Self Sufficiency
Seeds vs Starters – All You Need to Know

Starting your own garden can be such a rewarding experience. As time goes on, and you watch your plants grow and learn to take care of them, you become even more connected to your garden. Many experts argue that this attachment helps the plants to grow taller, straighter, and healthier! But in order to foster this connection, you have to know what’s going on right from the start. That means knowing the difference between seeds vs starters – and knowing which is right for you.
Whether you’re starting from seeds or beginning at the nursery stage, there are many positive benefits of each option that can produce beautiful plants for your garden. Read on to find out whether you might prefer seeds vs starters! Then discover more information about all of the beautiful possibilities that both options can provide for your garden!
Seeds vs Starters – The Basics
Seeds
Buying seeds comes with many positive benefits for the gardening experience.
Some Pros of Seeds
Variety:
With all of the new hybrid seeds being crossed and created, the possibilities are seemingly endless when you choose to plant. Funky combinations – like black tomatoes or purple potatoes – are just a couple examples of some inventive new plants that will ensure your garden is the most unique in the neighborhood!
Cost:
Seeds are much cheaper than buying nursery plants. Typically, a packet containing 100 seeds will cost no more than about $2!
Self-sustainable:
After you practice planting from seeds and really start to get a feel for how to cultivate your garden, you will no longer have to rely on others to start your garden for you by growing nursery plants. This will lead to an increase in self-satisfaction. It’s a joy knowing that you can do this process all on your own!
Getting Started with Seeds
Whether you’re at a beginner’s level or you’re simply looking for an easy planting season, we’ve got some of the lowest maintenance and quickest-growing seed options for your summer garden!
Sunflowers:
These seeds can be sown straight into the ground in a sunny patch. Then, away they go! If you’re looking for maximum height in your sunflowers, add stem supports to the sprouts. This will help them grow tall and strong!
Sweet peas:
Their beautiful fragrance and fresh color, not to mention their easy planting process, make these flowers a garden favorite! These large seeds just need a sunny spot, a support fence, and plenty of water. Follow these steps, and you’ll watch them bloom in no time.
Nigella:
Perhaps the easiest seed plant of all time. All you need to do is scatter these seeds across an open patch of land, and let them do their thing. After the flowers fade, the plant will even set seed for next year. Easy breezy!
California poppy:
Much like their nigella friends, California poppies just need to be sprinkled where you want them to grow. They also do well in hot dry climates that don’t see lots of rain, so this is a perfect option for our down-south gardeners!
Starters
Growing straight from seed is not the only way to a healthy and vibrant garden. That would end the seeds vs starters debate all too quickly! Many planters prefer to self-start and sustain their plants through the starter approach. There are many positive aspects of following this method:
Some Pros of Starter Plants:
Ease:
Nursery plants are used by all different types of gardeners. Whether you’re brand-new to the plant process, or have been an expert for years, nursery-bought plants are an easy addition to a garden of any shape or size.
Cost:
You can buy in bulk at a relatively cheap price. There are usually plenty of neighborhood wholesale nurseries that specialize in certain types of plants if you’re looking for a particular favorite!
Business Opportunity:
You can even start your own plant nursery as a part-time business with good, profitable turnaround. If you can spare an hour a day, you can create your own schedule and start a backyard plant nursery. Then, you can later re-plant and sell your plants for a sizable profit margin increase!
Jumping into Starters
When it comes to the most successful plants that are grown through a nursery approach, there are several options that typically see the quickest growth, the steepest profit (if you are wanting to re-plant and sell at a later time), and the most beautiful results:
Ground covers:
This is quickly becoming an ideal backyard nursery crop as it’s perfect for the water shortages that tend to come along with summer heat. In addition to conserving water, they also require low maintenance and minimal upkeep. They’re also a living mulch that provides major benefits for soil. Ground covers are known for keeping soil cool, moist, and protecting it from erosion.
Ornamental grass:
This option is particularly popular among gardeners who also enjoy landscaping, as they can be used in so many ways and can function in numerous locations (as ground covers, border attractions, or near ponds). Ornamental grasses are easy to grow and are bothered by few insects and diseases.
Trees and shrubs for landscaping:
These types of plants can find a home directly in the ground (either in your garden or used as landscaping additions to pre-existing structures), or they can be planted and maintained inside pots if you’re looking for an alternative approach. If you’re a specialty grower, or looking to target your potential nursery business towards buyers who have a more particular taste, these plants can be extremely profitable – some gardeners have been known to make up to $150 per plant!
So which is better?
Whether you’re at the beginning stages of your journey as a gardener, or you’re a seasoned expert looking for a fresh new perspective, there are multiple benefits to both the seed and nursery approach when cultivating growth in your garden. You might even be able to start your own low-cost, low-maintenance business from this hobby or pastime of yours! Or perhaps you’d rather just enjoy the beauty of watching life grow before your eyes. No matter your purposes, we’ve got some ideas for everyone to share and enjoy!
What did you think of our post on seeds vs starters? Let us know in the comment section below!
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Self Sufficiency
NYC Adds Nearly 4,000 People Who Never Tested Positive To Coronavirus Death Tolls

New York City added nearly 4,000 people who never tested positive for the coronavirus to its death toll Tuesday, bringing coronavirus-related deaths in the city to around 10,000 people.
The city decided to add 3,700 people to its death tolls, who they “presumed” to have died from the virus, according to a report from The New York Times. The additions increased the death toll in the U.S. by 17%, according to the Times report, and included people who were suffering from symptoms of the virus, such as intense coughing and a fever.
The report stated that Democratic New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio decided over the weekend to change the way the city is counting deaths.
“In the heat of battle, our primary focus has been on saving lives,” de Blasio press secretary Freddi Goldstein told the Times.“As soon as the issue was raised, the mayor immediately moved to release the data.”
The post New York City added nearly 4,000 people who never tested positive for the coronavirus to its death toll appeared first on Daily Caller
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Self Sufficiency
How To Make Lacto-Fermented Sauerkraut In A Mason Jar
The thing about homesteading is you get to create your own ingredient right from scratch! Cheese, yogurt, butter and now sauerkraut, a delightfully sour and crunchy ingredient you can use on your meals — or consume by itself — while on a homestead, or while facing this health crisis!
This homemade sauerkraut is a great meal because it has a long shelf life. You can either make plain sauerkraut or mix it with herbs and spices. In this tutorial let us make Lacto-fermented sauerkraut that preserves all the good probiotics in a jar, good for your guts.
So how to make sauerkraut in a mason jar?
RELATED: How To Make Buttermilk On Your Homestead
Delicious Sauerkraut Recipe Every Homesteader Should Know
Why Make Sauerkraut?
Not only does sauerkraut spoil a long time, but it is also a meal in itself, and it is also easy to make! You don’t need to be an expert cook, all you need to do is follow these simple steps.
So let us get started. Here are the steps in making sauerkraut in a mason jar.
Ingredients:
- 1 head of cabbage or 2 1/2 lbs cabbage
- 1 tablespoon of salt
Tools Needed:
- knife
- bowl
- mason jar
- smaller jar
- rubber band
Step 1: Wash & Clean the Tools & Ingredients
Wash all the equipment and utensils you need. Wash your hands too.
You don’t want to mix your sauerkraut with bad bacteria, anything that is going to make you sick.
Next, remove the faded leaves from your cabbage. Cut off the roots and the parts that don’t seem fresh.
Step 2: Cut the Cabbage Into Quarters & Slice Into Strips
Cut your cabbage into quarters and remove the core. Then, slice it into strips.
Step 3: Place in a Bowl & Sprinkle With Salt
Put the stripped cabbage into a bowl. Sprinkle the cabbage with 1 tablespoon of salt.
TIP: Use canning salt or sea salt. Iodized salt will make it taste different and may not ferment the cabbage.
RELATED: Homemade Yogurt Recipe
Step 4: Massage the Cabbage
Massage the cabbage for five minutes or more to get the juice out.
TIP: You’ll know it’s ready when you see a bit of juice at the bottom of the bowl and will look similar to coleslaw.
Step 5: Press Cabbage Into the Mason Jar
Add the cabbage to the mason jar gradually. Press it in hard to allow the juice to come out. Do this every time you add about a handful of cabbage.
IMPORTANT: Food should be covered by the liquid to promote fermentation. Add any excess liquid from the bowl to the jar.
Step 6: Press a Smaller Jar Into the Mason Jar
You want to squeeze every ounce of that juice from the cabbage. To do this place the mason jar in a bowl and get a smaller jar.
Fill it with water or marble to make it heavy. Press it into the bigger mason jar. Allow any juices to rise to the surface.
Step 7: Cover the Jars With Cloth & Tie With Rubber Band
Leave the small jar on. To keep your jars clean from annoying insects and irritating debris, cover your jars with a clean cloth. Then, use a rubber band to tie the cloth and the jars together, putting them in place.
Step 8: Set Aside & Check Daily
Set it aside in a cool dry place, away from direct sunlight. Check the water level daily. It should always be above the cabbage.
Step 9: Taste Your Sauerkraut & Keep at Cool Temperatures
After about five days, you can taste your sauerkraut. If the taste is to your liking, tightly cover it with the lid and store in the fridge or cellar.
NOTE: If after five days it’s still not your desired taste, leave it for a few more days. This will allow the fermentation process to continue.
You can now enjoy your sauerkraut in a mason jar. Enjoy its goodness! You can use it as a side dish or mix it with your favorite sandwich.
Things to Remember in Making Sauerkraut
- Store away from direct sunlight and drafts.
- Colder weather will make the process longer. Spring is the best time to make them since the warmth helps activate the fermentation.
- Always make sure that the cabbage is below the water level during the entire fermentation process.
- If the water level decreases during the fermentation process, you can make a brine and add it.
Let us watch this video from Kristina Seleshanko on how to make delicious Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar!
So there you have it! Making Lacto-fermented sauerkraut in a mason jar is as easy as slicing the cabbage into strips. Remember that as long it remains unopened, your sauerkraut can last for months. Best of all, you can partner this sauerkraut in many recipes.
What do you think of this homemade recipe? Share your best sauerkraut recipe in the comments section below!
Fellow homesteaders, do you want to help others learn from your journey by becoming one of our original contributors? Write for us!
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Self Sufficiency
9 SPRING VEGETABLES FOR YOUR GARDEN
Having plants in the house will bring peace to people. Having a little garden with vegetables is even better! You can grow these vegetables in your backyard garden easily as well!
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In this article:
Growing veggies in your garden will give you an opportunity to understand what you eat and value it more. Early spring is when most vegetables are being planted. Keep reading to learn about 9 spring vegetables that anyone can grow in their garden!
Tomato
Tomato is the most popular garden vegetable in the States! There are different varieties to choose from. Tomatoes need to be planted in early spring because they won’t survive a frost.
Because tomatoes are consumed daily, try adding them to your garden! They’re not difficult to grow either.
Eggplant
Eggplants are known to have low-calorie, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. Plus, they are delicious! So why not plant them in your garden?
Eggplants shouldn’t be planted too early because they won’t be able to survive a frost. So you could consult an expert in your area before you plant your eggplants.
Beets
Beets are known to be a superfood for its various health benefits. They’re easier to grow in the garden, usually around late March or early April.
If the weather is always cool, beets will keep getting bigger and bigger. Once the weather starts to warm up, you’ll need to harvest them, or they’ll go to waste.
Spinach
Spinach is a delicious early spring veggie, and it’s also very beneficial for health. And it’s not difficult to grow spinach in your garden!
Spinach needs cold weather to grow. Getting spinach to grow is easy, but keeping it growing will require some extra care.
Pea
Peas are usually planted in late April. Peas will die in freezing temperatures, but they also won’t survive the heat either. So make sure you plant your peas in early spring.
Peas are widely used in many different ways, and there are different types of peas. The soil you’ll be planting your peas should be suitable for them, so make sure you ask while buying seeds.
Carrot
There are different types of carrots, but regardless of their size and color, it’s a fact that carrots are both delicious and rich in vitamins.
They’re root vegetables, so with proper sun and watering, they can be picked up as baby carrots as well.
Radish
A radish is an excellent option for beginners because it doesn’t require too much care. Radish is easy to harvest.
Radish grows fast, so it’s better to keep an eye on it after a few weeks. Radish usually is grown pest-free, but there’s always the chance of unwanted guests, so watch out for worms. Radish can be eaten raw or can be added to garnish recipes.
Cauliflower
Cauliflower isn’t the easiest vegetable to grow at home, but it is very popular.
Cauliflower grows better in colder weather, so before you plant it, consider the climate of your garden. Cauliflower can be eaten raw or cooked, and it is known to be very beneficial for health.
Asparagus
Freshly picked, tender asparagus is very delicious!
Asparagus plants get more productive with each harvest, and mature asparagus harvest can last for months! Make sure you plant them at the correct time, or else they might go to waste.
All the vegetables listed above are great for your healthy diet, and it’s fun to watch them grow. So don’t miss out on the opportunity to grow your own veggies and eat healthy this spring!
So tell us which veggies will you be growing this spring? Tell us in the comments section!
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