Guest Post: Get Out and Get Dirty!! Encouragement for the Hesitant Gardener

Hey there friends!  Today I have invited Missy @ Graceful Little Honeybee to write a guest post for us!  Missy is a stay-at-home wife and momma.  She and her husband had their first child, a cute little boy, this past year!  She enjoys gardening, cooking, sewing, crocheting, painting, reading, crafting, thrifting, scrap booking, hiking, swimming and everything in between.   Today she is encouraging us to start a garden!  Gardening is such a great way to provide wholesome food for your family, and it's a money saver for sure!  Unfortunately, my husband and I have not mastered our garden yet!  This year the only thing that we have gotten is radishes (I was somewhat excited until I read this was the easiest thing to grow, and it's really hard to mess up! HA!)  Finally, we decided to till it up, and start fresh!  Ok . . . We have it tilled, but we haven't actually started back up yet!   Perhaps this post will be just the motivation we need!  I hope it inspires you as well! :)  

**Missy is also one of my Featured Sponsors!  I will be getting a post up with more information on becoming a sponsor tomorrow!  I will be offering a great summer discount you don't want to miss! :)** 

Get Out and Get Dirty!!

Encouragement for the Hesitant Gardener

By Missy @ Graceful Little Honey Bee

I'm a twenty-something, wife and new momma. I didn't grow up on a farm. I don't have tons of gardening experience. I'm no expert. Most of what I've learned has come from simply buying seeds (or plants) and burying them in the ground. And watching. And watering. And waiting. 

You see, gardening really is that simple. God put the right genetic information into each little seed and all we have to do is bury them in soil and give them a little water and sunlight. It really is a miracle to witness seedlings popping their little heads through the soil and reaching for the sun, knowing that within weeks/months they'll grow into mature plants bearing their own fruit. 

 

If you've ever thought about planting a garden, I want to encourage you to get out and give it a try!! It's not too late to buy a few plants from your local nursery and see what happens! You can also do some research on fall gardening and grow a crop of cool weather plants to be ready a few months from now. If you don't have any gardening space you can plant a few things in pots and put them out on your patio. Don't be intimidated or afraid of failure, because gardening is really just trial and error. I feel like it's one big science experiment and so much fun learning in the process! Even the most seasoned and experienced gardeners will tell you they're still learning every season.  

 Thoughts for New Gardeners:

1. Only plant what you and your family will eat.

2. Get to know other gardeners. Ask them questions and let them teach you.

3. You can't keep bugs out. You have to learn to live with them.

4. Live by the motto,"There's always next year."

5. Relax and enjoy the process. Don't over think it.

6. Eating something you grew yourself is extremely satisfying.

7. Don't give up. If something didn't turn out right, keep trying. You will eventually get it right.

8. Keep a garden journal where you sketch your garden and jot down facts and thoughts.

9. Read a few gardening books and do some research on the specific plants you want to grow.

10. Figure out what zone your in and create a planting schedule for next year.

11. Keep it simple the first year. Maybe just focus on 2-3 different kinds of plants.

 If you plant too much, you could become overwhelmed.

12. Pull weeds!! They can take over quickly.

I hope some of this encourages you to get gardening!

You can follow my gardening adventures here.

If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment on my blog or e-mail me at malittl@gmail.com

You can also visit your local extension website for info. on what grows in your area.

Happy Gardening!