LOVE your Short Season Garden
By: Sarah Koontz
Have you ever felt like you are at a complete disadvantage when it comes to gardening simply because of where you live? Has the length of your growing season discouraged you to the point of nearly giving up?
I have heard it said that life is all about perspective. Sometime the thing we need most is not a change of circumstance, but rather a change in how we view our circumstance.
I find value and beauty in the short season gardening experience, and it is my hope that this article helps you to do the same.
Where I live, the cold and barren winter months are about twice as many as the lush and green growing season. I could choose to be discouraged by this, but I am learning to love my short season garden.
When I set out to plan and plant my vegetable garden, my goal is simple: I want to learn how to grow and preserve enough fruit, herbs, and vegetables to last my family the whole year.
I am very serious about getting the most out of my short season garden.
This spring will be my 3rd attempt at growing a productive garden. I have improved each and every year, and I cannot wait to see what this season will bring.
I am learning to LOVE my short season gardening experience, and I know you can too!
Here are my TOP 10 Reasons to LOVE your Short Season Garden:
1. You Appreciate your Garden MORE & you can’t wait to get started in the spring.
2. You are FORCED to focus your energy on the most productive crops.
3. Winter gives you time to PLAN and STUDY, to focus on improving your knowledge and skills.
4. Land gets much needed rest during the LONG winter months, crop rotation is not as crucial.
5. CHALLENGE to preserve the bounty because growing your own produce in the winter is unlikely.
6. You get a BREAK and AVOID burnout!
7. Forces CREATIVITY in seed selection to maximize your harvest.
8. The winter garden (or lack thereof) makes an EXCELLENT chicken run.
9. FOCUS of attention during the growing season is intense because otherwise you will fail (I cannot imagine maintaining that over a longer growing season).
10. You STILL NEED COMMUNITY because it is impossible to be 100% self-reliant!
It is nearly impossible to become self-sufficient in a northern climate. The benefit of this is that we are forced to work together with other like minded people.
I am sure that you could come up with one or two more things to add to this list! Instead of focusing on the fact that the cards are stacked against you when you set out to garden in a cooler climate, choose to look for the hidden benefits.
I absolutely love to garden, but by the end of the season I am exhausted. I don’t know how you southerners do it! I am grateful for the changing of the seasons and the beauty that each one brings.
As the time for planting is quickly approaching, I could not be more excited or optimistic about what I can accomplish in my short season garden this year.
Nice article. I have a little garden.
Awesome! Gardening is so wonderful. I hope you have a bountiful harvest this year, Jonathan!
Love your video – I would love to move that fast LOL! Good luck on having a productive garden – it looks like you are getting a really good start. I admire your for your positively in finding positive in good winter weather. Visiting from Homestead Blog hop. Twitted and shared on google.
Well, I didn’t want to bore people with my loafing around….lol! I am glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for visiting from the Homestead Blog Hop. We were so excited to be featured this week. Love that HOP!
I have learned to container garden up here in Buffalo, NY. It frees up some of my garden space for rotational planting all season and extends it by being able to move the containers inside the garage when it gets frosty at night. Very fun post!! Tina
I am glad you enjoy my odd sense of garden humor! I love your idea of starting your plants in something “mobile” so you can protect them if the weather takes an unexpected turn. My garage has turned into an impromptu greenhouse this spring (it has southern exposure). So far it is working well for us. Best of luck with your northern garden this year.
Ha Ha Ha, loved it! I too like the break from work, but not so much the break for fresh food supply. So my #11 would be: We can always grow food indoors ;).
Neat article and funny video. Love it. Will share on facebook and twitter!
I am so glad you enjoyed it…thank you for sharing!