Gardening And More

  January Gardening Calendar Start planning for Spring. January is the perfect month to start planning your garden for the current year. As a refresher for last year’s thoughts, ideas or plants you were thinking about purchasing, dust off your gardening journal to see what changes or additions you want to make this year. A garden is always evolving. Start looking at seed and garden catalogs. January is a good time to start planning this year’s design features and plants. Seeds and new introduction plants sell out quickly. Don’t miss out and wait, try to order your seeds or reserve your plants soon. Reserving your plant purchase guarantees the plant will ship at the proper time for planting in your USDA zone. Seed starting Kits. Growers recommend starting the seeds indoors in a bright location to get a jump start to spring. There are seed starting kits which are advertised as seed starter germination kit or seed starter greenhouse kit. The kits usually feature a tray, growing...

  How Homesteaders Can Turn Hobby Farms Into Income-Generating Ecosystems Image via Freepik For many homesteaders, a small farm begins as a labor of love — a space for self-sufficiency, sustainability, and connection with the land. But what starts as a passion project can evolve into a rewarding business when paired with structure, planning, and a clear understanding of market dynamics. In this guide, we’ll explore diverse strategies for monetizing a hobby farm — from direct-to-consumer sales to agri-tourism — with a focus on systems thinking, diversification, and digital visibility.   Monetizing a hobby farm requires blending traditional farm practices with modern business skills. Focus on: ●       Diversified revenue streams (produce, livestock, experiences) ●       Online visibility and storytelling ●       Efficient farm operations ●       Education ...

 Looking for stock photography your website, article, magazine. Look no further Cheryl Ann Meola can help you find the perfect image for all your stock photography needs. Stock Photography  Enjoy. Send me a email or message here on the blog post. Fall is coming. Here is an example of my images.

  Let’s get ready for September in preparation to cooler temperatures by fertilizing annuals, perennials, and roses one last time for winter preparation. Check flowerbeds for pooped-out perennials such as Purple Coneflower, Black-Eyed Susan, and Shasta Daisy. Trim dead flower heads and brown leaves for fall. Apply a new layer of mulch. Mulch helps keep the plants warm in winter and cool during summer months. Fertilize Chrysanthemums and Salvia with a liquid plant food. You will be rewarded with blooms later in the fall. Chrysanthemums, Pansy, Viola, alyssum, and Snapdragons provide winter color through the spring and should be available by mid-September at garden centers. For spring blooms plant Bluebonnet and Poppy seeds now. For a complete list of Fall Color Annuals. September is a good time to divide and cut back perennials. Check your daylilies, irises, and monkey grass while the weather is still warm. Are you planning to bring your Tropical Hibiscus in this winter? ...

  Petals and Profit: Turning a Flower Garden Into a Thriving Business Photo via Pexels You probably didn’t plant a sprawling flower garden with profit in mind. Maybe it started with a few rows of peonies and dahlias, then grew, season after season, into a vibrant, living canvas of color. But now that your garden stops passersby in their tracks and fills your mornings with the buzz of bees and the hum of potential, you might be wondering how to turn all that beauty into a business. The answer lies in seeing every bloom as both art and asset—balancing what’s beautiful with what’s bankable, without losing the soul of your garden. Start with the Stems: Selling Fresh-Cut Bouquets There’s no quicker route to revenue than harvesting what’s already growing. Arranging and selling fresh-cut bouquets through local farmers markets or subscription flower services brings in immediate income and gives your garden a foothold in the community. You can go beyond the standard floral fare an...