The plastic containers, etc., work fine if you have enough light, have enough time to tend them carefully, and/or you are starting plants that sprout quickly and are ready to set out within 6-8 weeks of germination, and/or you are not growing large quantities of plants from seed. I was working full-time, plus growing flowers, veggies and plants for market, plus maintaining a large perennial garden just for the fun of it. I needed a system that worked well if I neglected the seedlings.

If you have large flowerbeds to fill it is much less expensive to grow them from seed. You can also get exactly the varieties you want. The range of perennial plant varieties available at most garden centers is extremely limited. Sometimes you want to be very sure of your color or shade of color. For example, I love yarrow "Colorado Mix" because of some unusual shades of cream to apricot that it produces. When those creams and apricots are sufficient the mix is stunning in a big sunny bed. However, it tends to produce high numbers of pink, burgandy and white plants and many fewer of the cream to apricot shades, which are also not as vigorous and easily crowded out after a couple of years by the burgundies and pinks. So I started them from seed every few years, planted them out in a nursery bed until they flowered, and transplanted the desired colors into the yarrow bed out front. When I was selling at the farmer's market, I potted up the other colors and sold them there. Once I stopped doing the market, I'd send out an e-mail to the two garden clubs in Hillsborough as well as pass the word to people who worked in my building when I was getting ready to dispose of plants I didn't want or was getting ready to divide perennials. I'd also put a sign up by the street that said "free perennials to good homes." Then I'd just dump the bare-root plants by the curb, sprinkle a little dirt or leaf litter over them and then water the mess a bit to delay the drying out. The majority of the plants usually got taken and the street department would pick up what was left as yard waste.

Also, once I stopped doing the market, I'd take leftover flower and veggie seedlings that I didn't need for my gardens, as well as excess produce from the garden to church and set up a table with a basket for money on the sidewalk. People would take what they wanted, toss money in the basket, and the proceeds went to the Rector's Discretionary fund which was generally used to help with things like eviction notices and utility cut-offs for folks in the community who weren't eligible for emergency funds from DSS. Soon, other people were bringing eggs from their chickens, bouquets from their gardens, etc., and putting them out also.

Even if I had the sun, I don't have the time anymore to do those sorts of things (and probably not the energy.) But I am grateful for having had that time and that opportunity in my life. For all the time, effort and money it took to garden as I did, I got back much more than I put out. It fed my soul. I won't say that I don't look at photos of my old garden with sadness and grief at leaving them behind, but the truth is I had neglected the garden terribly the last two years before I moved and that neglect showed. I am beginning to understand that it was a once in a lifetime experience for me that I got to participate in for more than 10 years before age and life-changes made it impossible to continue on that scale. What a blessing to have had that opportunity.

Sorry for the ramble, but thanks for listening.

Janie