Earthworks Gardens Horticulturists (in training!!!)

Who says it is tough to find a job these days with no experience. I hired this young man right after reviewing his resume. If your seed pack is a few short....don't blame me! Actually, we will have seeds available at the Garden Classes, (see info on side bar)
for $.25 donation per pack to cover the cost of envelopes and to tip the workers. Inventory includes, cukes, zukes, watermelon, sugar snap peas,
snow peas, beans, gourmet lettuce mix, radish, pumpkin & squashes. I'll bring them every week to class until gone, about 15-25 packs of each. Bring your quarters!
Grandson Jace, 2 1/2 yrs. old

This worker is older, but still in his first year. What a helper! He doesn't even mind getting wet, dirty or muddy....go figure. Most of the soil actually gets in the pots. This is my flower/plant shop at the house. One heated garage stall, lights, racks and plants! Before the tornado, I had a solarium that I started everything in. But, after spring it was too hot to use, and too cold in the winter, so we didn't replace it. How old do you think he'll be when helping grandma isn't fun anymore? Hope I have a few years. Grandson Gavin, almost 4.

Learning to bottom water seeds flats, even though it is more fun to splash it over the top. Mostly what I have started now is perennial plants from seeds, like hardy Geraniums, Asclepias, Lavendula, Dianthus etc. Also, some annual and perennial herbs for mixed herb pot sales. I have about 30 flats started right now, adding 20 per week for the next few weeks with the annuals. Most of the annuals we grow will be installed in the field for cut flower bouquets. We will also have curly willow for sale in May at the Farmers Market. Some of the smaller willow bunches are in the above photo, but most are 3-6 feet long.

Organized chaos. Getting set up with racks and shelves. We just moved back in our house then end of October, so for us that is a lot of progress. The 'shop' is basically to start the transplants in the spring, and a shady cool area to design my bouquets in. The rest of the work is outdoors.

At the first garden class we will plant some seeds trays for some hands on experience. I will also bring some pepper and tomato transplants that I will have started for the class to repot to 6 packs. If you have already started tomatoes and peppers.....you are waaaaaaay to early. Come to class and learn why!

Seeds flats all tagged and cozy warm on heated propagation mats. Some seeds like it cool, some warm, some covered, some not, picky picky. Perennial seeds are usually more tricky to germinate than the trusty annual seeds and more expensive too. The trays are usually bottom watered once daily. Once seedlings are 1-2" tall they will get transplanted up to a 6 pk. Most plants with a stem like peppers, tomatoes, & zinnias benefit from having the stem sunk below the soil line when repotting and planting out. Plants that grow from the crown like petunias need to maintain the same soil level. Flower gardening is week 3 of class. When seeds are really tiny, you can mix them in with a little sand to make it easier to plant them evenly. In 4 weeks I will be transplanting round the clock. If you would like a few hours of hands on experience, let me know.