Liz Cultivates | L.M. Fern

I haven’t posted in a minute, so while I’m working on some other posts that have been rattling around in my head for a while, I thought I would give a small update on the summer garden.

If you recall, I started all my own seeds this year instead of buying adolescent plants in the spring. I constructed this light fixture out of PVC, a plastic boot tray from the hardware store, and LED grow lights. A friend from work gifted me a heat mat that they didn’t need, and I’m convinced that it saved all of my little guys. Since I don’t have a warm place to grow them (the shop is temperature controlled but stays at around 55 degrees F), the mat really helped keep the seed tray warm. Starting all the seeds was a process, and it was so rewarding to watch the little seedlings struggle to emerge.

Next year, my setup is going to be even better. I invested in a workbench for all my gardening tools and needs — I’ll be able to dry herbs, write on labels, do my garden planning, and more. I also set up some shelves and hooked up the LED lights there, to give me some easier organization for seedlings.

I also invested in a rain barrel, but I haven’t set that up yet (so pictures to come soon!). Everything is growing like weeds, except for the hot peppers. I’m not sure what’s wrong with them, but they’re going through it. Might not be a hot peppers year for me.

It really does feel like gardening is something I’m supposed to be doing. It drags me out of depressive stupors for at least a few minutes (because things need watered and pruned and tended to!) and helps me ground myself when I’m feeling particularly listless. I’ve put a lot of work into it, and being able to eat food fresh out of my own garden has been so rewarding.