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HAPPY NEW YEAR!

We hope you’re comfy, because we have a lot to say ☕️

January is the month of garden planning.

Stick around to the very end for special VIP newsletter content

The Cottage Corners Planning Guide is almost here!!!

Just in time for planning season to begin.

Creating a garden plan is a great way to maximize your efforts, with small spaces especially. But planning for the season can be tricky when you’re new to gardening.

What exactly are you planning for?

How do you know what to do?

We’ve created a planning guide specifically tailored to new gardeners working in small spaces! Let us make the introductions.

Seed Ordering

Yes, it’s almost time to buy seeds. But first, make a plan!

Before you place a huge order or buy every seed packet on display at your local garden centre, take some time to plan. (And we’re not just saying that because we made a planner!)

Most seed catalogues are shipping now! Get your name on a few mailing lists to receive your copies. Here are just a few Canadian garden seed suppliers:

• Pacific Northwest (British Columbia)

• OSC Seeds (Ontario)

• Richter’s Herbs (Ontario)

• Halifax Seed (Halifax)

• Veseys Seeds (Prince Edward Island)

• Gaze Seed (Newfoundland)

You should aim to have your seeds by March, so time your buying accordingly.

Are you still anxious to start your seeds?

Here’s another project you can do to stay busy while you’re waiting.

Head into your local garden centre or nursery to see what fall bulbs they have left. Bonus- they’ll probably be on clearance!

Did you know you can plant fall bulbs into pots pretty much all winter? Learn how.

The Winter Collection Dropped!

And we’re as happy as Snow Peas in a Podboggen.

Our new seasonal collection of Cottage Corner swag is here and we are in love. We hope you enjoy cozying up with these cheery little snow peas as much as we do. And let’s give a round of applause to Drew DeCoste for her incredible art. Bravo!

AND NOW…

VIP Newsletter Content!

Echinacea Tincture.

Since it’s garden planning time, we’re thinking way ahead to next Christmas. We’d like to gift our friends and family with bottles of Whole Plant Echinacea Tincture from our cottage corner. (Sorry for the spoiler, guys!) Echinacea tincture is an herbal remedy used to boost the immune system. It also makes a lovely gift, especially around the holidays, which just so happen to coincide with cold season.

It’s a product that will take the whole year to prepare. As a special bonus for subscribing, we’ll only be sharing the process here in our newsletter, just for you. We hope you enjoy following along, and perhaps even make your own!

We’ll be using renowned herbalist, Rosemary Gladstar’s recipe:

This recipe comes from Rosemary Gladstar’s Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner’s Guide. Copies of her book can be found here.

Step 1: Stratification

Echinacea pupurea, commonly known as Purple Coneflower, needs stratification for optimal germination. Stratification happens naturally outdoors, as seeds are exposed to harsh winter conditions. Cycles of freezing and thawing break down their tough protective seed coat, allowing the warmth and moisture from spring rains to trigger germination.

However, Purple Coneflower can spend most of its first year growing roots, not blooming until year two. For our project to work, we need flowers this year!

So, we’ll be simulating stratification to trigger germination earlier in the year. That will give the plants more time to mature and hopefully bloom this year.

The Process:

To stratify seeds, fill a module tray with seed starting mix and moisten until water runs through. Give it a few taps to compact the growing medium just a bit. Sow 3-5 seeds into each module and press lightly to make sure they have good seed-to-soil contact.

Wrap the module tray in cellophane so it’s air-tight and place it in the freezer. If it is not air-tight, the freezer will dry out the tray and ruin the seeds.

Leave the tray in the freezer for the next month, removing it two or three times for 24-48 hours to simulate winter’s natural cycles of freeze and thaw.

That’s it!

If you want to follow along and make your own echinacea tincture this year, pick up a packet of Purple Coneflower seeds and complete Step 1 above.

Stay tuned for Step 2 in February’s newsletter!

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