Post by Wintersown on Jan 24, 2011 13:48:21 GMT -6
Here is the FAQ link:
www.wintersown.org/wseo1/FAQs.html
When I first started discussing Winter Sowing a decade ago there were a lot of questions. The method seemed to go against what so many people had learned from catalogues that sell indoor light equipment and usually provide info on the back of their seed packets based for indoor germination. With WS you just ignore the info on the back of the packet because the contrary info can drive you nuts
So, after a few months of hashing it out on forums, it became clear that a set of FAQs would be needed to help people understand the method, and more importantly, to understand that the method is meant to be adaptable to people's own needs, backyard climate, and their wallet. An experienced scrounger and seed saver can WS for almost no money. I prefer to use potting soil instead of a soilless mix, but that's me, someone else will use soil-free growing medium, some will use brands with fertilizer, some will use sterilized compost or soil dug from their own yard. It's all up to the WSers personal needs.
Some folks are put off by the strange appearances of the various recycled containers that can be used, and if they live in an HOA community, they may not be able to use recycled containers and will have to use commercial flower pots for an aesthetic appearance which conforms with the HOA guidelines. The seeds don't know what they're sown into. Some folks can use what recycled containers they make from milk jugs, or soda bottles or cookier clamshells, or what have you (I love the cheezy poof tubs from BJs), and some folks will have to bend over, ehem, to satisfy HOA or spousal guidelines, sigh. I remember the very first time I put seeds outside in a mish-mosh of containers--my husband laughed his head off at me, he thought I had lost my mind and just had a wonderful time telling me that I had wasted my effort and time because the seeds would freeze and die. He didn't see the wisdom behind the concept. When I first saw green sprouts coming up through ice-crusted soil (!!!) my brain had a rush of adrenaline and dopamine that thrilled me like nothing ever had. And in that moment I saw all that WS could be. It changed my life. Well, Hubs doesn't laugh anymore and he became my biggest supporter. Amazing.
www.wintersown.org/wseo1/FAQs.html
When I first started discussing Winter Sowing a decade ago there were a lot of questions. The method seemed to go against what so many people had learned from catalogues that sell indoor light equipment and usually provide info on the back of their seed packets based for indoor germination. With WS you just ignore the info on the back of the packet because the contrary info can drive you nuts
So, after a few months of hashing it out on forums, it became clear that a set of FAQs would be needed to help people understand the method, and more importantly, to understand that the method is meant to be adaptable to people's own needs, backyard climate, and their wallet. An experienced scrounger and seed saver can WS for almost no money. I prefer to use potting soil instead of a soilless mix, but that's me, someone else will use soil-free growing medium, some will use brands with fertilizer, some will use sterilized compost or soil dug from their own yard. It's all up to the WSers personal needs.
Some folks are put off by the strange appearances of the various recycled containers that can be used, and if they live in an HOA community, they may not be able to use recycled containers and will have to use commercial flower pots for an aesthetic appearance which conforms with the HOA guidelines. The seeds don't know what they're sown into. Some folks can use what recycled containers they make from milk jugs, or soda bottles or cookier clamshells, or what have you (I love the cheezy poof tubs from BJs), and some folks will have to bend over, ehem, to satisfy HOA or spousal guidelines, sigh. I remember the very first time I put seeds outside in a mish-mosh of containers--my husband laughed his head off at me, he thought I had lost my mind and just had a wonderful time telling me that I had wasted my effort and time because the seeds would freeze and die. He didn't see the wisdom behind the concept. When I first saw green sprouts coming up through ice-crusted soil (!!!) my brain had a rush of adrenaline and dopamine that thrilled me like nothing ever had. And in that moment I saw all that WS could be. It changed my life. Well, Hubs doesn't laugh anymore and he became my biggest supporter. Amazing.