<center><b>Adventures in Gardening</b></center>

Today is going to be mild here in Oklahoma, but that could change in a blink of an eye, to ice storms and or tornadoes.  It takes a couple weeks to germinate certain seeds, like peppers. It takes at least a month to get most seedlings 2-4 inches high and ready for transplanting. 

After I am done with this post I will be out in my garden getting it ready for spring planting. I will be teaching my Grandkids, Sean and E how to make paper seedling pots and how to sprout seedlings. It's time to start sprouting my garden. Spring arrives after February here in the Southern Midwest. I am still getting to know the weather in this part of the world. Last years garden did very well, but the bugs were awful!  I had to do some research because I ran into bugs we don't have in Oregon. I will share keeping bugs at bay without harsh destructive chemicals in another garden post.
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I use newspapers, cataloges, and phonebooks for my paper pots. All of these items would of been thrown away. I knew at the time, ink and some plastics contain BPA, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bisphenol_A">a link to Wiki Bishenol A data,</a> which jacks our endocrine system. I did not toss the paper into my composting pile. The only plant matter I put in my compost pile is organic. If you have a strawbale garden, be careful only to get organic straw or hay. If sprayed with herbicides and pesticides the residue will inhibit plant growth and health, ruining your compost pile as well. All the little flora and fauna that break down plant matter into dirt will be weakened or killed. And this sterilization of our dirt is also happening to all our farmland that uses herbicides and pesticides. Dirt is a carbon sink as well. <a href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080225072624.htm">Compost Can Turn Agricultural Soils Into A Carbon Sink, Thus Protecting Against Climate Change</a>

>BPA exhibits estrogen mimicking, hormone-like properties that raise concern about its suitability in some consumer products and food containers.
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<center><a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/bottom2-e1485008402679.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/bottom2-e1485008402679.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, finishing paper pot" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a> <a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/bottom-e1485008389894.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/bottom-e1485008389894.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, Finishing seedling pot" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a></center>
I used a round container that used to be an herb jar, they are just the right size for my paper seedling pots.
<center><a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/bottom4-e1485008434936.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/bottom4-e1485008434936.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, finished seedling pot" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a> <a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_2613-e1485015644761.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_2613-e1485015644761.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of Seedling pot prep" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a></center> 
Mina reminded me to use a permanent marker to mark how high I wanted my pots. This makes working with the pots easier when you are filling them full of dirt and working with them in a seedling container. 
<center><a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_2843-e1485015680893.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_2843-e1485015680893.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, obama pot" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a> <a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_2837-e1485015690378.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_2837-e1485015690378.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, materials for seedling pots" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a></center>
<center>I hope President the Barack Obama will grow sweet seedlings. Only time will tell....</center>
<center><a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_2616-e1485016810273.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_2616-e1485016810273.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, empty paper pots" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a> <a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_2687-e1485015657723.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_2687-e1485015657723.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of dirt filled" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a></center> 
I used sterilized soil that would hold water. I didn't make my own because I would have to heat the dirt up to kill all the organisms, I didn't have an outdoor area for that processes and heating up soil in the house is very stinky. I found out the hard way. Heating up the soil kills off organisms that could cause disease, especially bug larva, like white flies, which are awful regarding the health of your seedlings and transplants.  <a href="https://www.planetnatural.com/pest-problem-solver/houseplant-pests/whitefly-control/">A link to how to control white flies</a>, <a href="https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/sterilizing-soil.htm">a link to making healthy seedling potting soil</a>, <a href="http://www.bettervegetablegardening.com/potting-soil.html"> a link on how to make great seedling potting soil.</a>

<center><a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_2618-e1485015634859.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_2618-e1485015634859.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, paper tomato pots" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a> <a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_2840-e1485015574690.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_2840-e1485015574690.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, dirt filled pot" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a></center>
I grew over 300 pounds of tomatoes when this photo was taken back in the fall of 2014. After two years of figuring out how to grow tomatoes, I hit the jackpot and made quarts of tomato sauce and ketchup. Upper right hand picture is tobacco sprouts. 
<center><a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_3058-e1485008178386.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_3058-e1485008178386.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, lettuce seedlings" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a> <a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_3057-e1485008191732.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_3057-e1485008191732.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of tobacco seedlings" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a></center> 
Left hand photo is lettuce seedling, right hand photo is tobacco seedlings.

<center><a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_3062-e1485008209976.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_3062-e1485008209976.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, squash seedlings" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a> <a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_3064-e1485008268182.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_3064-e1485008268182.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, squash seedling" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a></center>
Left hand photo is fall squash or pumpkin seedlings, I don't like summer squash. Left hand photo squash seedling getting its first true leaf. 
<center><a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_3065-e1485008253901.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_3065-e1485008253901.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, chard seedling" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a> <a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_3066-e1485019405997.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_3066-e1485019405997.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of leek seedling" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a></center> 
Left hand photo is a chard seedling, right hand photo is a leek seedling. I found starting onions inside and transplanting definitely gives me a better harvest. The cold crops that can be planted early spring like chard, lettuce, collards, kale can be seeded directly into garden beds and I get a great harvest. But I also start a few inside as well. 
<center><a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_3060-e1485008229494.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_3060-e1485008229494.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, pepper seedling" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a> <a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/tobacco-e1485008476507.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/tobacco-e1485008476507.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, tobacco transplant" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a></center>
Pepper seedlings in the left photo, they still have a lot of growing to do before transplanting. My Rustica (primitive) tobacco is ready  for transplanting after all danger of frost is over. Tobacco plants produce very tiny seeds. My wild rusticas spread seed from plant easily, they are almost like a weed they are so vigorous.  I grew Russian Red, Burly yellow, Hopi Rustica. Rustica tobacco is the primitive tobacco and produces a lot of nicotine. If you try and smoke the stuff after drying and curing,  you might get high and nauseous. Native Americans mixed their tobacco with mild sweet tasting herbs to cut the harshness.  <a href="http://sustainableseedco.com/rustica-tobacco-seed-types/">Rustica Tobacco seed varieties from Sustainable Seed Co. </a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinnikinnickl">Native American herbal smoking mix called Kinniknnick.</a>
<center><a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/lettucstarts-e1485008501449.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/lettucstarts-e1485008501449.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, lettuce transplant" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a> <a href="--" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/img_4653-e1485019236720.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of lettuce beds" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a></center> 
Lettuce transplants and lettuce directly sown into our kitchen garden beds. We had to net off all or gardens because the deer in Eugene Oregon are very aggressive when they want to munch on garden produce so bad they will try and climb a ten foot fence. That's one of the reasons why we got a dog. Mina is an excellent watch dog, she also watches for hawks that loved to eat our chickens.

<center><a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/pumpkinsquash-e1485008446707.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/pumpkinsquash-e1485008446707.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, squash transplants" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a> <a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/tomatoes1-e1485008540374.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/tomatoes1-e1485008540374.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, tomato transplants" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a></center>
Left hand photo squash ready to transplant and right hand photo tomatoes ready for transplanting. That year I planted 300 tomato seedlings. I kinda over did it because I didn't want to waste any of my transplants.
<center><a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/aprilgarden9-e1485008334118.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/aprilgarden9-e1485008334118.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of, digging up beds for transplants" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a> <a href="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/aprilgarden8-e1485008318385.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="https://scratchliving.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/aprilgarden8-e1485008318385.jpg" width="203" height="270" alt="photo of beds transplants" style="border:1px solid black;" /></a></center> 

My husband and I dug up our garden beds with a shovel and hoe. The workout was better than going to the gym and our workouts produced food!

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