I had forgotten to look in the bin that has customer-donated heirloom seeds! Oops! Well, I did and found four interesting, new-to-us peppers, two sweet and two hot. Of course I must plant them too. We were in Hibbing (town) today and stopped in both Walmart and our local farm store. They had shelves and shelves full of peat pellets. But they were included in “kits,” with a flat, clear dome and the pellets. Well, I have plenty of flats, don’t need a dome (when they’re snapped down, the seeds often rot because of excessive moisture.) and only wanted pellets. No dice. I checked the store in Virginia (town) online and it says they have just the pellets. Guess where I’m going tomorrow?? Gee, they’ve figured out how to force you into buying the whole “kit” … even if you just want Jiffy peat pellets, haven’t they? Well, not this gal!
I think every single baby pepper plant is up or coming up now. What wonderful germination! It makes me feel so happy to see those little green plants! We know it won’t be too long before the snow goes, and we can get in the gardens again.
I haven’t ordered many plants or trees this year, putting all extra cash toward paying down a couple of debts that make me have sleepless nights. There’s the repair on the big red truck and Will’s big orange Kubota tractor. One was a need, and the other a “want.” Oh well, commitment is a commitment, so we need to get them both paid off just as soon as possible. We never pay just the monthly payment! No matter what, more is put on the principle to get it down faster with paying less interest in the long run. Debt sucks! Especially in today’s rocky world.
— Jackie
wow ! saw the great picture of greenhouse as reading, thought ! holy moly her toms are… then realized 24 photo but soon the 25 photo will be taken before you know it. my(80%) peppers are up! some still popping, what a joy to see them alongside of my herbs- that i couldn’t wait to get started back the end of January. early but figuring on they’ll be potted for transplanting or gifting next year. its so good to get back into the dirt(even in the 80 degree greenhouse). debt, the ugly part of purchasing a needed(or want) item. good luck on getting it done sooner than latter. we are all in concern of todays world. does one good to enjoy a homemade million dollar dinner! love that line :) take care . hope the skinny pile gets you there! Mary
I’m really tickled at our peppers and am so glad I waited until warmer weather to get them planted. Even with the wood stove, when it’s below zero at night, it gets down in the low sixties or even fifties in the house at night. We’re not burning the best of wood this year but what the heck. Now I think every seed I planted came up! Holy cow, that’s wonderful. Some, I planted two seeds per pellet, and I hate killing that second little plant. So, we’ll have LOTS of peppers this year.
I am a prime member but we found a bunch at our local farm store, L & M Fleet Supply. Yea!!! Tomorrow I’m planting peppers!
I love L&M in Virginia! Such helpful folks. Glad you found what you wanted. Happy Planting!
Loving your greenhouse! Heated! Puts me to thinking!
Not yet. But soon. We don’t have enough heat if it drops to negative temperatures.
I LOVE looking at the greenhouse picture. Maybe if we got some other projects finished this year…I like to dream!
Me too. wow it’s huge !
It took several years for ours to happen. In that time we started saving up used patio door windows. I love ours now!!
Dear Jackie,
Your plant pictures are balm for a winter weary soul! I am ready for spring, for sure.
Jan
I love scrolling through our old pictures. It’s like finding hope in that, yes, spring really will come again and things will get green.
I see you can get peat pellets from Amazon. Today is a canning day for us-cleaning out the freezer. 12 quarts of beef and 30 -1/2 pints jars raspberry jam ( I had a huge yield last summer). I had an 80% germination of my peppers. The celery I bought from you is growing. I’m still collecting maple sap and the weather got terribly cold with snow predicted tomorrow. I’m still paying on some land I bought and wish that debt was gone. I’m concerned the future interest rates will be high. Everything seems so unsettled. With the future farm prices you can’t make any money. I too try to knock any debt in the head. It’s going to snow again here tomorrow The wood pile nearly gone.
Yes, ours is getting skinny and it was two years’ worth!! Holy cow. I looked on Amazon and would have ordered but we went to Virginia (town) and I found a bunch at our local farm store, L&M Fleet Supply. Hooray. Tomorrow, I plant more peppers.
I, too, am worried about the unsettled climate of the whole world right now. That’s one reason we’re trying to plan ahead, doing the “what ifs” and trying to protect ourselves as well as possible. And praying like mad.
How exciting to find some new to you donated pepper seeds! Yay!
It makes me sooo happy to see those little seedlings poke their little heads up.
You are so smart to focus on getting your debt paid off. It is depressing to think how expensive living is now a days.
Happy almost spring.
I jumped for joy when those little green, bent pepper backs come up through the soil!
Yep, we’re focusing on getting back out of debt. Some was necessary and some, not so much (Kubota tractor, Will!). But it’s ours to own. And get paid off. Everything is getting so expensive. I saw $9 eggs at Aldis today!! I made a quiche for dinner, using 7 eggs. Will called it our million dollar dinner!
Happy nearly spring to you!!
Hello Jackie
I’m glad you found a place to get the peat pellets.
It’s great you found those donated seeds.
Everything you’ve started is looking so good and I
know your ready to be in the garden soon as you can.
I know I’m really ready.
Did you get snow or blizzard conditions?
We did here and weather can’t seem to make up it’s mind.
I want to get my starts going in the outdoor building and
have had trouble getting out there with the cold, snow and wind.
I’m hopeful soon and want to get started building the new greenhouse.
I understand you don’t like the debt and the weight it brings.
I normally don’t buy a lot extra these days and have a lot of seeds saved but
I decided to order from you and make sure I have the best heirlooms to keep
being self sustainable.
I hope if possible to order more in coming months too.
One good think about the Kabota is they rock for a tractor and as prices
get crazier it will be good to have it for Will to use.
I hope you have the best day.
I’m off to check on yogurt I’m making and take a bit of break for awhile
before maybe catching up on my blog finally lol
We really enjoy receiving family heirloom seeds from folks. That’s where some of our very favorites came from like Bill Bean, Turkish Paste, Mia’s Italian Paste tomatoes, Donkey Ears, Venice Bootleg, Ozark Sweet Snack and Wild Florida Orange Grove peppers, Crawford, Six Nation Iroquois, Wild Goose and Rice River beans and many more!
We’re really worried about the whole world situation now and are trying our very best to keep ahead of things as much as humanly possible.
Hi Jackie!
Looks like you could order the peat pellets on line… Amazon of course…200 for $26.25…. get them by march 11… unless you are a prime member :-)
I really need to start my seeds that way! Have a great day!