The dawn of a new summer season at the five-acre GardenFarm™ is always exciting but plenty of hard work. A bountiful garden is rarely an accident – there is preparation, planning and maintenance to do.
Joe Lamp’l and daughter Amy started hundred of seeds at the GardenFarm.
Feeling as characteristically ambitious as ever this year, Joe Lamp’l added another project to his list. It would mean plenty more work, but this particular project was a high priority – engaging his youngest daughter in the world of gardening.
Amy Lamp’l has never been drawn to Joe’s passion and vocation of horticulture. But like most teenagers, she was excited at the opportunity to make a buck or two. To that end, Joe and Amy embarked on a new business to seed, grow and sell heirloom tomato plants (with a few pepper, beet, salad green, eggplant, and flower varieties thrown in for good measure).
Growing and selling plants from seeds takes a lot of advanced planning, effort and attention – and Amy embraced every stage of the operation, even surpassing her dad’s transplanting aptitude.
Amy, who had never shown an interest in gardening before, took to the seedling transplant process quickly.
In this episode, Joe and Amy share their entire journey from when to purchase those seeds to the proper time to sow and on to bringing the young seedlings outdoors and finally to market.
All the while, Joe is preparing his own raised beds at the GardenFarm™ – while offering gardening tips on amending the soil, planting seedlings, getting plant spacing just right, adding blueberry bushes to the landscape, and implementing techniques to fend off garden pests.
Odds are good that you’ll learn a trick or two.
Additional Resources
GGW Episode 406: Setting Up A Garden
joegardener Episode 037: Starting Seeds Indoors: The Non-Negotiables for Success, Pt. 1
joegardener Episode 038: How to Start Seeds Indoors: The Non-Negotiables for Success, Pt. 2
joegardener Episode 039: How-to Start Seeds Indoors: Digging Deeper, Pt. 3
joegardener Episode 042: Raised Bed Gardening, Pt. 1
joegardener Episode 043: Raised Bed Gardening, Pt. 2: Perfect Soil Recipe
joegardener Episode 044: Raised Bed Gardening, Pt. 3: Animal Control & More
About GGWTV
Growing A Greener World is a national gardening series on Public Television that features organic gardening, green living and farm to table cooking. Each episode focuses on compelling and inspirational people making a difference through gardening. This gardening series covers everything from edible gardening and sustainable agriculture to seasonal cooking and preserving the harvest.
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I’ve only recently watched the episode, hard to imagine it’s that time of year again! Can I ask what your take away from the experience was? Did the LED’s work? What about the timing on seed starting/mass planting? Finally, are you doing it again this year, and if so,doing anything different?
What kind of fabric is covering the hoops–it’s black. Am looking for something sturdier than the while stuff.
It is just nylon “shade cloth” at 80 protection. Search Amazon for this and you will find many options.
Great episode. I’m up the road in Chattanooga and so far my kids (4 and 2) are big fans of being outside and “helping” whether in the yard/garden or the greenhouse. Hopefully they stick with it. I like the business idea. I’ll try to remember that in 10 or so years!
Thanks Dan – It was a great experience with my daughter!
how can I order some plants from you ?
Hi Sandra – We were only selling plants locally at our area Farmers Market and through word of mouth.