Many of us catch spring fever in March. It’s a time when winter begins to appear in your rear view mirror. Some days are warm, some days are cold. It’s stormy and sunny all in one month. This is the time of year when you can really get geared up for gardening.

Here are 6 simple steps to get you geared up for gardening this year.

Learn.

Find a local garden show to get connected with gardening experts in the area. I attended the Arkansas Garden Show with my mom last weekend. It was a great education in all things gardening. There were horticulturists, fermentation experts, backyard chicken growers, and even honeybee enthusiasts! If you can’t find a local garden show, check out your local cooperative extension to get tips.

Plan.

Check out the farmer’s almanac to predict the last frost. Instructions on when to plant in your garden is related to the last frost in your area. For example, I plan to plant cucumbers 1-2 weeks before last frost (about now where I live in north Texas). And, start a pinterest board to give you gardening ideas. From a simple herb garden on your windowsill to a full-out pollinator garden, the possibilities are endless.

Compost.

The key to a successful garden is healthy, rich soil. An effective way to get healthy soil is to compost. Compost is organic matter that you can use to fertilize the garden (without chemical fertilizer). We throw away our fruit and veggie scraps (that don’t go to the chickens) on our countertop compost tin, and once it gets full we take it to a larger compost bin that stays on our back patio.

Till.

My veggie garden is still pretty young, and therefore I am adding organic garden soil to it each season. It’s important to till the garden to introduce oxygen into the soil. Adding garden soil and compost to the ground will add nutrients as well. Our chickens are natural tillers (and provide manure as well). They have been scratching and pecking in our dormant veggie garden all winter, which has been enriching our soil.

Shop.

I recommend finding a local nursery that specializes in organic veggies and local plants (shout out to North Haven Gardens in Dallas). Local nurseries can give you advice for gardening in your area.

Seed.

I am going to try my hand at planting seeds this year. It’s less expensive, and I went to a workshop at the garden show about how to plant seeds without a greenhouse… I’m excited to give it a try.

How do you get geared up for gardening season? Let me know in the comments!

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