Goals for 2023

Lots of people set new year’s resolutions. And I’m not opposed to that, it just doesn’t work for me. I usually pick 2-3 words that I want to focus on for the new year and keep them in mind when making decisions. I’ve found that it helps me reach my goals for the year when I keep those words in mind. This year my words are discipline, constraint, and focus.

I have some really big goals for the farm this year, and those things take a lot of money. Money I won’t have if I impulse purchase seeds and dahlia tubers and new tools. Please tell me I’m not the only one who impulse purchases seeds and dahlia tubers. One of my goals is going to take a lot of time. Time I won’t have if I lounge around for an hour (or two) in the morning sipping on coffee and scrolling on social media. Keeping those three words in mind will keep me on track for my goals this year.

So even though the words discipline, constraint, and focus sound restricting, they are going to be essential. The two biggest goals on the farm this year are going to be to get heat in the high tunnel and to replace the fence. Heat in the high tunnel is going to allow me to start the season 2-3 weeks earlier and extend it another 2-3 weeks before winter. That’s huge! We have such a short growing season in SE Alaska that extending it by another few weeks on either end will really help out. And as far as the fence goes, I’m surprised we didn’t lose it last year in all the heavy, wet snow. It’s ancient and leaning, and desperately needs to be replaced. It’s just one of those things that needs to get done.

My other goal for this year includes regular blog posts, including “how to” information in regards to starting and growing flowers.

So how about you? What goals, dreams, resolutions, or desires do you have for the new year?

Mulch

One of the things I really strive for on the farm is to use what I have locally instead of purchasing things that need to be shipped here. Regenerative farming practices include composting, making your own fertilizers and amendments, and doing what’s best for the land that you’re growing on. One of the best things you can do to help your soil and to help yourself, is to use mulch.

Any bare patch of soil will naturally want to cover up. So if you don’t want weeds to grow that you’ll have to pull out later, I suggest using mulch to cover up that soil. There are a variety of different mulches you can use, but a great one here in SE Alaska is seaweed. And the best part about seaweed? It’s free!

I typically apply about a 2-3 inch layer of seaweed on my garden beds to cover the bare soil. The benefits of using seaweed are incredible! Not only does it block out weeds, but it can also help keep the moisture level in the soil, and add nutrients (nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and several trace elements). Some people say it repels slugs, but I’ve not found that to be true. The slugs around here are persistent and I haven’t found seaweed to help or hurt the slug population.

Since it’s still too early to plant things in the ground, it’s a great time to gather seaweed. Today we loaded up our skiff and headed to a small island for an adventure. The girls explored while I gathered seaweed. You’re rarely find me on the boat without a roll of garbage bags handy in case we find a good pile of seaweed and today was no exception. 8 bags of seaweed later, everyone piled back in the skiff and we headed home. I just leave it in the garbage bags and put it in the high tunnel so it will be ready when I need it.

Seaweed on the beach that I gathered for mulch