Springtime brings a surge of energy and excitement to get outdoors and plant in old and new plots, begin construction projects that have been conceived over the winter months such as cold frames, arbors and trellises, and "fairy habitats", and the list goes on. Quickly, frustration sets in when, despite longer daylight hours, there is never enough time to fit it all in. This is when my wise neighbor Danny's voice reverberates in my head reminding me to "work smarter... not harder". So I am doing just that... by making homemade "seed strips" to speed my spring planting.
However, since I plant using the "Square Foot Gardening" Method, whereby I plant in 1 ft x 1 ft squares, I made seed squares rather than seed strips. This is how it works, according to two articles I discovered in the Portland Oregonian Newspaper. For seed strips, cut pages of black and white newsprint (avoid color pages) into 1-inch wide strips. Lay a strip next to a yard stick and mark off evenly spaced intervals according to the spacing recommended on the seed packet. For example, radishes are spaced 2 inches apart, beets 4 inches, etc. Mix some flour and water to make a paste the consistency of heavy white sauce. Either dab it onto your newspaper markings with a toothpick or dispense from a squeeze bottle like I chose to do. (I used an agave nectar bottle.) Place a seed on each drop of glue and allow to dry. Store strips in a bag or box where they will be in a dry and dark environment until time to plant. When the ground warms sufficiently, set seed strip in ground, cover with soil, and water. The newspaper will decompose and the seed will germinate.
I adapted the seed strip directions by cutting 12-inch squares to use for the Square Foot Gardening Planting Method. For photo purposes, I made my markings with a permanent marker so the lines would be visible. However, I began by using a pencil to mark off my squares then quickly transitioned to folding several sheets of 12x12 newspaper simultaneously to eliminate the measuring and marking step. For example, for carrots, according to the Square Foot Gardening Method, you plant 16 seeds in one 12-inch square. (You'll have carrots 3 inches apart which is the recommended distance after thinning.) So, I folded the 12x12 square in half then half again, turned the paper 1/4 turn, then folded it in half then half again so that when I unfolded it I had 16 squares. A drop of glue in the center of each of the 16 squares with one seed plopped on top of each and it was done. So fast and so comfortable sitting at the kitchen table in an upright position rather than hunched over in the garden.
Mar. 14, 2009
Today's mileage: 4 mile bike ride
Total monthly mileage for March: 37.25 miles
Bible reading? Yes.
Mar. 15, 2009
Today's mileage: 2 mile walk
Total monthly mileage for March: 39.25 miles
Bible reading? Yes.
Mar. 16, 2009
Today's mileage: 2 mile walk
Total monthly mileage for March: 41.25 miles
Bible reading? Yes.
Mar. 17, 2009
Today's mileage: 0
Total monthly mileage for March: 41.25 miles (same as yesterday)
Bible reading? No.
Mar. 18, 2009
Today's mileage: 0
Total monthly mileage for March: 41.25 miles (same as yesterday)
Bible reading? No.
Mar. 19, 2009
Today's mileage: 2 mile walk
Total monthly mileage for March: 43.25 miles
Bible reading? Yes.
Mar. 20, 2009
Today's mileage: 4-mile walk
Total monthly mileage for March: 47.25 miles
Bible reading? Yes.
Mar. 21, 2009
Today's mileage: 0
Total monthly mileage for March: 47.25 miles (same as yesterday)
Bible reading? Yes.
Mar. 22, 2009
Today's mileage: 4.5 mile bike ride
Total monthly mileage for March: 51.75 miles
Bible reading? Yes.