I usually pick this time of year to try something new. Last year I learned how to make my own fruit roll-ups in a dehydrator, this year I have decided to try Microgreens. I actually found myself a little intimidated by the little microgreen seeds. It couldn't be as easy as it looked, could it?  I set my Alfalfa seeds out to soak overnight in a glass jar, I rinsed them in the morning and placed them in my little microgreen tray and after rinsing them 2 x daily for 7 days and I have cute little alfalfa sprouts to put in my salads. Just a little bit of spring in a bowl. 

Now is a good time to wash out your garden pots with hot soapy water to get them ready for spring planting. I usually like to pick the sunniest, warmest day in February to reorganize my garden shed. (I don't sweat and it's usually uninhabited of creepy crawlies and spiders) February is also a good time to prune your fruit trees-pruning while your trees are dormant is less stressful for the trees and easier for you. (Though I would wait until the worst of the the cold is over). We bought four apple trees last spring and I have been hovering anxiously all winter to see how they fared. If you have an excess of energy you can also turn over your compost and clean up any debris in your flower beds.  

My sister likes to plant her tomatoes indoors in February so she can plant them in the garden in March (she uses the wall-o-water method). I have never tried this myself but I can appreciate there is nothing in the world like picking fresh tomatoes  out of the garden in mid-June. 

If you have seeds on hand and you don't know if they are viable, you can test your own seeds for germination by placing 10 seeds on a moist paper towel, fold the paper towel in half over the seeds, lightly press down so the wet paper towel comes into contact with the seeds. Place the damp paper towel and seeds inside a ziploc bag (if you are germinating multiple seeds, make sure to label your ziploc bags). Keep the seeds warm and moist. You should monitor the seeds every day and mist if needed. If less than five seeds germinate, fresh seeds should be purchased. 

Don't have time to order seeds this month? The Portland District Library can help you with that! Come visit our seed library and "borrow" some seeds. Each week we are getting new donations (thanks to great seed companies like Burpee and Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds  and amazing local gardeners) to share with you! You can keep the seed exchange going by bringing back seeds for our seed library after your fall harvest is complete. 

My new favorite meme!!!