Seeds in the Snow: How I get a head start on growing food and medicinals the easy way

Winter is staring to fade away, the days are becoming longer and warmer. The hens have kicked up production and are getting very creative on hiding their eggs, making every day an Easter egg hunt.  The kitchen now houses a horse trough of baby chicks, keeping them safe and warm til all the danger of frost has passed. The goats are giving birth and soon I'll be a busy milk maid, making cheese, kefir, yogurt, and goat milk soap. The lakes and rivers are beaconing the ole man and our boys to their shores to fish the evenings away and come home each night full of tall tales of the ones that got away and lines full of bounty to clean and put up for the year. The horses are being worked again, their winter break over and falling away like their shaggy winter coats. But most significantly, the gardens are being brought back to life. 

Now with everything I have going on in the early Spring, do you really think I have time to start seeds for all the plants we'll be growing? Do you imagine I have a giant, expensive greenhouse I'll be running heaters and fans to, watering sprouts and transplanting them to bigger pots as they grow, opening and closing doors and windows each day for ventilation? Well, I don't and if I wanted to spend the kind of money a greenhouse cost I would just forget all the work of a garden and buy the produce instead. Do you think I'll be setting up and running grow lights and fans and watering hundreds of little cups of seedlings each day only to spend a week or more moving them inside and outside over and over again to harden them off? Not a chance. I put out a decent sized garden, about 60 X 100 feet, and typically grow 75+ tomatoe and pepper plants, and a whole mess of peas, beans, spinach, cabbage, lettuce, radish, turnips, potatoes, cucumbers, squash, melons, okra, greens, medicinal and culinary herbs, and a couple flowers. Do you think I'll be side stepping all the work and giving up the satisfaction of starting my own plants by purchasing starts for all these from a garden center? That would cost a fortune and if I had a fortune to spend on local, organic, living food I could just skip all the work of growing my own and do that instead. Well, being the die-hard DIY type, I would probably STILL would grow my own.

I've only been gardening about 18 years but I'd like to believe I've gleaned a little wisdom along the way and have found what I think to be the best method for getting the garden started- winter sowing! It's exactly as it sounds- sowing seeds in the dead of winter, that time of year when I have extra hours each day to sit inside and yearn for the warmth and sunlight to return and not enough hobby farm projects to keep my busy heart and soul occupied.

Are you wondering, what in the world is winter sowing? Well, it is a gardening technique where seeds are planted outdoors during the colder months, typically in winter, using mini greenhouses like recycled plastic containers (e.g., milk jugs or takeout boxes). The idea is to let nature take its course—seeds experience the freeze-thaw cycles and germinate naturally when conditions are right, usually in early spring. It's a low-maintenance and cost-effective way to start seeds. Plus, it eliminates the need for fancy grow lights or indoor space! It's often used for hardy seeds, such as native plants, vegetables, herbs, and perennials that benefit from cold stratification (a period of cold to break seed dormancy) but I've yet to find a seed it didn't work for! There are a few things I don't bother winter sowing such as root crops and peppers (winter sowing works fine for peppers but I'm a bit impatient and want a really big head start on peppers so I sprout them extra early in the house).

Winter sowing works by taking advantage of natural conditions to mimic the way seeds germinate in the wild. Remember, nature is already perfectly designed, and we benefit in so many ways if we work with, not against nature.  Here's how it all comes together:

1. **Prepare Your Mini Greenhouse**: Repurpose a plastic container to become your mini greenhouse (milk or water jugs are perfect and have convenient handles, 2 liters are great too). Cut it open horizontally but leave one side intact like a hinge, leaving the bottom attached. Poke drainage holes in the sides, about an inch or two from the bottom as this creates a reservoir.  I used to collect and clean dozens (hundreds?) of milk jugs until I discovered the recycling center in town has an infinite supply and I could enlist my little ones to help carry extra large trash bags full of jugs back to the truck.

2. **Plant Your Seeds**: Fill the container with about 3 inches of potting mix. I always throw in a little composted manure, not because we have mountains of it and I'm trying to get rid of it or anything like that LOL. Plant your seeds as directed on the seed packet. Cover with soil and lightly water them to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Don't be stingy with the water as this is likely the only time you'll ever water your seeds.

3. **Seal and Label**:  Use a sharpie or paint marker to label your jugs and do not kid yourself into believing it's not necessary because you'll remember what you planted. After 2 months of living in the elements any other markers fade away and then you get to play the really fun and challenging game of "Name that Seedling". Next, simple tape the container back together.

4. **Place Outdoors**: Put the container outside in a sunny, protected spot where it will experience the natural freeze-thaw cycle throughout the rest of winter. Be mindful not to put the jugs anywhere a nosy goat, horse, or onery dog will bother them.

5. **Nature Does the Rest**: The seeds remain dormant until temperatures warm up in spring, at which point they'll germinate. You'll know it's working when you see sprouts appearing. Of course, you'll be curious and check on your jugs. I typically check them three times on the very day I plant the seeds, two times the next day, once on the third day after planting and then I forget I even planted them until a week before the plants are to go in the garden. This is truly a hands-off method!

6. **Transplant When Ready**: Once the seedlings are strong enough and the danger of frost has passed, open the jugs and let them acclimate for a couple days, then transplant them into your garden or larger pots. 

This method is fantastic because it eliminates the need for costly indoor grow lights and space, while also producing some of the hardiest, strongest, and most productive plants while allowing me to spend my precious Spring days fishing, foraging, riding horses, and writing blogs! Winter sowing is more than just a gardening technique—it's a celebration of resilience and nature's timing. By embracing this method, you're working in harmony with the seasons, giving your plants a head start and yourself a connection to the rhythms of the natural world. It's a reminder that even in the coldest, darkest months, life is quietly preparing to bloom. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or a curious beginner, winter sowing invites you to experiment, recycle, and grow with patience and purpose. So, grab a milk jug, some seeds, and let winter's chill work its magic. Happy sowing!