Spring Fever? Plan Your Garden with This Printable Garden Planner and Homesteading Reading List -

Back when I was gardening and homesteading, I could have used a printable garden planner.

I spent a lot of winter days pouring over seed catalogs and I read every book and magazine on homesteading I could get my hands on.

I’d look out over the snow covered garden and remembered all the vegetables and herbs I’d grown the previous year, and then at the pantry at the remaining jars of home-grown tomatoes, green beans, soups and stews.

It was time to plan the new garden and try new varieties of seeds or new plants altogether. Back then I used a plain ruled notebook and drew rectangles for the garden beds and where I’d place the plants or seeds and what grew well together and what didn’t. I planned for more rose bushes to make rose hip honey and more herbs like sage, rosemary, and yes, thyme. More tomatoes, more green beans, more everything, because I had spring fever and that’s what you do when you are stuck inside in winter.

I researched what rabbits, goats, and chickens could eat out of the garden and planted extra for them. I remember the day I brought the milk goats out into the yard and let them browse around the garden.

My goat, Jacee, was a black La Mancha, sweet as could be. She laid down next to the artichoke bed and nibbled on the leaves. I sat down next to her, stroking her sleek neck, and watched her nibble. The sun felt warm and delicious on my skin. Just sitting next to her while she chewed her cud and gazed dreamily at her surroundings made me appreciate her ‘goatness’ and the moment even more.

It’s in memory of her and all of the animals I raised and the gardens I grew, that inspired me to create these printables for planning a garden and a homestead reading list. So many of the books and magazines on this list helped me plan out our little mini-homestead in the backyard. I’m no longer able to do those things, but I think about them often and miss them.