Trudi:

All I want to say is THANK YOU! When I found your Wintersown.org site two years ago, I thought it was a crazy idea, but I am hooked and I love it. I can't wait for winter now!

Cheers, Ann

I'm glad you like Winter Sowing Ann, it is a lot of fun!

I agree with Ann, THANK YOU TRUDI!!!
You really changed the way I garden. In my zone, it's start early or buy seedlings. This is only my 2nd yr and I can't imagine going back to crowding every inch of window space just to fail again.
I still can't believe how great it works!!!
Hooked from that 1st sprout.
:)Laura

Trudi - I am so glad you are doing the FAQs for this forum. You see, I am brand spankin new to this forum. Have NEVER done this before and have never SEEN it done either. You really do have a newbie here.

Should save me from asking a lot of beginner question.

Thanks so much - Linda In NC

I don't post much but I sure watch this forum.I just had to say thanks to Trudi also.My 8 year old daughter and I tried it this year,both with great results,and with unbelievable ease.
I also have to thank the generous folks here for the seed they sent me.
I opened more space for WSing this year.Can't wait!
Gene

What a novel idea!

Hip Hip Hurray for Trudi! I am going into my 2nd year of Winter Sowing and am sooo excited. Seeing is believing! I usually hate Winter and go into hibernation, not any more!

Awww, c'mon. You're making me blush ;-)

Winter Sowing is popular now for three reasons.

1) I wrote about what I had seen with my own eyes--I was absolutely stunned by how easy and successful my experiences were. My Mom always said that people with specialized knowledge that didn't share that knowledge were useless, and even though she had already passed away I couldn't escape something which had been ingrained into my soul. I didn't write about WS because it's a great way to sprout seeds, I wrote about it because it's first a great way to uplift someone and motivate them for further success--what is does for your head is more important than what it does for your garden.

2) The hard part--I didn't cave in to nay-sayers. In the beginning there was a lot of critique, mockery and insults--basically, the Under-Lights clique and Norman Deno worshippers went ballistic. They had invested a ton of money in their light set-ups or done years of work with duplicating the Norman Deno temperatures and along I come with a milkjug and the promise that a kindergartner could have equal, if not better success, than a master-gardener with a life time of experience at germinating seeds. They freaked out. I refused to give up--some of the emails were very disturbing and worrisome--but a glass of wine and a box of chocolate were good balms to salve the wounds. I'm still here and nowadays troll-free. With such a huge amount of support and success of global Winter Sowers any attacks against the method are impotent and incompetent.

3) Never be afraid to ask for help! God Bless AgNIC. Some years back I contacted AgNIC to tell them what I was doing--I had hoped they would link to my nascent website. AgNIC is a consortium built of government agencies, universities and non-profits--they've grouped together in like-minded effort to freely provide quality agricultural and related content to the public. I was invited to a meeting at the USDA National Agricultural Library in Beltsville, MD--it was an opportunity to show what I was doing. I felt like like Dorothy going before the great and powerful OZ, but soon after arriving I felt like I was surrounded by a loving family. Their chins dropped when they saw how easy WS was--they "got it" immediately and I didn't have to fend off critics. They asked me to join them, which I did, and they guided me to building a better website. AgNIC is the wind beneath my wings--they are the wind beneath the wings of all Winter Sowers. I hope that you will all visit AgNIC, check out the partner sites, and use the AgNIC search engine--they are here for the public ;-)

Here is a link that might be useful: AgNIC ~ Agricultural Network Information Center

As I said on another post..."THANK YOU TRUDI" for introducing this winter sowing to all of us. I don't post much on this forum because I'm soo busy with my gardening
and the Brug forum, however, it is one of my favorite
places at this time of year. So many wonderful people
and ideas! I'm getting my containers ready as soon as I
get home :)
Margaret

Hands down, the greatest thing about Winter Sowing is Winter Sowers! They're the folks that spread the word, come up with some truly amazing variations, and also create an open environment where everyone is welcome to share and learn.

Thank you Trudi that will be a big help. Another thing that might help is a post on the first of month when each zone should begin. That is something that I always see us newbies in here asking.

Hi Sweet,

Winter starts on December 21st--that's when we all can begin.

We have a Solstice Sowing ceremony too ;-)

Here is a link that might be useful: Winter Sowers Solstice Celebration.