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I know your plate is already full with running the farm and caring for your family, but starting a garden can actually help ease some of your food security concerns. Let's break this down into manageable steps you can work on whenever you have a spare moment.
Indoor Planning (Early March):
- Take inventory of what you already have. Check your shed or barn for old pots, tools, or leftover seeds. God often provides what we need in unexpected places!
- Start these seeds indoors (3-5 weeks before last frost, typically early-May in zone 5b):
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Cabbage
- Broccoli
- Herbs like basil and parsley
You can use simple containers like egg cartons or yogurt cups with drainage holes - no need for fancy equipment.
Outdoor Preparation (Early to Mid-March, when soil temperatures reach about 40°F):
- Pick your garden spot
- Look for an area that gets 6+ hours of sunlight
- Stay close to a water source if possible
- Start small! Even a 10x10 plot can yield plenty of vegetables
- Test your soil
- Your local extension office often provides free or low-cost soil testing
- This helps avoid wasting money on unnecessary amendments
- Clear and prepare the area
- Remove any dead plants or weeds
- Add compost if you have it (even old manure from the farm works great)
- Consider laying cardboard over grass to create a new bed - no tilling required
Direct Sowing (Mid to Late March): These hardy vegetables can go directly in the ground as soon as soil temperatures reach 40°F:
- Peas
- Spinach
- Lettuce
- Carrots
- Radishes
- Onion sets
- Early potatoes
Money-Saving Tips:
- Ask other farm wives or church members if they have extra seeds to share
- Start with easy, productive crops like beans and zucchini
- Use grass clippings for mulch to retain moisture and reduce watering
- Consider companion planting to maximize space (like peas and lettuce together)
Remember:
- You don't need to do everything at once
- Even 15 minutes a day adds up
- Involve your children - it's a wonderful way to teach them about God's creation
- Keep a simple journal of what works and what doesn't
Bonus Tip for Zone 5b: Because your growing season is slightly longer than 5a, you can often get two rounds of cool-season crops (like lettuce and peas) - one in early spring and another in late summer for fall harvest. This means more food for your family with the same amount of garden space!
As I've grown as an entrepreneur, mom, gardener, and livestock owner, I struggled to find a planner that met my needs and kept me organized. So, I MADE MY OWN. You can look at it on the link below and buy it on Amazon.
Don't want the whole calendar part? I got you! I pulled the gardening and animal care pages out and put them in a book all their own.
Wanting a community to lean into? Join the FREE Thriving Through Farm Life: Wife’s Support Network! In our community, we embrace the challenges of farm life and provide a supportive space for wives facing the complexities of managing a family farm. Whether you're navigating financial pressures, day-to-day operations, or seeking ways to create a thriving home, we're here for you. Explore garden and preservation tips for cultivating your oasis, share insights on animal care, and discover practical family budgeting strategies. Together, let's grow through challenges, flourish authentically, and sow the seeds for a resilient and thriving farm life. Join us on this journey of resilience and abundance!
Starting a garden doesn't have to be hard! I gathered all the tips I've learned over my gardening seasons and made them into a simple course to jump-start your gardening life.
I've had 3 very different pregnancies. After the first traumatic birth, I learned how to care for my body naturally preventing common pregnancy and birth problems before they arise. This quick course will give you the tools you need to have a natural healthy pregnancy, labor, and delivery. My first pregnancy I had a normal western medicine pregnancy. My second? I flipped to completely natural, no medicine. Bonus: Preventing Preeclampsia Without Aspirin & Healing from Birth Trauma
practical family budgeting strategies. Together, let's grow through challenges, flourish authentically, and sow the seeds for a resilient and thriving farm life. Join us on this journey of resilience and abundance!
Starting a garden doesn't have to be hard! I gathered all the tips I've learned over my gardening seasons and made them into a simple course to jump-start your gardening life.
I've had 3 very different pregnancies. After the first traumatic birth, I learned how to care for my body naturally preventing common pregnancy and birth problems before they arise. This quick course will give you the tools you need to have a natural healthy pregnancy, labor, and delivery. My first pregnancy I had a normal western medicine pregnancy. My second? I flipped to completely natural, no medicine. Bonus: Preventing Preeclampsia Without Aspirin & Healing from Birth Trauma
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