Lynn Gillespie

Jules Silverlock wrote:Welcome Lynn! It's the perfect time to start thinking about planning the garden for the upcoming season - even for me in Australia, as we're just coming out of summer (which tends to be my most difficult season - almost like winter in the northern hemisphere!) so I look forward to the other 3 seasons of the year  
It would be fun to know what your favorite vegetable is to grow? I was admiring curly kale today as it's so hardy, nutritious and just seems to go on and on giving!

Hi Jules!  My favorite plant to grow is lettuce.  I love it because I can grow it year round and I eat it every day.  There are so many colors , shapes and sizes and it is easy to grow.

Julianne Desiderata wrote:Quick question:
When do you start your seedlings indoors?
I live in the Thumb of Michigan and it's dicey, at best,  to plant outdoors before the end of May. We've had snow on Memorial Day.

HI!  Cool weather plants such as lettuce you can plant indoors 8 weeks before your last frost date and you can plant them in the garden 4 weeks before your last frost date.  For your warm weather plants such as peppers or tomatoes, you can plant them 8 weeks before your last frost date .  Transplant them around week 3 or 4 into a bigger pots.  Then when they are around 7 weeks old, you can start to move them outside to harden off but bring them back inside at night.  By 8 weeks old they can be planted outside but do watch for a cold front.  If one comes through be sure to cover the warm weather plants at night.
Here is a great article to get you started. https://thelivingfarm.org/how-to-plan-your-garden-according-to-your-region/

Heather Natural Wellness wrote:Many "newbies" have been consuming, learning & gathering information (maybe for a long time) on "how to" begin their gardening journey---yet many are hesitant b/c they question weather a novice can be successful on the 1st try.  "Knowledge is Power; Self Knowledge & Experience are Empowering."
What tips would the more experienced offer to the newbies who don't have a mentor or any gardening experience--YET want to try & reap the reward of their efforts?

Hi There!  I am Lynn Gillespie and I am doing the High Performance Garden forum this week about my book.  I specialize in teaching beginners to be successful the first year.  Here are my suggestions.
1. Find a teacher that you like and follow their system.  Don't mix systems until you have one learned.
2. Volunteer at a local farm.  You can learn beside someone and you won't need any experience, you will get it at the farm.  If you have time try WWOOFing.
3. Start small.  We have a  kids/beginners garden plan that is small and has the easiest to grow plants.  You can find the article here:https://thelivingfarm.org/kids-gardens/
Hope this helps.  Also... don't for get to fail once in a while!

james cox wrote:welcome to permies, lynn.

guess my first question is, how was the lettuce you harvested? little far to drive over to do a taste test myself. 22hrs 12min away according to google maps

next, would you advise a hugle style base in your raised beds?

do you cover companion planting at all in your book? i would love to hear what you have observed over the years. there is some stuff out there but i get the feeling a lot of it is something someone else wrote just being parroted with no real experience to back it up.

i have four 50' beds that i started last year, slightly raised on the north side to get them slightly level as they are on a north slope. this spring i plan to stack two 2x6's on the north side and 1 on the south side of each bed to create a slight south slope, read some where it might be a good idea. your thoughts?

strawberries are in the ground but i want to pull them and put them in raised beds, after the snow is gone and i build the beds o'course. i noticed you were sitting on the side of one of your beds, looked like about 2', would higher be any better, say 30-36"s?

i could keep asking questions but then i might not need the book, but i like books and based on the two 9 acorn reviews it looks like i will end up with yours.

i always appreciate the folks that don't squirrel their knowledge away because they are afraid someone else might do well. thanks for putting your knowledge and experience out there for the rest of us.

cheers   james

HI James!  The lettuce was amazing.  We only picked 15# greens this morning.   I hope someday you will come to visit the farm.  We are open for tours June - September.
You could  a hugel style base if you wanted too.  Most vegetables don't have a very deep root system so it is not necessary but would be fun.
I don't do any companion planting.  Things grow just fine with out it.  I do pay attention to how big a plant will get next to it neighbor plant.  Spacing is more important then companions.
My thought about sloping the beds is how will it water properly.  I like level beds for watering and mulching.
I have grown in beds that are 8 inches high, 16 inches high and 24 inches high.  It is nicer working in the tall beds but not necessary.  The biggest thing I like about my beds is the width.  I like a bed that I can reach the center while sitting on the edge.  We have beds that are 56 inches wide and I like having aisle all around the be if possible.
James, thank you for your questions.  I think you will like the book and the High Performance Garden Show.  I have people who have gardened for 50 years and they say that they have learned so much from the book and show.

Anne Miller wrote:I believe this is the link to the High Performance Garden Show:

https://permies.com/wiki/211357/Lynn-Gillespie-High-Performance-Garden

Thank you, Lynn, for sharing the information about the 25 tomato plants in 16 sq. ft.

Thanks Anne, I am a better gardener then forum participant!  I a m off to harvest lettuce. I will check in later!

tom olofsson wrote:Lynn, congrats on finishing your book.

tom o.

 HI Tom!  Thank you!  I love sharing gardening with anyone who will listen!

Eleana Tomlinson wrote:Welcome Lynn! I am watching your series now, but had to visit your farm website when you mentioned moving to the western slope. My mom lived in Delta and Paonia, and have a cousin in Hotchkiss. Would love to visit your farm the next time I am on your side of the mountains.  

HI Eleana!  We do farm tours June - September 11-5 Wednesday - Saturdays.  We would love to give you a tour!  Come on by!

Dennis Barrow wrote:Welcome Lynn!
Just read the review of your book.  
I thought my garden did really well last year, but now am thinking not so!

HI Dennis! With the High Performance Garden System, you can garden smarter not harder.  We just a few skills you can elevate your garden to a whole new level.  15 minutes a day, over 800 pounds of garden fresh organic vegetable!

Monica Truong wrote:Welcome, Lynn! I look forward to reading your book. Lucky you to be already getting ready to start the gardening season. It is still 2 months away for me.

Hi Monica! Where do you live?  WHat is your zone?

Dennis Barrow wrote:Welcome Lynn!
Just read the review of your book.  
I thought my garden did really well last year, but now am thinking not so!

 Hi Dennis!  With the right education your garden can not only feed you but be fun.  In our High Performance Garden Show, we just a pint jar to hold all the weeds that we pick from our 128 sq. ft garden.  This garden produces around 800  pounds of food each season worth about $2500 or more.  It is productive easy and fun! To watch the show go here https://permies.com/wiki/211357/Lynn-Gillespie-High-Performance-Garden or go to the website https://thelivingfarm.org/high-performance-garden-show/