Today is my favorite day of the winter. The day I begin starting my seeds for the spring/summer season wins hands down over Christmas, Valentines and Groundhogs Day. Something inherent knows when it's time, I don't keep track of it by calender but I always seem to get it done within the same week every winter. I should add that this is generally way too early by most people's standards, but clearly I do not care about seed package guidelines. Sowing the herbs, vegetables and flowers that will begin the new season fills me with such excitement - the hardest, darkest days of winter are behind us now. The daffodils and lily of the valley greens start to poke out in the yard and a cursory inspection of the other foliage in the yard reveals buds and new growth.
I was born in the spring and the time of sprouting and blooming is so figurative in my life. Many of my ancestors spent their entire lives toiling in the dirt not only to feed their families, but as some sort of sustenance. Cotton, tobacco, corn and peanuts are all rooted in my history and I can't help but wonder how much of my need/desire to sow are innate. I have the luxury of experimentation and time that my forebears did not.
My journey begins with a trip to the garden center, this year it was Lowes. I've tried several different methods of seeding - the first year I started my crops in random antique teacups that I set around the kitchen - although it was attractive, storing all of those cups during the off season was a pain and you can easily waste a tremendous amount of peat or potting soil getting started. This year I purchased a 72 pellet germinator for a whopping $6.97 that has already saved time and space. I have started basil, cilantro, dill, parsley, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, pepper, Roma tomatoes, Supersweet tomatoes, foxglove and zinnias. I'm going to make a second planting in a week or two - I'll keep you posted and try to add some photos.