Join me for a discussion on starting your seeds and out usual “Monday Segments.”

Spring Workshop, April 24-26:P https://www.livingfreeintennessee.com/spring-workshop-2025/

Sponsor 1: InvestibleWealth.com

Sponsor 2: EMPShield.com, Coupon code LFTN

LFTN Spring Workshop Tickets go on Sale Saturday at 9am Central.

Alan Booker, 2 deep sessions on permaculture topics
Jack Spirko, Building Bioreactor Compost and Biochar
Nicole Sauce, Lessons Learned from 3 Years Raising Regenerative Sheep
Emily Skyles Zanotti: Urban Homesteading
Dawn Gorham, Building A Homestead Business
Tactical Redneck - A tour of erosion remediation projects at the Holler Homestead.
Joel Ryals, Problem Solving and Planning for Success
Roundtable Discussion. Function stacking: Holler Homestead Greenhouse Design with Nicole Sauce
Harry Albright - Hands on - Building Cages
Knitting - Lani Johnson
Jenni Hill - Somatic Movement and Breath Work
Barter Blanket
John Pugliano - Permaculture Your Wealth
Kerry Brown- Planning Your Off Grid Home
Patrick Roehrman - Accomplishing Anything How I transformed raw land into a family HQ

Updated Links for Equipment:

Tales from the Prepper Pantry

Double and triple cooking paid off for Mom’s knee replacement
Looking to skim coat the concrete this weekend or next week so that we can move utilities and do the final sweep in there
Refining what I store to LESS

Frugality Tip - send one in

Operation Independence

Picked up the processed lambs today, Lambs for sale!

Main Topic: Seed Starting

4 Keys to Successful Seedlings

Light, Light, Light
- A window isn’t going to cut it—this is the #1 reason for failure.
- Use proper, full-spectrum grow lights (like Burrina lights) positioned uncomfortably close to seedlings.
- Keep lights on 12-16 hours per day for strong, stocky plants.
- If you don’t have grow lights, be prepared for leggy seedlings.
Soil Temperature Matters
- Too cold? Bad germination and weak seedlings.
- Ideal temp: 65-85 for many plants
- Use a seed heat mat (updated links below) or place trays in a warm spot like on top of the fridge.
Consistent Moisture—Not Overwatering
- Keep soil evenly moist, not soggy.
- Bottom watering is best—use trays with no holes to create a DIY water table.
- Overwatering leads to weak roots and damping off. Underwatering even once can stunt growth for the life of the plant
Potting Mix & Soil Biology
- If you’re new, just buy a good quality seed-starting mix. Look for fine-textured, bark-free soil.
- Pro tip: Add a quart of soil from a well-run local garden to introduce beneficial microbes and integrate local soil biology.
- Advanced growers: Make your own with compost, biochar, worm castings, and indigenous microorganisms (IMO).
- Compost tea made from local soil is a fantastic boost.

Soil Mix

Don’t mix your own unless you know what you’re doing (WRONG ADVICE)
- Experiment while setting yourself up for success—but start with a 50/50 blend before committing fully.
- Learn from my mistakes

Trays & Containers

Choosing Seeds: Heirloom vs. Hybrid

It’s all okay! Pick what works for your system.
Good seedling choices: Tomatoes, peppers, kale, chard, broccoli, lettuce, loofahs.
Less ideal: Squash, cucumbers (direct sow if possible).
Don’t start indoors: Peas, beans, carrots, and most root crops.

First Year: Choose 1-2 things, experiment, and don’t stress if you buy starts. Keep going!

Troubleshooting Germination: The Paper Towel Trick

Keeping Costs Down (While Buying Quality Equipment)

Source second-hand greenhouse supplies from local growers.
Attend local seed swaps (like the one here in February) for high-quality, adapted seeds.
Consider bulk seed buys as a community.

Make it a great week!

GUYS! Don’t forget about the cookbook, Cook With What You Have by Nicole Sauce and Mama Sauce.

Community

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Mewe Group: https://mewe.com/join/lftn
Telegram Group: https://t.me/LFTNGroup
Odysee: https://odysee.com/$/invite/@livingfree:b

Resources

Episode 997 - Successful Seed Starting