How to Teach Gardening to Beginners
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 30 ก.ย. 2024
- If you know people in your life who want to learn to garden, it's so helpful to be able to teach them. Knowing what they need to know, what they don't need to know, and giving them just the right amount of information to keep them from getting too overwhelmed.
For more information, visit the BLOG: rootsandrefuge...
For the seed-starting BLOG visit here: rootsandrefuge...
Grab my gardening book here: rootsandrefuge...
**********************
Hey ya'll, I'm Jess from Roots & Refuge Farm
Welcome to a place that feels like home. A small farm with a big family. We hope you'll pull up a chair, grab some coffee and visit awhile.
There was a time that all I wanted in the world was a little farm where I could raise my family and grow our food. Now, that is exactly what exists outside my door. In watching it unfold, a new dream was formed in my heart - to share this beautiful life with others and teach them the lessons we've learned along the way. Welcome to our journey, friend. I am so glad you're here.
*********************
WHERE TO FIND US (Some of the links here are affiliate links. If you purchase through our links we'll receive a small commission but the price remains the same - OR BETTER - for you! Be sure to check for any mentioned discount codes.)
- Our Website: rootsandrefuge...
- Sign up for our newsletter: rootsandrefuge...
- Join our Patreon to get early access to podcasts and other information, plus monthly LIVES with me and Miah: / rootsandrefuge
- Abundance+ (Grab a FREE 7-day trial): rootsandrefuge...
- Shop our Stickers & Shirts: rootsandrefuge...
- Order my first book, "First Time Gardener": rootsandrefuge...
- Order my second book, "First Time Homesteader": rootsandrefuge...
- Instagram: roots_and_refuge
- Facebook: / rootsandrefugefarm
- Email Us: rootsandrefuge@yahoo.com
- To drop us a line:
PO Box 4239
Leesville SC 29070
- To have a gift sent to our house from our Amazon wishlist: www.amazon.com...
- To support us through PayPal: www.paypal.com...
**********************
PRODUCTS WE LOVE - You've probably heard me talk about these things a million times, so here's where you can order them (and get a discount with my code!):
- Greenstalk Vertical Gardens (Use code "ROOTS10" for $10 off your order): rootsandrefuge...
- Squizito Tasting Room (Use code "ROOTS" for 10% off your order): rootsandrefuge...
- ButcherBox: rootsandrefuge...
- Growers Solution: rootsandrefuge...
#rootsandrefuge
I stepped out last year and did this: I made a post on Facebook to my friends, saying, if they were going to start a garden, let me help them. Let me start the seeds. Let me grow them up until they’re ready. Let me harden them off. You get your spot ready and I’ll bring you the plants. Approximately 15 families jumped on! It was a little overwhelming, but we did it! I helped each family if they needed it with advice throughout the summer.
The pink boar tomatoes and cucumbers made an amazing side dish for a gender reveal party, one of the families hosted. I smiled as I spooned that onto my plate, knowing I had a small part in it.
I used solo cups for starts and bought large trays at dollar tree.
You can do it too!
I would never have had the courage if it were not for this channel. Thank you Jess!!! ❤🤟🙌
What a blessing you were!!!
Awesomeness!
That’s amazing love ❤️ this!
What and amazing idea! Thank you for reminding us how powerful we are and how much we can positively impact our communities if we think outside of the box and are a little brave!
I absolutely love this!! What a kind heart u have. Keep it up! You will be blessed ❤
My mother who is 65 is growing food for the first time this year. It is contagious without having to be pushed. Start with the people in your circle, or gardening FB groups in your area. I never expected to be a mentor, but I love it as much as I love the garden itself! 💚💚🌱🌱
I have shared seeds with my students and school staff now for four years. I had a student ask me last week if it was time to plant the flowers yet. 😊 I love it!!❤
@@mlee7037 that’s so wonderful!!
If you or your friends/family would like access to learning gardening in American Sign Language please point them to my seed starting video 😁
Would like to say that Jessica's book is one of the very best, if not the best, for a beginner. I am an experienced gardener, but bought her book anyways. Did learn a few things and the photography is spectacular, which is enough for me. But while reading it, I was saying to myself, "this is exactly what I would share with a beginner." She includes some basic, but really important, information not found easily or at all in other books, of which I have many.
I totally agree. A nearby church invited me to be part of a teaching team. I’m just trying to overcome my insecurities. I love what Jess said about not needing to set ourselves up as experts. I realized that’s one of the things that has drawn me to Jess. She’s real.
This is going to be my second year of gardening. I actually found your book at my local library and you are one of the reasons I got really excited about gardening. Your book was very encouraging. Thank you for helping me.
I taught my 2.5 year-old granddaughter how and when to harvest tomatoes and zucchini this past summer. Toward the end of the season I began asking her "Are they ready?" as a post-teaching test. Her replies ranged from yes, to no, to NOOOOOO!!! as you might expect as a child's reaction. She was spot-on every time!
We plan to work with sowing seeds in trays for her third birthday in March. Hoping not too many "squirrels" pass by during the lessons.
Y'all be well, and feed the soil!
Hey look a squirrel syndrome lol
GREAT INFORMATION!! 💕. I have been gardening myself at home for 18 years and am still learning!! I love this because even seasoned gardeners need reminding of this!! Thank you Jess!!
I love you! I just started teaching a class at my kids’ homeschool co-op. I have been so nervous, and actually I am using your book and your and Jill’s class as some inspiration. My class is ages 9-12. I am so excited to hopefully get them excited. Thank you for everything you do. You are definitely the reason that I feel confident enough about the subject to be able to teach gardening.
This video posted right before my gardening small group 😂 I have been leading this group for two years now, and the best advice I can give is to let people see you try and fail, because that encourages them SO much. When they've seen me lose an entire flat of seedlings but keep going and start another, it really breaks off that fear of failure for them. They know if a plant dies, they're still a gardener! And it helps YOU know that even if you fail, you're still a teacher! ❤️
As Master Gardener (which is truly training to be shared with others) since 2001 I just want you to know how much I love to watch your videos. The joy you get from gardening growing things and sharing that with others is inspirational for so many up and coming gardeners. Keep doing what you're doing. You truly are a blessing to others Jess.
Ive gardened many years now but learned the most important lesson or piece of advice last summer. I started seeds for the first time on a major scale. I was overwhelmed by multiple projects and let my tomatoes get too leggy and it was late June in Virginia zone 6b. I was going to throw them away and buy starts. I reached out to a honesteading group on FB to ask advice. They said just plant them!! It was simple advice. Stop being ruled by fear of failure and just do it!!! I had the best crop ever!!! Of course all by the grace of God!!
I found you (like so many others) during the 2020 lockdown. My first seed starting attempt was late winter 2019. TOTAL failure :) Your videos and amazing teaching abilities inspired me to try again. In 2020, I started seeds again with your guidance. EVERY seed variety I started thrived. That summer I grew tomatoes, peppers, various flowers, ground cherries, baby watermelon, chamomile, and potatoes. And yes, now I'm the person others come to for gardening advice. My garden saved me during that difficult time. Thank you for your passion, teaching skills, and for continuing to do the work you do!
Gardening 👩🌾 is like therapy…..it heals the soul 😊😊😊
Congratulations! I've been gardening for 18 years and have failed at carrots,broccoli and brussel sprouts for three years straight. I'm not giving up. Every "failure" is a learning experience.
I’ve been gardening for many, many years. I tried growing onions, year after year and always failed. I kept at it and this past year grew a lovely crop of onions. I was so thrilled!
Watching you build a garden in a kiddie pool was my inspiration to get back into gardening last spring. I grew green beans, Roma tomatoes, radishes, basil and parsley all in totes and was able to can 12 quarts of spaghetti sauce this fall...so excited to get started again this year because of your motivation. Thank you Jess, Beth 🥰
I have been teaching gardening, growing, floral design and horticulture for years. Love this video! Thank you! I always give my students a list of resources as a reference sheet for continuing their education....in the past three years it has included you and Roots and Refuge ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
This video brought me to tears and once again, as you always do, inspired me!
You and your videos taught me atleast 90% of everything I know about gardening. I will never forget that I found your “when to harvest” video when searching for when to harvest cucumbers when I grew my first garden.
Now after sharing my gardening efforts and results, several people I know have decided to grow their first gardens and ask me questions. I always share what I know and if I don’t know, I say “I actually have no idea, but I’m going to research that, because if you had the issue I may deal with that in the future too and I need to know.”
Seeing the effect of me spreading the gardening bug is just so beautiful and really gets to me, I’ve never had such a great feeling ever! And I AM NO EXPERT. I just choose to share what I do know! It really makes me see the power in small things done by small people.
Had to watch this twice to absorb all of its awesome info! I’ve been gardening for 40 years, but this year will be very different. I’m turning my backyard into a mini food forest. I’m studying permaculture and hoping to inspire my neighbors to start their own gardens. I love your passion for sharing your knowledge, Jess. This video is exactly what I needed to affirm my desire to do the same 💕
Love this! Thank you for sharing! You are so encouraging! I have been on the fence about starting some form of community to share my love of growing things and your videos keep encouraging me and knudging me to start doing it!
You go!!!🎉
Hosting my (5th?) Seed swap this morning!! And that's because of YOU! Thanks for being so awesome :)
Thanks Jess! It's one thing to harbor knowledge - about anything - but it's entirely another thing to be able to give that knowledge in a meaningful way to a willing recipient. Teaching is an art, thankfully one that any Human Being can do. It's inherent to our nature as living, breathing children of the Living Father. Funny thing is once you begin teaching someone else, your own horizons expand in ways you never imagined and that's something we can see all over your face! Thank you for your hard work and for caring for Humanity. Carry on soldier!
You hit the best point well Jess. Appreciate how generous you are in shoring topics like this and encouraging all of us. One thing always amazes me, that in teaching others, I'm always learning something too. It helps moderate insecurity new gardeners may be experiencing. Learning to love what the harden teaches us can be life changing. I GA e my copy of your book to a dear friend who will be gardening for the first time on property they purchased. It's such a wonderful resource. I can't wait to see how they do.
The best way to learn is doing. Part of dispelling the mystery is letting people physically participate in the process. I walk people around my garden and they take it in. Show them how to start the seeds, water the seeds, but let them do it too! Encourage them to start, get their hands dirty, and ask questions as they go!
Yes, so true... Thank you for encouraging "me" to get out there. I have a lovely centrally located property in a small town and would love to get started sharing and teaching but am very Introverted but so excited that I want to push thru that feeling!
I have been gardening in some way or another my entire life, yet I still feel like a beginner every season! I think to stop learning and assume that you know everything there is to know is a mistake. I try new things every year and encourage people around me to grow whatever they can with whatever space they have. Tower gardens, aeroponics, and greenstalks are fantastic ways to grow food without a lot of space. And before those were a thing, I used to just grow in flower pots on friends' and neighbors porches and windowsills. I'll never forget growing peppers and tomatoes in 1/2 whiskey barrels on a pet sitting client's back porch when I was in high school and I didn't have the space
Jess, I cannot express how appreciative I am for you. My dream for a few years now is to turn our family farm from just simply food independence for my family to actually a small business. I have dreamed and planned or a few years now. One part of that dream was classes to educate my community. I have posted photos of our farm projects on my personal FB page, whether it be making butter, processing hogs, etc. They always get a good response. One of my passions has been teaching homesteading skills to others, especially our younger generation. This year I finally said, "There is a time to dream and plan, but then there is a time to put those plans and dreams into practice. So yesterday I had my daughter help set up a separate FB page for our farm. And I immediately scheduled and posted a seed starting class. I have followed your journey for a few years now. After taking a leap yesterday with scheduling a class, I come on this morning and the first thing I see is this video. It is confirmation that what I am doing is the right thing. We may not have anyone sign up. But I am hopeful, and I will not give up even if they don't this first time. Thank you for being such an inspiration for me. Please be in prayer for our small farm and my family as we branch out on this new part of our story. Side note: My husband got me tickets to the Homestead Festival this year. I was most excited about you being one of the speakers. I cannot wait.
I'm a pool tech by trade and one of my customers about 5 years ago asked me if I would be willing to help her out at her house for like 2 hours every couple weeks outside just helping her maintain her very nicely landscaped yard and minor things because her daughter didn't want her doing things like getting on a ladder to trim some of her roses and she was finding she just couldn't do all of her planting and weeding by herself anymore after her husband passed. Well I started my 1st garden last year thanks to your channel and Inspiration (and Jill's channel) come to find out through helping this customer of mine that she actually has a degree in horticulture and her and her late husband were in the rose society for over 20 years. She has become a huge mentor for me who I can just text or call on a whim and ask questions and bounce ideas off of. You never know who you will find. I've even been helping my mom at her house in her garden after watching you channel and I've been teaching her stuff and she has been gardening for 35 years
I think of myself as beginner gardener, however I've been in the garden since I was a little girl (and I'm 40 now). There is always something more to learn, especially in our ever changing world.
I LOVE teaching in my garden using a garden tour. In the height of summer when the garden is at her prime, the class writes itself. I am always sure to leave my failures in the garden to show even a bumper year has struggles. And being able to show pest damage, disease, poor soil, in consistent watering, etc is the best teaching tool!
You have come so far and I have learned so much from you and your family! God Bless you Jess!.❤ Thank You.!
I have the words “fail forward” tattooed on my arm because my grandfather said it to me quite often. I love that you use those same words 🥰 I’m managing a community garden this year in addition to my home garden and our offsite garden. In total I’ll be overseeing almost 3k feet of garden, and I’m so excited to share.
I see you’re using a Sharpie to tag your pots. I’ve found that sharpies do not last this stage. I’ve had my label disappear with watering. I’ve found using a garden pen works best for me. I get mine from my local garden center.
I found also that planting basil with peppers keeps the bugs away from my pepper plants. By accident. I planted amazal basil variety.
This is great Jess! I just shared some of this same type of encouragement in my latest video about my seed starting setup. Seeds want to grow!
Thanks for all you share for the community!
I've grown up with gardening but learn something new every year. I love to garden, I'm learning how to garden with disabilities now it's hard but I refuse to quit trying. Love your videos.
God Bless you sweetheart ❤❤❤
This winter, you have given me such a drive to grow food. I am a person that has to have everything completely planned out before I start and that is something I’m trying to change. So I have bought seeds, I’m going to start them this weekend. I have no idea where I’ll put them in the ground but I’m sure I’ll figure that out when the time comes!
BOOGER WEEDS, shall forever be part of my gardening vocabulary from this day forth. 😃
Love this! Currently starting my own seeds while listening 🥰 Best date with myself 😄
I'm a first time gardener and what I'm most intimidated by is watering. Watering seedlings and the garden when it's mature. I'm very much a rule follower and it's the one area I can't find consistent information:(
I had this problem when I started gardening. Every zone, plant and season has a different requirement and it makes it so hard to give advice on watering. 1st year I watered too little, 2nd year I watered too much. What I found that works for me now in year 5, is to water every other day while the plants are young and getting established. Once established and mid-sized, I water twice a week. At the end of the season I water once a week or when the plants look like they need it most. I grow on the Oregon Coast and have a wet Winter and Spring, and a dry Summer and Fall. I hope you're able to find the best system for your situation. Happy Planting! 💚☀️
I looked at how long your video was, and in my mind, I said, yay! I love these longer ones. Great information Jess and even if we have been gardening for years and years, it’s still a good one to listen to! Thank you.
Mulching! YES! I use my grass clippings throughout the season to mulch my garden and then “put it to bed” with dried leaves in the fall for the winter. Chip drop is also a great resource for free wood chips! As a Mom of two littles, mulch is a lifesaver!
Thank you for sharing your wisdom. I recently sent 20 little packets from my seed collection to my sister and ordered her your book. She expressed interest and now has a sunny balcony to put some grow bags on. I am so excited to see how she grows. I have enjoyed it so much and hope to share it!
This was very helpful. I have started planning classes in my community on different homesteading topics and being reminded about the basics was a wonderful lesson. Thank you.
Divine timing, between your life & mine.. I was asked a couple of weeks ago by a friend to teach a small seed starting class at a local library. I agreed, nervously. I have never taught a class on anything, in my whole life, but here I am agreeing to show strangers what I know about gardening - which is not extensive. This video arrived at the perfect time, and you gave the perfect advice. I'm feeling much more confident & excited to teach my community how to grow food
Hey Jess - this couldn't have come at a better time. I'm going on my 3rd mission trip to Honduras and have been asked to work with some young ladies at a mission that were just released out of an orphanage due to aging out. The mission group is teaching them life skills and would like for them to learn basic gardening. I have gotten a huge amount of seeds from MIgardener and Baker Creek to take with me. I'm also taking them some basic gardening tools, solo cups with drain holes already in the bottom. I'm hoping to be able to show them how to build the soil but not sure of the supplies for that. It's going to be very interesting to say the least due to language barriers. I speak little Spanish and I think there is only one person there that speaks English. I so appreciate your talk today! Please let me know if you may have any other pointers for me. God Bless!
You might want to check, and then double check on whether you will be able to bring those seeds with you to Honduras. Many countries have laws and regulations about bringing seeds in (and out of) borders. I would hate it ruin your plans if you got to the airport and customs confiscated your seeds.
Miss Kim, the Lord will lead you. Another person commented on making sure you'll be allowed to take the seeds into the country. Smart advice.
In my mind, you're doing what Jesus commanded us to do. Love others as He loves us. He will provide a way. I pray you are successful in your endeavors to teach these young ladies. I pray they are receptive to your tutalige. I'm sure you've already researched the climate and what will grow well there and planned accordingly. Excited for all the knowledge and experience you week gain.
Many blessings 🙏♥️🙌
@@ramblinrosecottage5983 I have checked and was told as long they are a gift for someone I can bring them. I plan on putting them in a gift bag as well. I will check again just to make sure. Thanks!
Tip on the language barrier. Look at learning new words like a toddler learns their new words. Pick up the item you wish to learn the name. (Watering can, hose, soil, shovel, seeds...) and the girls telling you the name of those things and you repeating it should help you learn. Also anything you can get your hands on to compost would be your best bet for building the soil. Leaves, grass, weeds woodchips, manure.. its all good. And the buggies and wormies will come and take care of the rest. Mulch is good. God bless you!! 💚
I grew up on a farm in zone 7 with hundreds of acres. Avoided growing veggies for decades when I lived in apartments, but I had tons of house plants. None of the above prepared me for trying to grow food in my current tiny backyard with very heavy clay. Zone 8b.
In 4 years, I've gone from trying to grow tomatos and other things in grow bags in the only sunny spot available, to having the 80 ft tree cut down that was blocking the sun, designing and building a potager garden and adding 6 greenstalks because the new beds couldn't hold everything I was trying to grow. Everyone says "you will fail", and I'll admit that it feels like failure when something doesn't sprout, or grow where you put it, or the bugs get more of your harvest than you do. But, I'd like to change that concept. Every so-called "failure" has taught me something. (Some things that a seed packet says need full sun actually do better with a little afternoon shade in my garden in the middle of summer.)
Learning to observe, and understand what I see has been the biggest lesson. There is nothing instantaneous about it, and it has required a lot of effort to slow down and look.
Friends have said we should move somewhere we could have a huge garden, and why bother with all the issues here. (They still have grass and buy their produce at the grocery store).
4 years ago, it was a big deal to spend 20. on seeds, not knowing if I could even grow them. But this 'classroom' has changed my life in ways I could not have imagined, and being able to eat super fresh organic food is the bonus. Thanks for the inspiration to persist.
Jess thank you so much for this video! I will be teaching beginner gardening in May at my local farm/greenhouse. I taught it last year and I felt so overwhelmed. I felt like I drowned them with information. I have shared so much of your information, but this video helped me to understand the need for simpler information. I will definitely be sharing your book with them as a resource! I told last years class about Roots & Refuge and how awesome you are.
Thank you for giving me what I need to teach others to get them started gardening. ❤
Thank-you Jess! Starting a class using your book in my small town at the beginning of March! I am so excited!!!!
I was preparing my desk with all the necessary things to begin the most dreaded yearly task...taxes when I noticed you have posted a new video. Even though I didn't think this one applied to me, I never pass the opportunity to watch an R&R video....and to procrastinate in doing my taxes. lol. But dang it if you didn't inspire me, once again. I love the pig story at the beginning because it is so true. The pig eats the rotten food you give them, they poop out the seeds, and viola, next year you have a new garden! Neither one of my kids share my passion for gardening. They both appreciate it, but they aren't passionately obsessed like I am, and that's been a bit of a disappointment because I really have no one to share my passion with in real life. You got me to thinking about how I might be able to share my love of gardening and teach others how to garden. The ideas are germinating in this old brain of mine. Time will tell if any of them bear fruit. Thanks for giving me a nudge.
I decided to become a Master Gardener because I love to garden and get joy in sharing my knowledge of gardening. I don't know everything but I know how to find the information.
potttts, seeeeeds, tags, soil. Doing my winter sowing as I watch. Definitely have been thinking about a little teaching/coaching of would be gardeners.
This is amazing Jess!!! Very helpful. Thank you. ♡♡♡
A few years ago I was buying seeds and a girl in her 20’s ish asked me which seeds were the green beans that you snap. I think it was the Blue Lake green beans I handed her. That was the only pack of seeds she bought. I also have my cousin growing in her raised bed she got her husband to make…they also moved a huge orange tree that the woods grew up around…and she had volunteer watermelon and pumpkin growing from the grandkids spitting seeds off the porch and carving pumpkins lol. Yep! Seeds just want to grow 🌱🌿🪴
Thank you for sharing this inspiration with us today, Jess! I have social anxiety, but when someone who doesn't "know a lot about gardening" asks me about my garden, I am like a sunflower! LOL I adore being able to share my experiences and answer questions about growing things here in northern Georgia. We use a mixture of organic and natural methods, constantly trying something new and taking notes because we want to figure out what methods work best for us in our current location. Whenever someone asks me what they should grow, since they're a beginner, I always answer them with a series of questions: What do you like to eat? Would you be growing in containers or do you have a spot in your yard for a garden? How much time do you think you can invest in growing your own foods? Because all of these things play a part in how they view their garden and what sorts of plants I think will be suited for their situation, at least to start with.
Basically a beginner here, question about mulching…how much mulch do you typically put down inch wise? If you are direct sowing seeds, do you mulch over the top of them right away or do you wait for the seed to sprout first?
Roots and Refuge is a resource for our students in the school garden club. Thank you, Jess!
Thank you for sharing your love of gardening with us!💗🌱
This was great. Hoping my garden does well this year and that some of the things I wanted to grow will do it now. Thank you for all your thoughts. ❤️
I started learning to grow food 16 years ago. I started watching Jess over two years ago when I became disabled n was bed bound. I have to say, every single time I watch this channel I learn something! She’s so great at explaining and encouraging… this is hands down my favorite channel to watch n learn from. ❤❤
Jess, I have learned so much from you these past few years..I'm 56 and I had my first volunteer cherry tomato plant last year and I was amazed ❤ I picked everyday from that precious plant..I absolutely wanted to grow..and grow it did!!! Thank you for inspiring me to grow food. Much ❤
I'm setting up a "school house" where we will teach gardening, fermenting, garden to table, foraging, canning, tincture and salve making etc.
We're on the FL Gulf Coast
I’m hosting a seed starting class at our church and our pastor is letting us do a church garden this year too! In my experience my posting about my garden on social has really sparked interest on people wanting to learn more and possibly try it as well. Which is powerful for sure but yes face to face is crucial tbh
The wisest advice I ever received as a teacher is that the best teachers are the ones who know how to say, "I don't know, but let's find out together." Because teaching isn't really about being an expert at any subject other than learning.
Tips
- Start wherever you are.
a. Even if it's just a couple of patio tomatoes, start there.
b. Don't go spend a ton of 💰 on new things. Make due; reuse & upcycle what you have. This develops problem solving, frugal living, & is environmentally sustainable.
c. Find a local community garden & volunteer, network, make friends, discover local resources. You may find you can get free seeds, compost, containers, & local know-how.
- Books: I always trust Rodale Press books, Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew, and various books in the Permaculture shelves at the library. Take copious notes in a notebook dedicated to gardening. Numerous studies on Learning show that taking notes & rewriting those notes does more to help your brain learn & retain new information. It's more than just repetition; it has something to do with the physicality of writing & how that aids connectivity in the brain.
Another great video! I am trying to convince my kids to some sort of garden but they live in a rented house and cannot garden. I told my daughter about the greenstalks. I wished I lived closer. They were so young when I did have a garden.
New beginner here! I'm so thankful that during my learning process you've been my teacher. I truly have the confidence to start growing something beautiful. Thank you for sharing your journey and allowing me to do something amazing...just because :)
You have inspired me all these years! And I have your book too! Thanks for helping me. And “yes” people have said to me…. “Teach us,”. Thank you thank you thank you! God bless you ! Bertha in Texas
I’ve been gardening for 3 years now and it’s crazy how I feel like every year I grew more and more to where it makes so sense to be where I am today. Im 24, my papa different things but his priority is watermelons. And even the same for his dad. This year I’m starting indoors and everything is looking very good! I’m so excited and thank you Jess for all you info. I started watching you and Gary Pilarchik and now I finally feel like this will be a successful year❤
I’m pretty new to gardening but I love trying to grow new things! It’s great finding resources like yours to keep the excitement growing, thanks Jess!
Years not yeats dumb auto correct!
Ive had Tomatoes and Habaneros peppers started 3 weeks ago. Im learning to grow food in a new Hot environment. (A huge Pine tree was removed ) We want to get the starts big enough to survive the heat. Last year we had to use a lot of shade cloth. Thank you for the content has been so valuable to me. Peace friends🦋🦋
Jess, I think a lot of people would love to garden but are scared. I always tell them do not be scared we all have to start some where and learn. I am not a pro by any means so I always say to always be on a learning level no matter how much you know or learn. There is always more to learn. Thank you for all that you share Jess, and being a blessing to others.
Great video!!! The issue I always run into is every place in a 50 mile radius that sells compost, the compost is far from being “done cooking” or “finished”. It’s always super hot, still cooking and breaking down. Any tips on that Jess? Thank you so much!!!!! 😊😊
Any vegetable gardeners in the Chicago area? I need help!!😊First attempt was a failure but I’m not giving up!!! Ready for round 2!
Super grateful for these videos. I'll be building a Christian drug rehab in a few years and intend to rely heavily on gardening and animals. I'm very new to gardening and hope to hire a gardener, but while the wheels get rolling I'll probably have to do a lot by myself. I'm 100 percent the target audience for this video. Thank you!
The need combined with gardening being regional is why I youtube. The boreal ecozone has few youtube gardening channels.
And most of them are tying to copy people in temperate climates.
I learned a lot from my mistakes. That's why I'm planning to make some more!
First off, I have to say, I came across your videos not really that long ago when I was searching for different methods of gardening in the winter. I simply love you! You seem so down to earth and you are really intelligent. I have watched a lot of channels over the years and many of them display this fake persona. They also patronize their viewers by putting out clickbait videos. But you are far from any of those channels. Thank you for keeping it real. I have been gardening for about 5-6 years now. I am an ESL teacher for Koreans. When they ask what I have been up to and I explain how I garden, many of them are perplexed because they all live in small apartments. I speak to them about my gardening techniques and I tell them there are ways to grow things from their terraces. I actually got two students to start growing! One of my students was so successful she was giving tomato plants to her coworkers as gifts! In turn, she learned terms like cold stratification, propagation, and what a 'Green Thumb' is. Winner winner chicken dinner! I really feel like where there is a will there is a way! A lot of it is just thinking outside of the box. This winter I started 'Winter Sowing' because I have had some issues with herbs like Echinacea and Lavender germinating. I'm hoping that by trying this method I can get a head start. This year I am researching the "Three Sisters Method." My point is, there is always something to learn. I don't think I will ever learn all that there is to know about gardening. At least, I hope not because I love learning about God and nature.
This is so great! Thank you. I am teaching a beginning herb garden class next month and it's the first time I'm teaching others about gardening. Definitely out of my comfort zone, but I'm excited!
This is my first year that I have grown from seed. I have been very successful so far. I made an indoor seed starting container with a grow light. This weekend I plan on transplanting the plants into bigger containers.
I totally agree! One way I have taught beginning gardeners is to have them help me in the garden while I garden, and then we talk what we are doing and why as we do it - super hands on effective way to learn. One gal has planted seeds with me, sized them up cups, transplanted, done mulching, harvesting, supplemental watering... I have sent her home with plants to grow at her home and we talk about what is working and what isn't as we work together and it is great learning and community building.
I so agree! I do have a TH-cam channel but teaching people in person and hands on is so much better - if anyone is interested in cold climate growing classes I’m located in north Idaho ❤ happy gardening everyone!
Many of my classes are series.....start with Winter Sowing, next Seed Starting, next Direct Sowing & Transplanting. In the fall....Pest and Weeds, then Harvest & Preservation, next Seed Saving & Storage....
Excellent video and message, Jess!! I don't want to have a class to teach, but I do share seedlings and established plants with friends who like to eat the food from them. And that allows me to slyly teach them how to care for the plants and hopefully "plants the seed" of a desire to garden, within them. 🥰
Wonderful class Jess, everyone has garden fever 🌱🌱🌻😁 one question doesn't anyone grow horseradish anymore , it's super beneficial 🌱🌱🕊
If you want to start gardening. I found that Clyde's gardening planner is a must, no matter what location you live in! And the book, Carrots Love Tomatoes! (Companion planting) It has worked for me!!!
Hey, Jess, Do you mulch your GreenStalks? If so, what do you use? Thanks in Advance!!!!!
I am teaching a seed starting class last Saturday of Feb. I'm so excited! I love teaching gardening. I just love it. Thank you for all your love and sharing. I bless you!!!!!
Does mulching help keep bunnies from turning your pots into baby homes? I've had Mama (our resident backyard wild rabbit) have at least one or two litters throughout the last couple years I'm my different pots when I'm trying to get them ready or I'm about to plant. I've tried mulching with lighter things, but I'm wondering if wood chips would work better at deterring her from using these spaces.
Amish Paste, Cherokee Purple, and Sunrise Bumblebee Tomatoes are MY FAVORITES. I HAVE grown Brad's Atomic Grape. I like them but the flavor pales, in my opinion, to the other 3.
GROW 🍅GROW🍅GROW🍅
Greetings from Madoc, 0ntario..those tiny seeds are the Bain of my life. I’m getting encouraged by you today. I will try again and hopefully i will succeed. Thanks..
I gardened a bit off and on in my early 20s (2005-2010). I came back to the garden in 2020 and looked for vertical gardening on TH-cam and found Roots & Refuge. I've gained so much just following your channel, including the devotionals. And for one of our summer events I'll be teaching kids at our church how to start gardening! Prayers appreciated >.
BEST QUOTE:👏🏼
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE EVERYBODY'S PERFECT RESOURCE FOR__________TO HAVE VALUE IN WHAT YOU SHARE!"
AMEN, JESSICA SOWARDS
👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🧡
It's funny... I was thinking today. I wish you would do an updated video. .... on seed starting. Redo the videos where you changed from the beginning. Showing an updated version. I am currently helping a friend learn more. I'm definitely using your videos. I love helping ppl.
I find myself saying so often, "they just want to grow!" Or, "they're fine they want to grow" - I can hinder or help that. By the way. I have WS pole beans from saved seeds from last year! Even though I've hardened most my life it has been in consistant. Right now I'm year 3 per / post retirement. Looking forward to your tomato greenstalk expperiment. I've had pretty good luck with cherry tomatoes in the greenstalk. Lasted into end of October! They grew, vined, everywhere but produced well. Love and support all you do. Thanks.💙💚💜💛😎
I have all new raised beds, 6 of them 10 x 4 in size, and I bought 6 metric tones of compost, well rotted horse manure, top soil, mushroom compost, potting soil with worm castings and mulch. I spent a LOT of money buying all this, along with fertilizer for the different crops I was growing (onion, berries....etc) and everything that grew looked like it was grown for the smurfs at the bottom of the garden. Everything was in miniature. My cauliflower and broccoli were the size of golf balls. My sunflowers didn't grow past 1 foot high with a head 2" across. Carrot tops that grew to 4 inches in height but would grow no further....although the Carrot itself was a lovely taste they were only 2" long. I don't really know what I did wrong but I'm looking forward to making it right this year🙄😂🤣🙄
Great guidance, Jess; thanks for sharing! My daughter & her partner bought an acreage with huge greenhouses last year! What an adventure of learning! I’ve never processed so many tomatoes in my life! She & her daughter started all the plants in her basement with grow lights (Canada) & was very successful, while working full time, with a family. It gave my granddaughter & my son some new experiences keeping the plants alive & harvesting. I even helped harvest some wonderful strawberries, tomatoes, peppers & green beans (I’m in my 7th decade).
Blessings to all 🤗💜🇨🇦
I'm excited to get your book! With my mom having cancer, she's completely switched over to a veg & fruit diet. So this year, instead of just tomatoes and peppers, we're going to grow MORE veg! I'm going this book will help. Was looking into getting a cheapy greenhouse for seed starting as i have ZERO room in my house. Had anyone done this?
Okay, I’m not even a minute in and I’m drooling over those purple pots. Soooo pretty! Okay, back to the scheduled program. 😊
I like going to the library to be able to check out books I'm thinking of buying. I've been able to weed (pun maybe intended) out the books that didn't jive with me. Those that did, I purchased. Saved a LOT of money.
Thank you for another amazingly helpful video! There is an organization you may be interested in called "Certified Naturally Grown". Think of it as "small farmer and homesteader organic".
Super great video! I loved it! Thank you for continuing to share your wisdom! I am so very very very happy you are feeling better. Not just for the extra inspiration, but because I truly want you to be well. ❤️
Question?? I tried to save potatoes *
put them in a box & poked holes for air
*they were stored in a basement cupboard that's pretty cold
* zone 4(MN)LFD-mid to end of May.
* my question is they started sprouting and I don't want to loose them. Please does anyone have any recommendations?
ok, I've been gardening for years and I love learning from Jess, books, other youtubers, and the communities who follow and surround gardening. Thank you all! here's the thing, i have NEVER mulched my vegetable garden and I'm very interested in starting this year but I dont know what "mulch" to use. I believe that Jess uses a straw mulch but how do i know I'm buying something that isnt treated? if anyone has any keywords, links, etc that might help me make sure i understand what to look for i would really appreciate it! thank you!