Growing the Good Life

With concerns about food supply and rising prices due to potential tariffs, now is the perfect time to develop your food growing skills. By adopting three essential mindsets—curiosity, embracing imperfection, and persistence—anyone can successfully grow their own food regardless of whether they have a "green thumb."

• Curiosity is the number one trait needed for successful food growing—asking questions and being inquisitive about plants and their needs
• The perfectionist mindset can be a major barrier—instead, view gardening as one big experiment where mistakes are learning opportunities
• Plants naturally want to grow and photosynthesize—your job is simply to create favorable conditions and get out of their way
• Persistence is crucial—don't give up after the first failure, as each growing season brings different variables and learning experiences
• Start small with a container garden or single raised bed to build confidence without feeling overwhelmed
• Growing your own food translates to greater mental health, personal satisfaction, and self-confidence that extends beyond gardening

Get out there and start growing today—you don't need to remember everything or be perfect, you just need to begin and keep learning through experience.

Ready to debunk onion-growing myths and learn the tips and tricks to grow your own sweet Candy onions successfully and long-storing Cabernet red onions? 

As a seasoned gardener based in western North Carolina, I promise to guide you on a year-long journey of growing onions, from sowing seeds to reaping not one, but TWO bountiful harvests. 

The second part of our onion adventure will have us delve into the art of onion care. From planting under full sun to regular watering and the perfect timing for planting and harvesting, you'll learn everything you need to know to nurture your onion garden.

 We'll also touch on preventing onion bolting and the importance of waiting to start the high-nitrogen fertilization of your overwintered short-day onions until February. 

You'll also get insights into the role of day length in onion growth and how to properly cure your onions before storing them. 

It's all about gaining the confidence to grow your own onions and experiencing the joy and rewards of backyard gardening. 

So, are you ready to become an onion-growing guru?

It's Michelle Roberts here, and on this episode I'll I take you through our farm's recent achievement of being certified naturally grown - a label that is more than just the buzzword for us. In this candid conversation, I'll shed light on why we took this route, the real costs of organic certification, and why it's often a far-fetched dream for many small-scale farmers like us. 

Expect more than just farming anecdotes as you tune in. Discover how our certification is a promise of natural and sustainable farming practices, and what it means for you, our valued customer. From our minimal use of only natural chemicals to innovative pest control methods, we've got it all covered. Plus, get a sneak peek into our new ventures, including our greenhouse setup and farm stand, all of which have taken root this year. Trust me, you wouldn't want to miss this conversation about farming, sustainability, and the significance of knowing where your food comes from.

Is the scorching summer heat making your green thumb wilt? Fret not, dear gardener, because I, Michelle Roberts, am here to bring a cool, refreshing breeze to your gardening routine. The heat may be draining, but the glorious season of fall is right around the corner - a time that is not only easier on you but also brings forth a harvest of delicious and even profitable crops! As a seasoned gardener, who has been nurturing a family garden to overseeing a full-scale market garden, I'll be sharing the magic that fall gardening can bring, along with handy tips to make the most of this season.

Let's walk together down the pathways of your garden, as we prepare for the fall harvest season. From the right seeds to plant to the best time to sow and reap, we'll navigate through the nitty-gritty of fall gardening. As the weather cools down, we'll also discuss how we can extend our gardening season, pushing our bounty well into winter. Join me for a heartening episode that will not only revive your love for gardening but inspire you to see your garden in a whole new light, throughout the year. Let's turn that summer sweat into fall abundance, shall we?

• Selling extra seedlings for a profit is easier than ever, and can be done on various scales.
• Benefits include providing access to naturally grown seedlings and offsetting growing costs.
• Consider growing what you already are, varieties that do well in your climate, and plants deemed difficult to grow from seed.
• Pre-selling is a great way to control cash flow and get customers invested.
• Include fast-growing plants for quick turnover time and consistent availability.
• Consider growing fast-growing plants during periods of the year when other places are not stocking them.
• Think about the space you have under your grow lights and how much money you want to spend up front when deciding how many extra plants to sell.
• Set prices that are high enough to ensure profitability and sustainability, while still remaining accessible to the community.
• Plan plant sales windows around last frost date in the spring and first frost date in fall.
• Gather necessary supplies (grow lights, trays, soil, fertilizer) for a successful sale.
• Market through existing farmers markets, local popups/festivals, roadside stands, and Facebook Marketplace.

• In today's Growing the Good Life podcast, Michelle Roberts discussed the importance of quality potting soil/seed starting mix, which has become an issue in the gardening space.
• Potting soil/seed starting mix typically consists of compost, peat moss, perlite or vermiculite, and coco coir (spent coconut fibers).
• With more people entering the gardening space in 2020 due to high demand, producers have not been able to check the quality of inputs leading to issues with the product.
• Issues arise from the use of inputs that have been treated with chemical pesticides and herbicides and have not had enough time to break down properly.
• To ensure products are safe for use, Roberts recommends doing a test by planting a few bean seeds side-by-side in different mediums and observing for stunted growth or curling leaves.

• Michelle Roberts, host of the Growing in the Good Life podcast, explains how to determine when to fertilize onion plants.
• Depending on the latitude, long day onions require 14 hours of sunlight, while short day onions require 10-12 hours.
• Onions need a boost of nitrogen during their growing process. This can be done by adding a general-purpose fertilizer with potassium and phosphorus at planting time and having regular nitrogen supplements every 2-3 weeks.
• Blood meal is an excellent supplement, providing nitrogen without hurting the plants.
• Once the onions begin to bulb up, no more nitrogen should be added as it will have no effect and may contribute to increased algae in waterways.

• It is essential to select healthy seedlings from big box retailers, ensuring they have no yellow leaves or wilting and the soil is adequately moist.
• Paying more than 50 to 75 cents up to a maximum of $1 for single-head crops (such as cabbage) is the most economical approach.
• Shopping at local garden centers, privately owned garden centers, or on Facebook Marketplace can often result in finding cheaper seedlings.
• Aim for multiple plants per cell; tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants are more forgiving price-wise and can yield several pounds of produce from one plant.