Another spring, another seeding! The last few weeks have brought sub-zero temps, nearly two feet of snow, followed by gale force chinook winds, temps in the mid-forties, rain…and tens of hundreds of gallons of melt-off. Then, the last couple days brought glorious sun and sixty degree temps. So. Much. Water. Though, as our friends at Reditus Natural Farming remind us, we should be grateful for the clear ground. They, at a higher elevation with its own chilly, butte-induced weather, still have some inches of snow-cover. A bit daunting from the horticultural angle, agreed?
Inside our shop, however, we’re making the best of it. Time to sow early Asian greens, spinach and dwarf kale!
Our planting media are in the up-cylced molasses totes allowing for ready access, custom mixes, and a kid-sized seeding bench.
Once seeded, the trays head to a newly fashioned germination chamber. Heat and humidity source? Slow cooker controlled by Inkbird thermostate: energy efficient and relatively compact. We hope the mellow start will translate to increased germination rates, reduced seedling stress and greater plant vitality. Here’s to hoping!
Castricum Ranch 