Gumboot Garden

« In My Kitchen, September 2012

Gumboot Garden

September 3, 2012 by Celia @ Fig Jam and Lime Cordial

The nicest thing about the internet is that it lets folks with common interests connect with one another.

That’s the case with fellow Aussie blogger Jason at Zucchini Island – like us, he and his partner Melanie are following Linda Woodrow’s Permaculture Home Garden plan, complete with chook dome, round beds and intensive planting schedule.

Jason and Melanie are following the script far closer than we are – we’ve had to modify it somewhat to suit our time constraints – but it is such a joy to have someone who understands the thrills and occasional hiccups in the course of this gardening journey.

Recently, Jason set up a small business selling gardening supplies. His primary product is a seasonal seed subscription, but in addition to this, he also has cards (like the gorgeous one above), and has just introduced these very clever Season Stickers.

Here’s how Jason described them to me in a recent email:

I found that when I wanted to sow some seedlings, I first needed to get out my gardening guide to workout which seeds to plant – that, in itself, was time consuming. Then I would search through my seedling containers looking for the plant name. Sometimes I would have to flick through the whole collection only to discover that I didn’t have that particular seed, and then have to start all over again looking for next one in the list. I also have some varieties that are not listed in my guides, so I would end up doing a packet by packet check anyway. All this took time and reduced the time I could have spent sowing.

My solution was to develop Season Stickers – sheets of little round stickers with the seasons on them. When you purchase a new packet of seeds, based on the packet information or some planting guide, you stick one of these onto the front of the packet. Then when it’s time to sow, you simply grab all seed packets with the appropriate sticker on them, and off you go.

I think they’re a great idea! We have a large cherry box stuffed full with seed packets, and I know it will often take Pete and I an hour just to go through them looking for what to plant in each bed…

Jason is selling the stickers on Gumboot Gardens website. There are three sheets (108 Season Stickers in total) and a temperate planting guide in each set…

I was sent a set to play with (cheers Jason!) and a couple more to give away. If you’re a gardener with lots of packets of seeds to manage, you’ll probably find them really useful…

Please visit Jason’s blog Zucchini Island, and his Gumboot Garden website! And if you’re interested in winning a packet of Season Stickers, please just leave a comment below and we’ll pull a couple of names out of a hat in a few days’ time. Everyone is welcome to enter!

Winners: I asked Jason to pick a couple of winners, and he chose Rose and AfricanAussie. I’ll be emailing you both soon!

Posted in Frugal Living | 34 Comments

34 Responses

on September 3, 2012 at 8:13 am InTolerant Chef

What a great idea! I hope the business takes off famously. It’s a real pain shifting through piles of seed packets trying to remember when you planted them last year, especially if you are in a marginal temperature zone.
I can hardly wait to start planting, but still severe frost each morning :(
on September 3, 2012 at 8:37 am Claire @ Claire K Creations

What a great idea! It’s one of those things once you see it you think ‘now why didn’t I think of that?! I so need to get back on track with my gardening. I’ve been very slack.
on September 3, 2012 at 9:01 am Kat

That’s cute! I assumed I’d rely on my memory to just remember when things get planted but as my box of seeds grows I’m realising my memory apparently has a limit :)
on September 3, 2012 at 9:03 am Linda Woodrow

If I get picked, can you put me back and pick again. I don’t need to win, I just want to say I think it’s such a great idea and a useful tool for small scale gardeners.
on September 3, 2012 at 9:21 am Doll

you have just described us… searching through a box of seeds, referring to the book…. searching again!
on September 3, 2012 at 9:24 am Bobbie

What a great idea! I would chech the website straight away! I love the cute packaging of the seeds!
on September 3, 2012 at 9:41 am Sue

Love this idea – brilliant!
on September 3, 2012 at 9:41 am hotlyspiced

What a brilliant idea. I love the look of these. Most people I know that garden have their seed packets in complete disarray. I guess they’ve all been waiting for this invention xx
on September 3, 2012 at 9:53 am Christine @ Food Wine Travel

This is a great idea, Celia. The stickers are so colourful and I love the gumboot card!
on September 3, 2012 at 10:14 am mtrudinger

Fantastic idea! It’s often so hard to work out what to plant and when! I know my husband would appreciate these!
on September 3, 2012 at 10:51 am Norma Chang

What a clever idea. So glad Jason thought of it.
on September 3, 2012 at 11:08 am Glenda

Hi Celia – What a lovely, and smart, idea.
on September 3, 2012 at 11:12 am Manuela

Great idea! That way no seeds are missed. I usually end up forgetting to plant something as I have so many varieties to choose from!
on September 3, 2012 at 11:58 am grannysmiff

My ‘black thumbs’ may yet become ‘green thumbs’ with Jason’s idea/s
on September 3, 2012 at 12:20 pm Africanaussie

Oh gosh that is what I love about blogging – getting cool ideas like this! I have tried all manner of ideas to get my seeds sorted….
on September 3, 2012 at 12:28 pm Maureen | Orgasmic Chef

Such a clever idea and a way to earn money and at the same time solve a time problem so many of us have. I’m off to check it out!
on September 3, 2012 at 1:10 pm maclynx

My system has been to place everything for that season at the start of my seed box and then when I feel like planting I have a quick flick through. This however is a cute way of organising them
on September 3, 2012 at 5:36 pm Tesney Ap

What a great idea! And the stickers are super cute :)
on September 3, 2012 at 6:13 pm Misky

Shhhhh. I’ll tell you a secret. I *LOVE* stickers! Any stickers. And those are darling.
on September 3, 2012 at 6:18 pm thecompletecookbook

Awesome!
:-) Mandy
on September 3, 2012 at 6:29 pm ChgoJohn

Such a simple answer to a common problem. How very creative, Celia!
on September 3, 2012 at 6:42 pm zazaseacow

cool idea! usually i mark the packets of seeds with watercolour markers! but these stickers are very beautiful! thx 4 sharing with us celia! :)
on September 3, 2012 at 6:55 pm Kavey

What a clever idea! I made a spreadsheet of all our seeds and put in the planting time indoors, planting time outdoors (with notes in whether it was seedlings or direct sow) and so on. But this is very cool. Can I enter from the UK? x x
on September 3, 2012 at 7:08 pm Jo Smith

Another great idea from Jason. I’ve been trying his mini hot house idea, too.
on September 3, 2012 at 8:38 pm Rose

I’m on my way, thanks for this link Celia!
on September 3, 2012 at 9:32 pm bizzylizzycooks

Such a lovely idea with those stickers and a great business!
on September 4, 2012 at 12:26 am Tandy

what a fantastic idea! My IMK post will be late again this month :)
on September 4, 2012 at 11:49 pm ceciliag

Excellent idea, i have a little box with drawers, labelled for the seasons, we are on the Autumn drawer now. As I buy them i sort them . it does make like easier and a half empty packet is easily found again.. c
on September 5, 2012 at 6:49 am Liisa

What a simple solution for a common problem. Well done.
on September 5, 2012 at 11:39 am Spoon Feast

Wonderful idea! Hope it takes off.
i love good ideas like this. best wishes to him!
on September 5, 2012 at 11:43 am Emilie@TheCleverCarrot

What a fantastic idea and cute stickers! Very informative site too :)
on September 5, 2012 at 2:36 pm Sally

It’s too hot to plant where I live right now! Very envious of your temperate climate especially at the moment. 40 C Thanks for the In my Kitchen shout out.
on September 5, 2012 at 8:57 pm Promenade Claire

Just loving it! The Gumboot Garden, the seeds, the stickers, all so simple and practical but visually appealing. Oh and I love the word Gumboot too :)
on September 7, 2012 at 6:49 am Joanna

I want some! I think that is brilliant, have you seen the mess my seeds are in, they are everywhere, including ones on saucers that I am supposed to be drying/saving, and then I miss when I am supposed to sow them. I need stickers!!!!