If you are like many of us in Michigan and other parts of the country and even Canada, you have been dealing with the catastrophic results of an ice storm that hit a little over a week ago. Many, including myself, had/have been without power for 5-8 days. Tree limbs, power lines and poles have littered almost every street you turn down. People and families have struggled to find places to stay and ways to be warm. My family and I traveled to 3 different cities to stay with 3 different family members. And we were some of the lucky ones. Others have not had those options. And all of this in the middle of what was supposed to be a fun and joyous time during a Christmas break. It's been a struggle and a disappointment.
But in the midst of all of this, I have seen good things. Neighbors reaching out to help each other. My neighborhood in particular has been amazing in it's communication and out reach. We have shared generators, homes with power and we even had a bonfire in a front yard on Boxing Day to help warm up and come together. Another little bright spot, for me, was getting many of the different seed catalogs in the mail. (And there is your tie in)
Full disclosure, I am one of the lucky ones who only went 5 days and then obtained power. I have been able to read my seed catalogs using the lights in my home. This alone is a blessing. Seed catalog time has become a bring spot during gloomy winter months. It allows me to think and day dream about what Spring and Summer might shape up to look like. Looking at all of the fruits and vegetables and reading their descriptions has become exciting. I've heard some refer to it as "Seed Porn."
If you are fairly new to gardening and/or go to your local store and by your seeds on a whim off the supermarket shelves, I highly encourage you to start thinking ahead. Months ahead. Go and sign up for seed catalogs. Who doesn't love getting mail that isn't a bill? Or, if you would prefer, most places have their catalogs available online for you to browse. I still love having the hard copies to hold in my hands. Probably the same reason why I can't get into reading books on electronic devices. I just love the real thing in my hands. But it is an option. Part of the reason why I encourage you to think months in advance about your seed selections is because it will make you start to plan for your garden. It will allow you time to analyze what you are going to grow and where instead of going, "Oh crap! It's starting to warm up. I should probably throw some seeds in ground." But another reason is that the amount of information in some of these magazines is vast and more helpful than the back of a seed packet could be. Jhonny Seeds specifically comes to mind with the amount of knowledge they impart through their seed catalogs and packets.
If you just have a small to average size garden, chances are that you will not be able to use all of the seeds that come in these packets. One fun thing to do is get a few gardening friends together and do a seed swap. Talk about what you are thinking about ordering or already have ordered and see if they have anything of interest to you and vice versa. It is a fun and cheap way to get exposed to and try a certain strain without paying full price. Maybe you have a ton of carrot seeds left over that you don't think you will use. See if a friend has some left over watermelon seeds that you could exchange for your left over carrot seeds. Or ask me if I want to swap some seeds. (Helpful hint: I do and I will) It really is a fun way to come together.
Part of the reason I love gardening so much is that there is always hope. There is always next year. And it is something fun that has real tangible results and uses. If you are not familiar with any seed companies try places such as Jhonny's Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange, Burpee and Gurney just to name a few. Read up on which strains you think might grow best in your area with your available sun and soil. And if you have questions ask! Especially if the questions involve asking to swap seeds. Until next time, stay warm. Stay hopeful.
