2018 Growing Season Review

2018 was packed full of learning, creating, and growing for me!

My studies began in late 2017, when I first learned how to build a proper compost pile. I worked on that compost pile, with some help, throughout the winter—even got some compost starter for a Christmas present! I felt learning about soil building was a good foundation for a beginner gardener like me because I was pretty nervous to actually start growing things. I mean, it relied on a grade, this time; so, I couldn’t mess up or be lazy!

I started my growing season a good couple of months too soon (a little too enthusiastic about getting starts done in time), so I had quite a few baby plants hanging out in my room for a while before they could be transferred to the greenhouse. I felt a little silly for starting so early; but my mantras for the 2018 growing season were ‘Be patient with yourself’ and ‘You live and you learn’.

As everything finally began to warm up, I slowly got things into the garden according to their cold tolerance. At the same time, I was learning more about building soil, as well as how to make internal herbal medicines like tinctures and vinegars. Out of all the medicinal preparations I made, my favorites (and, therefore, most used) were Elderberry cough syrup and a nutritive vinegar for strong bones and teeth! I also made several recipes in which the food was the medicine: I made a vitamin C fruit salad that included all vitamin C fruits and herbal soup stock that boosted immunity, as well as many other body functions.

The growing season became a little stressful when certain herbs refused to grow. I guess I am still learning, which is alright; but what did grow, I was able to collect, dry, and save for future use: Roses, Anise Hyssop leaves, flowers, and seeds, German Chamomile flowers, and some Lavender! By the way, if you’ve never tried Anise Hyssop (leaf or flower), you’re in for a treat! It tastes like root beer! And, when it blooms, it has these beautiful little purple flowers that I adore.

My growing season ended fairly abruptly, as I went on what was supposed to be a small vacation…but ended up being a long one after my boyfriend and I got sick while there. When I returned home, everything was crispy and dead, unfortunately. After that, I chose to take a bit of a break from schoolwork and focus on relaxing and healing the rest of the way. And, now, at the beginning of 2019, I’m almost healed from a second round of illness (this winter has been relentless for me) and ready to start learning, creating, and growing, again!

If you aren’t already, feel free to follow my Instagram account, @VioletLoon, for regular garden and school updates!