, perusing seed catalogs is one of the few things that helps so many (including myself) get through a cold, dark winter.
You may know I’m a big advocate for Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds, a company in Missouri dedicated to providing heirloom varieties and promoting biodiversity, but I’ve been wanting to branch out a bit, so I ordered a catalogs from a couple companies I hadn’t used before, Southern Exposure Seed Exchange and Pinetree Garden Seeds. (If you want to request free catalogs from these places, just click on the links!)
But as I await their arrival, I’m working on planting spreadsheets, a garden map, trying to learn as much as I can and make notes. Even though I’ve been gardening for years, I always seem to forget so much, and there’s always so much more to learn!
If you haven’t gardened before, it might seem intimidating, but it doesn’t need to be. If you want to start, you should not be afraid!
Don’t worry about “failure,” don’t worry about not doing it “right.” Just learn what you can, begin, and then keep learning along the way.
Today I wanted to share a few ways you can prepare for gardening, especially if you haven’t done it before. Of course, you can simply search for the information you want online, but I wanted to give a few specific starting points.
Your extension office
Your local extension office (a service where expert university employees and volunteers give advice in gardening, soil, landscaping, pests, etc.) is a fantastic place to start. You can simply search for “(your state) extension office”, or check out this Cooperative Extension Directory.
Once you find your local extension office, they should have lots of links to online or in-person resources, often offering free classes, literature, and more. You can also give them a call and they should be happy to talk to you, and your extension office should also provide services like soil testing for a fee.
Local Online Groups
Groups on platforms like Facebook can also be helpful, especially if they’re based in your area. (Of course, you can run into a lot of nonsense when it comes to online groups, but unfortunately that’s just one of the risks.)
But often times, you’ll find these groups to be pretty helpful. You can ask questions, gardeners in your area can share tons of useful information, and when you gain a little experience, you’ll have a chance to return the favor! Just search for “(your city/state/county/etc) gardeners” or “gardening” and see what pops up.
Your Local Library
Would this even really be a resource guide if I didn’t mention this gem?! Your local library is also a good place to begin looking for garden information–not just because they have books about it, but because they often work with local organizations (like your extension office) to bring gardening classes and the like.
Perhaps surprisingly, I don’t actually have one favorite gardening book to recommend, or any that I know to avoid. I’ve found that all the ones I’ve come across have some good info in them, so it really depends on what you’re looking for. Have fun browsing your library’s online catalog (or ebook catalog, if you happen to have an ereader!)
Seed: The Untold Story
Okay, this isn’t really a “how to garden” resource. but it has been so inspiring to me that I had to include it here. Seed is a striking documentary I watched several years ago, and it has stuck with me ever since. It doesn’t tell how, but it will explain why we should all be gardening. You can read more about the film here, but here’s a brief synopsis:
SEED: The Untold Story follows passionate seed keepers protecting our 12,000 year-old food legacy. In the last century, 94% of our seed varieties have disappeared. As biotech chemical companies control the majority of our seeds, farmers, scientists, lawyers, and indigenous seed keepers fight a David and Goliath battle to defend the future of our food. In a harrowing and heartening story, these reluctant heroes rekindle a lost connection to our most treasured resource and revive a culture connected to seeds. SEED features Vandana Shiva, Dr. Jane Goodall, Andrew Kimbrell, Winona Laduke and Raj Patel.
SEED: The Untold Story Official Website
Final thoughts…
Gardening has always been essential, but I think its importance has to be emphasized now more than ever, given the food insecurity many of us have been facing in recent times. Beyond providing nourishment to our bodies, gardening does so much to improve our mental state, strengthen communities, and connect us to our natural world. I hope you’ll join the planet-wide gardening community and grow at least a little something in the upcoming garden season!
What are your experiences with gardening? Do you want to start? I’d love to know!
