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mental health

Gardening & personal growth

6 Ways gardening leads to personal growth

To say that gardening is a HUGE part of my life would be the understatement of…

by Kir December 21, 2020

Kiri Martin

Just a city girl, who wishes she was a country girl, who is currently living in the 'burbs with a heart full of big homestead dreams. #makefoodgrow

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ourlittlesuburbanfarmhouse

ourlittlesuburbanfarmhouse

Sent via @planoly #planoly

Sent via @planoly #planoly

Sent via @planoly #planoly

Sent via @planoly #planoly

Sent via @planoly #planoly

Sent via @planoly #planoly

I always smile when I see bees all over my sunflow

I always smile when I see bees all over my sunflowers! #pollinators🐝 #bees #sunflowers

Sent via @planoly #planoly

Sent via @planoly #planoly

Sent via @planoly #planoly

Sent via @planoly #planoly

If you are looking for a pollinators friendly plan

If you are looking for a pollinators friendly plant to add to your garden I would strongly recommend honeywort. The bees love it and I find the leaves so pretty. They have blue/grey hue to them and little even lighter polka dots on them.

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#honeywort #pollinatorplants #growwhatyoueat #homesteaddreams #newgardener #enjoythelittlethings #plantnerd #indoorgrowing #gardener #seedaddict #heirloomseeds #indoorgarden #hydroponicgardening #growingfoodyearround #canadiangardener #homesteadjourney #makefoodgrow #tipsfornewgardenders #microhomestead #microhomesteader #microhomesteading #suburbangarden #suburbanhomestead #suburbanhomesteading #suburbanhomesteader #backyardgarden #growingfoodinsmallspaces

Sometimes a good old DIY is in order. In trying to

Sometimes a good old DIY is in order. In trying to cut down on plastics I decided to try my hand at making some beeswax wraps.

If you want to see how I made them check out the link in my bio to my YouTube channel where I have a video of the whole process.
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#beeswaxwraps #diy #growwhatyoueat #homesteaddreams #newgardener #enjoythelittlethings #plantnerd #indoorgrowing #gardener #seedaddict #heirloomseeds #indoorgarden #hydroponicgardening #growingfoodyearround #canadiangardener #homesteadjourney #makefoodgrow #tipsfornewgardenders #microhomestead #microhomesteader #microhomesteading #suburbangarden #suburbanhomestead #suburbanhomesteading #suburbanhomesteader #backyardgarden #growingfoodinsmallspaces

Luckily I saved seeds from these beauties! #delphi

Luckily I saved seeds from these beauties! #delphinium

Lemon balm is a newer herb for me but I have alrea

Lemon balm is a newer herb for me but I have already learnt that it can take over in a second if you are not careful!

I am planning to use it to make some balms this winter and maybe some tea as well. I am slowly building up my knowledge of medicinal herbs and adding them to my garden as I go.

What is your favourite way to use lemon balm?
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#lemonbalm #medicinalherbs #growwhatyoueat #homesteaddreams #newgardener #enjoythelittlethings #plantnerd #indoorgrowing #gardener #seedaddict #heirloomseeds #indoorgarden #hydroponicgardening #growingfoodyearround #canadiangardener #homesteadjourney #makefoodgrow #tipsfornewgardenders #microhomestead #microhomesteader #microhomesteading #suburbangarden #suburbanhomestead #suburbanhomesteading #suburbanhomesteader #backyardgarden #growingfoodinsmallspaces

I am so glad that I started vermicomposting, espec

I am so glad that I started vermicomposting, especially given the gorgeous Urbalive wor farm I snagged from @wormbox.ca

LINK IN BIO TO SAVE 5%

Being able to use y kitchen scraps and other garden bits to make my own black gold to feed my soil and increase my harvest is a game changer.

I just moved the worm farm outside but this has happily lived in my dining room for over a year so even if you do t have a lot of space you can still be a worm farmer!
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#vermicomposting #vermicompost #wormfarm#growwhatyoueat #homesteaddreams #newgardener #enjoythelittlethings #plantnerd #indoorgrowing #gardener #seedaddict #heirloomseeds #indoorgarden #hydroponicgardening #growingfoodyearround #canadiangardener #homesteadjourney #makefoodgrow #tipsfornewgardenders #microhomestead #microhomesteader #microhomesteading #suburbangarden #suburbanhomestead #suburbanhomesteading #suburbanhomesteader #backyardgarden #growingfoodinsmallspaces

I was pretty happy with this years potato harvest.

I was pretty happy with this years potato harvest. I learned some lessons from last years fiasco and I plan to do things a bit different with them next year.

I have already enjoyed some epic garlic mashed potatoes and I’m planning to make some mint potatoes like my Nan used to make.

I love that potatoes give you a good return on your investment and they are for the most part a set it and forget crop. Well, as long as you start them off right 😉🥔🍠
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#growingpotatoes #potatoharvest #growwhatyoueat #homesteaddreams #newgardener #enjoythelittlethings #plantnerd #indoorgrowing #gardener #seedaddict #heirloomseeds #indoorgarden #hydroponicgardening #growingfoodyearround #canadiangardener #homesteadjourney #makefoodgrow #tipsfornewgardenders #microhomestead #microhomesteader #microhomesteading #suburbangarden #suburbanhomestead #suburbanhomesteading #suburbanhomesteader #backyardgarden #growingfoodinsmallspaces

If I had to pick my ONE favourite thing to grow ea

If I had to pick my ONE favourite thing to grow each year it would hands down be tomatoes! Specifically, heirloom tomatoes.

I love how many different kinds there are that look and taste so very different than the round and red ones from the grocery store.

These San Marzano tomatoes are growing like crazy this year and I am eagerly looking forward to making my first batch of tomato sauce!
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#growingtomatoes #heirloomtomatoes #sanmarzanotomato #growwhatyoueat #homesteaddreams #newgardener #enjoythelittlethings #plantnerd #indoorgrowing #gardener #seedaddict #heirloomseeds #indoorgarden #hydroponicgardening #growingfoodyearround #canadiangardener #homesteadjourney #makefoodgrow #tipsfornewgardenders #microhomestead #microhomesteader #microhomesteading #suburbangarden #suburbanhomestead #suburbanhomesteading #suburbanhomesteader #backyardgarden #growingfoodinsmallspaces

PUMPKINS!

My sugar pie pumpkins from Baker Creek are growing up a storm and seem to be taking well to growing vertically. I love this method of growing squash (as long as they are not too big) as it allows for better air flow, frees up space in the garden and makes the flowers REALLY visible for pollinators!

As an added bonus it makes it much easier to hand pollinate the flowers as well! If you want to learn how to hand pollinate squash check out the link in my bio to my YouTube channel where I have a video on doing just that!
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#sugarpiepumpkins #pumpkineverything #verticalgardening #growwhatyoueat #homesteaddreams #newgardener #enjoythelittlethings #plantnerd #indoorgrowing #gardener #seedaddict #heirloomseeds #indoorgarden #hydroponicgardening #growingfoodyearround #canadiangardener #homesteadjourney #makefoodgrow #tipsfornewgardenders #microhomestead #microhomesteader #microhomesteading #suburbangarden #suburbanhomestead #suburbanhomesteading #suburbanhomesteader #backyardgarden #growingfoodinsmallspaces

In my quest to start building an English cottage g

In my quest to start building an English cottage garden AND to add more plants for pollinators I grew some snap dragons from seed. I forgot how tall these plants can get and I’m not going to lie. I totally went out and made their “mouths” open and made chomping nosies LOL.

I will be adding more of these to the garden next year as they truly make me happy when I see them.

What’s your favourite flower?
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#snapdragons #cottagegarden #englishcottagegarden #pollinators #growwhatyoueat #homesteaddreams #newgardener #enjoythelittlethings #plantnerd #indoorgrowing #gardener #seedaddict #heirloomseeds #indoorgarden #hydroponicgardening #growingfoodyearround #canadiangardener #homesteadjourney #makefoodgrow #tipsfornewgardenders #microhomestead #microhomesteader #microhomesteading #suburbangarden #suburbanhomestead #suburbanhomesteading #suburbanhomesteader #backyardgarden #growingfoodinsmallspaces

The garlic harvest is over and I got about 45 clov

The garlic harvest is over and I got about 45 cloves this year. Some were big, some were small but it’s all homegrown and that’s what counts. I will be saving some of the biggest cloves to plant in October.

It’s important to remember when planting garlic that (usually) the bigger the clove you plant, the bigger the bulb will be the next year. I always plant my garlic in the fall, around mid-October so that it will be able to go through vernalization (exposing it to prolonged cold temperatures) over the winter. This is key to allow for bulb formation.

Garlic is also a heavy feeder so make sure you are planting it in rich soil. But more on that in October. For now I have some garlic to braid…
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#garlic #growinggarlic #homegrowntastesbetter #growwhatyoueat #homesteaddreams #newgardener #enjoythelittlethings #plantnerd #indoorgrowing #gardener #seedaddict #heirloomseeds #indoorgarden #hydroponicgardening #growingfoodyearround #canadiangardener #growingyearround #homesteadjourney #makefoodgrow #tipsfornewgardenders #microhomestead #microhomesteader #microhomesteading #suburbangarden #suburbanhomestead #suburbanhomesteading #suburbanhomesteader #backyardgarden #growingfoodinsmallspaces

How cute is this wee baby potato! Potatoes, like t

How cute is this wee baby potato! Potatoes, like tomatoes come in determinate and indeterminate varieties. So if you are starting a potato tower make sure that you are using an indeterminate variety as they will keep growing and producing potatoes as you add soil.

Regardless of the type, the potatoes form under the soil/straw attached to stolons (the long white but in the photo)

Potatoes are a great crop to grow when you want a big return on your investment for a small amount of work. One seed potato or even a single piece of a seed potato with 2-3 eyes on it will give you around 4-6 potatoes!
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#potatoes #growingpotatoes #growwhatyoueat #homesteaddreams #plantsmakemehappy #enjoythelittlethings #plantnerd #indoorgrowing #gardener #seedaddict #heirloomseeds #indoorgarden #hydroponicgardening #growingfoodyearround #canadiangardener #growingyearround #homesteadjourney #makefoodgrow #pickeringontario #microhomestead #microhomesteader #microhomesteading #suburbangarden #suburbanhomestead #suburbanhomesteading #suburbanhomesteader #backyardgarden #growingfoodinsmallspaces

If I had to pick the one pepper I am most excited

If I had to pick the one pepper I am most excited to grow this year it would definitely be the jigsaw pepper. This pepper takes variegation to the next level. It has white, light green, dark green and even purple variations on its leaves.

As an added bonus, word on the street is that it is jalapeño level hot. Which is perfect as I am a big baby when it comes to heat 😂

I can’t wait to try it but I am already pretty sure this beauty will always have a spot in my garden. I am also quite smitten and in awe of its gorgeous purple flowers.
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#jigsawpepper #varigatedleaves #growwhatyoueat #homesteaddreams #plantsmakemehappy #enjoythelittlethings #plantnerd #indoorgrowing #gardener #seedaddict #heirloomseeds #indoorgarden #hydroponicgardening #growingfoodyearround #canadiangardener #growingyearround #homesteadjourney #makefoodgrow #pickeringontario #microhomestead #microhomesteader #microhomesteading #suburbangarden #suburbanhomestead #suburbanhomesteading #suburbanhomesteader #backyardgarden #growingfoodinsmallspaces

I love fall, it is my favourite season. That morni

I love fall, it is my favourite season. That morning chill in the air, harvest time and the leaves changing colour. So it is no surprise I love growing pumpkins, which if there was a fruit of fall I am pretty sure pumpkin would be king!

These are sugar baby pumpkins from Baker Creek, which I fully intend to turn into pumpkin pie later in the season! I am growing them vertically on my arched cattle panel trellis.
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#pumpkineverything #sugarbabypumpkin #ilovefall #growwhatyoueat #homesteaddreams #plantsmakemehappy #enjoythelittlethings #plantnerd #indoorgrowing #gardener #seedaddict #heirloomseeds #indoorgarden #hydroponicgardening #growingfoodyearround #canadiangardener #growingyearround #homesteadjourney #makefoodgrow #pickeringontario #microhomestead #microhomesteader #microhomesteading #suburbangarden #suburbanhomestead #suburbanhomesteading #suburbanhomesteader #backyardgarden #growingfoodinsmallspaces

Onion seeds are notorious for have a short shelf l

Onion seeds are notorious for have a short shelf life. After 1-2 years the germination rates really drop off. Onions are also biennial, this means they only produce flowers (and therefore seeds) in the second year.

As an experiment, I left some onions in the garden last year to see if they would be able to survive a Canadian winter.

They did and now I have loads or gorgeous flower heads in the garden. So this will be the first year that I attempt to save my own onion seeds.

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#onions #onionseeds #seedsaving #growwhatyoueat #homesteaddreams #plantsmakemehappy #enjoythelittlethings #plantnerd #indoorgrowing #gardener #seedaddict #heirloomseeds #indoorgarden #hydroponicgardening #growingfoodyearround #canadiangardener #growingyearround #homesteadjourney #makefoodgrow #pickeringontario #microhomestead #microhomesteader #microhomesteading #suburbangarden #suburbanhomestead #suburbanhomesteading #suburbanhomesteader #backyardgarden #growingfoodinsmallspaces

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