Summary: Welcome to 2012! I am working on some changes for this year, and I hope everyone will stay with me as we talk about all the exciting upcoming gardening changes take place. Supplier Resource Page I am currently building a resource page for as many of the Seed and Tool Suppliers I can find. These are not a recommendation necessarily, but a convenience for you to find potential new suppliers for your Garden projects. Until then, here is a list of what I have so far. I am especially interested in recommendations for suppliers outside the United States Please send to steve@growingyourgrub.com to be included. Seed Savers Exchange Johnnys Seeds Territorial Seed Co Baker Creek Seeds The Cooks Garden Burpee Stark Bros Park Seeds Jung Seeds Gurney's Gardens Alive Canada http://cottagegardener.com/ (thanks to John Watton) http://www.westcoastseeds.com/ ( from Erica Struass at NWEdible.com ) 2012 Vegetable Gardening Trends Gardening Gets Easier with new labor savers Growing Own Food Increasing in Popularity Organic Gardening Grows in importance Heirloom Gardening Becomes more mainstream Limited Space Gardening Pat Koester in Northern California, organized a group garden sort of like a CSA but without the Cash. Each member agrees to grow certain vegetables, and then shares with the group at harvest time. This way, they can get a greater variety of vegetables and everyone gets some even if they didn't grow that one this year. Root Crop Nitrogen Listener Gigi wrote in to ask about a problem with her root crops after applying a high nitrogen ( chicken manure) compost to her vegetable bed. Applying high nitrogen compost to a bed right before planting can make the plants extra leafy, neglecting the roots. This is the same thing that happens when over nitrogen feeding a grass yard - all green no roots. Solution? Let the compost age more before planting, or plant an intermediate crop that will be done before planting your root crops. Some Tools to Consider This week I talk about a few of the tools I couldn't be without and why you might need to consider them in your organic garden. Valley Oak Tool Company Broadforks Wheel Hoes Johnnyseeds Seed Planters ( Walk behind)
