Seed Only Shipping $3.95

Lisa’s New Book The Cut Flower Handbook. Learn More

Making Lists

by | Jan 2, 2015

What was I thinking? All too familiar to me, these words questioning my sanity are like a familiar friend as I head into the New Year. Sometimes I find it hard to swallow opportunities missed, mistakes I have made and left turns when I should have gone right—you get the picture. But as I am clocking up the years, I have come to appreciate my blunders that make the successes and homeruns in life, business and gardening all the more sweet.

The view from my office of one of my greatest successes.

The view from my office of one of my greatest successes.

I no longer make New Year’s resolution lists. I read somewhere it turns out to be nothing more than a to-do list for the first week of January—so true. However I am one of those nutty list makers. Without a list I am pretty sure I would walk in aimless circles. Not sure how folks that don’t make list get anything done or even know when to give yourself a pat on the back or more importantly to throw in the towel. If you want to enjoy the benefits of list—now is the time to get one started.

seed calendar

My big calendar known as B.C.

January is when I actual have a moment to gaze, dream and reflect on my “big calendar” (B.C..) B.C. is the record of all happening here on the farm. It is a large month-to-month calendar with 2” x 4” spaces for each day that I notate everything on that I want to remember about my gardens. In addition to seed-starting and planting times it includes those out-of-season jobs to be done later– all perfect candidates for a late winter and early spring chore list.

One of my winter reads this year Garden Soils, published 1948.

One of my winter reads this year Garden Soils, published 1948.

The toppers on my list this year are winter tree pruning chores, planning the seed starting and planting schedule for the next 9 months and finishing my part of the 2015 catalog and out brand new website (launching late January). I am required to provide lots of ideas and text on those last two items so everyone else can proceed with their jobs. Middle of my list items always includes a couple farming related books to read, making lists of chores for home and business once the season gets started, and working on new program topics and content. At the bottom of my list are those items that seem to never get done—painting a room, cleaning the cellar and lounging around reading magazines.

Embrace the cold weather and make a gardening to-do list.

Lisa Mason Ziegler is a commercial cut-flower farmer in Newport News, Virginia; she lectures and writes about organic and sustainable gardening. You can email Lisa at [email protected] , call her at 757-877-7159 or visit her website www.shoptgw.com .

Like us on Facebook  and keep up with the farm!