Indoor Gardening

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January 837th, 2026 

Figured I'd get a post out before the month is up! Today is a fun update on my indoor escapades.  While other people are indulging in video games or chilling outside of work, I'm busy creating and learning how to grow food.  Don't get me wrong, playing a good video game (Legend of Zelda anyone?) would be fun, but I can't learn proper planting that way.  Most times, I'm researching what to plant and when, mom sends me information through Instagram.  I'm learning a lot on the fly here!    

Now, we haven't been doing a whole lot this winter except working and also taking care of my brood of 17 cats.  Oy! There's something about the cold weather that puts you in a sort of hibernation mode - you're still awake, just not as motivated to accomplish as much as in the summertime.  So maybe we can say we're in motivation hibernation! 

Being that I want to get into full time crop farming and homesteading in general, I started planting indoors.  In late fall/early winter, I set up a pot to plant potatoes, so we'd have a supply of them during cold weather.  Well, I planted a little too late as they're still maturing.  I honestly hadn't expected them to sprout, but one day, I saw green stems popping out of the soil and felt a surge of hope and excitement! 

And thus begins my winter gardening routine!


The fun part: I have to do this in the basement! Four of my furry kiddos thought it would be a good idea to take the straw out of the first pot and use it as their personal playthings (as if they don't have enough toys to keep them busy).  No matter how many times I disciplined them with the spray bottle and put the straw back, they kept taking it out.  The next logical step was to discourage the behavior by putting it where they are disallowed access.  

Needless to say, the potatoes in the black pot are flourishing! Even the garlic, which was an experiment, decided to join in the fun and sprouted.  We'll see if it comes out good.  If not, I have new bulbs to plant next fall!

The next step in the process was to get broccoli seeds started.  I just learned recently that you can plant broccoli indoors in January.  So even though I'm limited on funds, a trip to Lowe's was necessary.  The danger with me buying seeds is, I never leave with just the seeds - have to get the soil, the seed starters, any fertilizer stuff, and before you know it, anywhere from $20-50 is spent before exiting the building.  But I don't see it as money spent - it's rather money invested!

And that's really what establishing a homestead is, right? An investment in the future.  Part of what inspires me is the agrarian lifestyle before cars and machines wove their way in.  I don't want to romanticize it in any way, but dabbling in and getting back to the "old ways" is a good idea as you never know when modern life will be upended.  The other part is, I want to learn how to be self-sufficient - and not spend so much stinkin' money at the grocery store.  You ever look at the prices and think, "This is just too much?" Yep, that's my thought every time I ring up produce.  Cringe, ring up, pay.  Not a fan.  

Before I get too caught up in runaway thoughts, that's basically the gist of what I've been up to.  I may figure out a way to transplant my potatoes outside or just use what I have in addition to buying some seed potatoes.  Gardening both indoors and out takes a lot of planning, but that's okay! I like it! 

If you've read my crazy post to the end, congrats for following along my random train of ADD ramblings! I should have more updates on the interior of the house soon.  We've been going through boxes of stuff, fixing up the back room, and keeping busy with other hobbies and work.    

With that, have a nice weekend, stay safe in the snowstorm, and I'll see you in the next post! 

~Gigi  

 

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