Fall Garden Planting with Chat GPT (Part 2)

Homestead Prep for Growing Food

Alrighty, fam, day two of fall planning and execution. Come on out in the garden with me. We’re still in fall garden prep mode, still figuring out what’s staying, what’s getting pulled up, and what needs to be planted. 

Yesterday I thought I was just going to run to the nursery for starts, but they were closed. And honestly? That was a blessing, because it forced me to slow down and actually make a real plan instead of rushing.

Slowing Down to Plan

I had already thought about what I wanted to grow. Of course, I had. However, what I didn’t do was create a planting schedule for it. I didn’t sit down and ask: How much of each thing should I be planting? How much space do I need to give it? That was missing.

So today is about more than just planting. It’s about watering, fertilizing, and pulling up what’s dead. And yes, we’re still going to get those starts. But this time, I’ve got a clearer picture in my head.

Clearing Out and Watering

The first thing I had to do was pull up some dead material. That’s always the hardest but most necessary part. If it’s not producing, if it’s taking up space, it’s gotta go. 

After that, it’s watering. I’ve been slacking on watering because we had so much rain earlier, but now the rain has slowed down and I have to get back on it.

I’m using fish fertilizer, my old faithful, and I just added kelp for the first time. We’ll see how that goes. I like to water and fertilize at the same time, just makes sense to me.

Life Transitions and Garden Transitions

While I’m out here working, I can’t help but think about how the garden matches life. I’m in a season of transition myself. I’ve been having kids every two to three years for the last ten years. My youngest, Eli, just turned one. My husband and I are now both full-time entrepreneurs, which is an answered prayer, but it also comes with a whole new adjustment.

So I’m giving myself grace. Grace to experiment. Grace to step out of my routines. Grace to start new ones. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s necessary. Just like the garden, I gotta pull up what’s dead, water what’s alive, and be patient with what’s still growing.

Don’t Run From the Process

Sometimes I wake up and it’s hard to even get out of bed, knowing I have a day full of decisions and figuring it out. But that’s where the growth happens. Thinking, doing, and talking at the same time ain’t easy. But it’s real life. And what I’ve learned is you can’t run from that.

Yahweh created us from dirt. He created us in alignment with nature. So when the seasons change outside, you better believe the seasons are changing in our lives too. Don’t fight against it. Don’t run from the unknown. Walk by faith and not by sight.

Getting the Beds Ready

Back to the garden. I went through each row, fertilized what had some life left, and pulled up what was too far gone. I’ve got a row of carrots that’s struggling, but I’m not giving up on them yet. I’m actually going to make that whole section my carrot bed. Behind it, I’ll keep the okra going as long as it wants to go.

Empty spaces? That’s where the collards and cabbages are going. I know I’m getting six of each, so I need at least 12 holes ready. Other spaces will get direct seeded with squash and pumpkin. And then that last big bed? That one’s going to be my onion and garlic bed. Half onion, half garlic, that’s the plan.

The towers? I might let them rest until spring, or I might just flip them and throw in some greens since the soil’s already in there. Haven’t fully decided yet, but that’s the thought process.

Irrigation Plans

Now let’s talk watering. Right now I’m hand-watering, and it takes time because the vines are sprawling and you gotta trace the root to make sure you’re actually watering the plant and not just the weeds. But I know we need a real irrigation system, and for this garden it’s gotta be solar-powered. That way it connects to a rain barrel and keeps going even without power.

I’m not going for a quick fix. I’d rather wait and invest in something solid than build on that system over time. A temporary solution feels like wasted energy.

A Trip to the Nursery

Finally, I made it to the nursery with my list in hand. They had collards, broccoli, cauliflower, herbs like oregano and basil. What they didn’t have was onions; the lady told me onions don’t come in until spring. And that was a clue for me. Maybe I need to follow that timing, too. If that’s what the successful local nurseries are doing, maybe I should just flow with that.

So I grabbed what I needed, skipped what I didn’t, and headed back home tired but satisfied.

Lessons From Day Two

Day two of fall garden planting taught me this:

• Slow down and make a plan.

• Don’t just think about what you want to grow; decide how much and where it’s going.

• Pull up what’s dead, fertilize what’s alive.

• Match your life rhythms to the garden rhythms. Both require patience, both require faith.

• Support local businesses, even if you’re growing from seed. Starts have their place.

And the biggest lesson? Put the work in and expect a harvest. If you don’t put the work in, don’t expect anything.

Final Word - Fall Garden Series

Fam, the fall garden is coming together. Beds are getting cleared, soil’s being fed, starts are ready, and the plan is in place. Next time, we’re not just talking about it , we’re planting.

Because like I always say, if you give them the power to feed you, you give them the power to starve you. We’re not doing that. We’re taking the power back, one season at a time.

See y’all in Part 3.

Watch https://youtu.be/0M7hzQAHvts?si=YM62pga6WBNN-GSQ 

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