I have a black thumb

Petie · 11-13-2014, 11:19 AM

This is a phrase my mom always used to describe her ability to care for plants. Rather than a green thumb, everything she tried to grow, died, except squash. So, as a kid, I ate squash 1000 different ways. Some were good, others, not so much.

So, now, I have kids and dh and I are living in AK, and I am considering trying to get a greenhouse so that I can grow food year round. The problems are numerous...

1. We don't have the land yet, we are renting. Come spring, we should be moving to a home with a little acreage, so this will work itself out.

2. I am my mother's daughter. I bought a cactus once and managed to kill it. According to the nursery, I overfed and overwatered it. I have NO innate knowledge on gardening.

3. I want a GMO free greenhouse. I have found some distributors that guarantee that their seeds are GMO free.

4. I want it to be self sustaining. So, I want to learn how to use what I grow to grow more. But, I don't even know where to start!!

So, help me. I feel like a little kid, in that I know NOTHING about something that sustains me daily. It really does feel pretty bad knowing that I eat food, yet I have no clue how it gets here.

houseforjoy · 11-13-2014, 04:33 PM

i would start by grabbing a couple books and finding a few gardening blogs to follow. you will learn a lot by experience! start with what you think you can handle and won't give up on. do you want to go all out and plant a huge garden with all types of things? or just start with growing a few tomatoes and maybe lettuce. all things you will want to ponder and figure out as you go along.

i enjoy gardening for the most part, i really love the beginning planting and the end of harvesting, but the big long middle maintaining part i could go without

11-13-2014, 11:19 AM	#1
Petie Climbing Rose Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Arizona Posts: 1,289	I have a black thumb This is a phrase my mom always used to describe her ability to care for plants. Rather than a green thumb, everything she tried to grow, died, except squash. So, as a kid, I ate squash 1000 different ways. Some were good, others, not so much. So, now, I have kids and dh and I are living in AK, and I am considering trying to get a greenhouse so that I can grow food year round. The problems are numerous... 1. We don't have the land yet, we are renting. Come spring, we should be moving to a home with a little acreage, so this will work itself out. 2. I am my mother's daughter. I bought a cactus once and managed to kill it. According to the nursery, I overfed and overwatered it. I have NO innate knowledge on gardening. 3. I want a GMO free greenhouse. I have found some distributors that guarantee that their seeds are GMO free. 4. I want it to be self sustaining. So, I want to learn how to use what I grow to grow more. But, I don't even know where to start!! So, help me. I feel like a little kid, in that I know NOTHING about something that sustains me daily. It really does feel pretty bad knowing that I eat food, yet I have no clue how it gets here. __________________ INTJ Mom of 4 Gav 17 Justin 13 Lala 11 Simon 8

11-13-2014, 04:33 PM	#2
houseforjoy Rose Garden trying to live like olaf "this is the best day of my life!... and quite possibly the last!" Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: in the sunshine with my own personal flurry Posts: 9,563	Re: I have a black thumb i would start by grabbing a couple books and finding a few gardening blogs to follow. you will learn a lot by experience! start with what you think you can handle and won't give up on. do you want to go all out and plant a huge garden with all types of things? or just start with growing a few tomatoes and maybe lettuce. all things you will want to ponder and figure out as you go along. i enjoy gardening for the most part, i really love the beginning planting and the end of harvesting, but the big long middle maintaining part i could go without __________________ Amanda, ENFJ Mommy to my bounty: ds 13 years, dd 12 years, dd 9 years , dd 6 and ds 4 Psalm 13 How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I take counsel in my soul and have sorrow in my heart all the day?....because I am shaken. 5 But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

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