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Homesteading has many benefits and can be done at any stage in life. Start small with your first garden, learn to keep chickens or bees.

Before you get started, think about what you want to achieve on your homestead and how you can make it happen. Having goals will help motivate you to keep going when things aren’t working out.

A three-year grant from the National Park Service is examining the role Black Homesteaders played in the history of present-day Oklahoma.

“I would say the first unique part of this project is the fact that Oklahoma had the largest number of Black homesteaders out of all of the states that have been studied overall. And so the sheer number of people is really important,” said Kalenda Eaton, associate professor of African and African American studies at the University of Oklahoma and director of the Oklahoma Black Homesteader Project.

She added that many Black homesteaders came from nearby states, including Arkansas, Texas, and Kansas, but also Tennessee and elsewhere.

This project is important, Eaton said, because it pre-dates the Great Migration, the 20th century movement of millions of Black Southerners to the North, Midwest, and West.

“This study that we’re conducting is a part of a funded project by the National Park Service that really details who these individuals were, what the communities were that were established, that were not so well known, or maybe even towns, but just kind of large communities, what the effects of the migration was on the South on communities that were already established in the West. And then also, what the experience says were of people who left everything behind it for the most part, and then decided to venture out west,” she added.

Whether you’re planning on starting a farm for your family or for business purposes, you may need some help. Here are a few things to keep in mind before you get started:

A farm is an area of land where crops (plants) or livestock are grown or raised for food, fiber and fuel. It usually includes buildings where equipment is stored or livestock are housed.

Urban agriculture as a global phenomenon is widely promoted as a sustainable land use practice. On small plots and in big projects, using sophisticated technology or simple solutions, city dwellers around the world are producing food. Growing food in a city can improve local food security and express local culture.

Little information is available, though, on what kinds of spaces and technologies urban agriculture requires. This sort of information would be useful to architects and built environment specialists when they design buildings and urban spaces that can accommodate urban agriculture.

As part of a larger research project on the climate change adaptation potential of urban agriculture, our study explored the spatial, material and technological characteristics of selected urban agriculture farms. We looked at how it’s done in dense urban settings in four countries: Belgium, the Netherlands, Singapore and South Africa.

The selection of countries aimed to present diversity of context, climatic conditions and forms of urban agriculture. Belgium, the Netherlands and Singapore are developed and high-income countries. South Africa is a developing context and therefore offers a contrasting perspective.

We interviewed farmers, architects and engineers. We asked about the choices they’d made about site, layout and management, what had influenced them, and whether they had experienced any problems. We also observed the materials and methods used, any adjustments to existing buildings or infrastructure, access to the site, and movement around it.

In this process we identified various ways of using space and technology under different conditions. We grouped them into eight farm types, ranging from low-tech to sophisticated solutions.

Our typology is useful because we found that urban agriculture is very diverse in its form and application. This diversity means architects and other specialists in the built environment risk getting their design proposals wrong. By defining the types and linking them with spatial, material and technology needs, we offer professionals information they can use when introducing food production into their projects.

Our overview of urban farming highlights the need to develop and use appropriate technologies in poorer and rapidly growing cities. These are the features of most sub-Saharan African cities.

Eight types of urban farms

The eight farm types emerged from the way they use space (planted in soil or on/in buildings), the level of control over growing conditions (like ambient temperature, light, nutrients, water and air flow), and the use of other resources. The latter may be waste sources (such as waste water, bio-matter or waste heat), internet and connectivity networks, and human labour (such as the immediate community).

The farm types we identified were as follows:

community or allotment farms that are farmed for personal or community use
community or commercial soil-based farms that use growing tunnels
farms integrated with the built environment, and presenting aesthetic or cultural functions with less focus on produce output (for example demonstration kitchens, or restaurants that promote ethical, sustainable consumption)
productive commercial farms that are integrated within the built environment (for example hydroponic farms, greenhouses and rooftop greenhouses)
farms that are part of buildings, circulating resources within the building (like integrated rooftop greenhouses)
farms integrated into buildings or urban spaces which share resources with a wider neighbourhood
indoor farms with artificially controlled conditions (like indoor commercial hydroponic farms)
completely automated commercial farms that control the planting process, nutrient management and indoor growing environment.

We observed certain strategies and trends.

Firstly, urban farmers often activate unused spaces. These may be empty lots, leftover spaces next to properties or infrastructure, empty buildings, or rooftops.

Secondly, urban farms ranged widely in size. We documented farms ranging from 3,220m² to 4m². Some of the soil-based organic farmers were particular about microclimate (sun, shading, soil quality and water availability). Some of the more technologically advanced farms were good at manipulating microclimates. They could grow food in seemingly unlikely places, like enclosed storerooms or cupboards.

Thirdly, we documented farms that benefited financially and otherwise from being part of multifunctional spaces. For example, they incorporated restaurants, education programmes, therapy spaces, sport facilities and social gathering spaces.

But we also came across urban farmers who actively discouraged a multifunctional approach. In South Africa, urban farms tended to be isolated – for example on rooftops – and the public were mostly excluded. The main reasons were food safety and the risk of theft or damage. The farmer’s main aim was to grow produce to secure an income.

Urban farms are often assumed to contribute to public spaces in cities. Some are part of large urban regeneration initiatives. But our findings prove this isn’t always the case.

Finally, we saw a range of technological applications and solutions. Many farms used highly sophisticated growing technologies. They include zero-acreage farms, which don’t use farmland or open space, but are part of buildings. Hydroponics (growing plants in nutrient-rich water) and vertical agriculture (growing plants on vertical structures) are zero-acreage methods.

A rooftop farm in South Africa. Guillem Sartorio/AFP via Getty Images.

But other farms used technology like discarded objects, self-made solutions and organic or recycled materials. This reflects intentions to develop more sustainable farming solutions and save project costs.

We noted that low-tech farming technology was highly flexible. High-tech solutions were often inflexible once implemented. For example, one farmer had to completely replace the growing equipment because the technology didn’t suit local growing conditions.

Other farmers noted that the integrated nature of the farming systems forced them to grow only a small selection of crops.

Critical findings

Urban agriculture can offer cities several benefits. But certain types of urban farming, especially zero acreage farms, can potentially impede sustainable development. They may be more isolated from their surrounding context, less flexible and adaptable, and less multifunctional. Isolation, and only focusing on food production, reduces the economic potential and social impact of these farms.

The choice of urban agriculture technology is an important consideration for urban planners, architects, developers and farmers working in developing cities.

Source: theconversation.com

Choosing Varities

Start with a list of vegetables you like to eat. Once you know what you’re going to grow, refer to a planting chart for your region and zone to find out which varieties are best for your area.

Growing vegetables is a hugely rewarding experience and those homegrown crops taste so much better than any you get from stores. Growing offers a plethora of rewards on top of those tasty vegetables alone, as gardening can offer both physical and mental health benefits that come from having your hands in the soil.

It can seem daunting to think of how to start a vegetable garden. So where do you start to go from visualizing the vegetable garden of your dreams to making it a reality in your backyard? Well, nowadays there are so many places to look for inspirational vegetable garden ideas, including TV, books and magazines to social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.

I am a former professional kitchen gardener and have been fortunate enough to work in several fantastic vegetable gardens. I have helped plan and develop these vegetable gardens and also, in my spare time, my partner and I turned an overgrown section of field into a productive allotment garden to grow vegetables, fruit, and flowers. Using my hands-on knowledge and experience, I have outlined 10 important factors to consider when you want to start a vegetable garden in your backyard.

Starting a vegetable garden can transform a backyard space

(Image credit: Future)

Drew Swainston

Drew (opens in new tab) is a former professional gardener who has worked in vegetable gardens for the National Trust in the UK. He has also worked in the kitchen garden at Soho Farmhouse and ran the vegetable garden at Netherby Hall in the north of the UK, where he grew vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers for chefs at a local high-caliber restaurant.

10 steps to starting a vegetable garden

kitchen garden. Before you even get to sowing a seed or planting anything into the ground, you need to research and plan where you want to grow, what you want to grow, how you want to grow it, and do some physical work to get that site ready.

However, it is worth all that time and effort involved as the satisfaction that comes with eating your own homegrown vegetables is second-to-none. Once you have started, you will not want to stop. You will want to grow more, try new crops, try new varieties – it can be infectious.

1. Pick a spot

You want to choose a spot in your backyard in which your vegetables will thrive. That means finding a site for your vegetable garden that gets lots of sun, ideally around six to eight hours a day. There are vegetables to grow in shade that will be happy, though none will revel growing in the full shady spots, so avoid anywhere with overhanging trees or in the shade of buildings.

Any site for a vegetable garden wants to be level and sheltered from strong winds that could potentially damage plants. The soil wants to drain well and definitely not be waterlogged in winter – an issue I unfortunately encountered when during the first winter at my allotment I found that all the water on the site ran down to my corner and my vegetable beds turned into swimming pools for extended periods.

You want the site to have convenient access and preferably for it to be near a water source, so you do not have to carry watering cans or drag hoses too far. Finally, it wants to have rich and fertile soil, though that can be amended and there are options to use raised beds or outdoor planters if the soil is not suitable for growing vegetables.

*Be creative with spaces and shapes in your vegetable garden*

2. Start small

If you are planning how to start a vegetable garden in your backyard then the potential size is likely dictated by what yard space you have. Some people may have grand plans when planning a kitchen garden, though if you are new to vegetable gardening then it may be best to start with a small space.

Starting with focusing on small vegetable garden ideas allows you to learn and get that satisfaction without the risk of getting frustrated by a large vegetable garden that gets weedy and out of control quickly. By starting small it means you can get a feel for how long things take to grow and nurture and the time involved in weeding, watering, fertilizing and harvesting.

It can take up more time than first expected and no-one wants to get disillusioned by turning over a huge space in their backyard to a vegetable garden that they don’t actually have the time in their busy lives to tend. If you do want to transform a large area, then it can be done slowly or sections not cultivated covered with thick cardboard or plastic to smother weeds.

*Even a small backyard vegetable garden can be highly productive*

3. Test your soil

Your soil is going to be the most important element when you start a vegetable garden – it will make or break the success of your plot. It is recommended to test your soil to see its type, pH, and nutrient make-up before planting anything so you know what you are working with. And it gives a chance to make any amendments if required. A pH test will tell you how acidic or alkaline your soil is, ideally it would be neutral as that is best for most plants. An example of a home soil testing kit is the Luster Leaf Products Professional Soil Kit available at Amazon (opens in new tab).

For a vegetable garden, the soil type ideally wants to be loose and well-draining. Clay soils can be very heavy and sandier soils too light – the structure, fertility and soil health of any garden can be boosted by adding compost, well-rotted manure, or organic matter into the site and continuing to do so year-on-year. Additional fertilizers can be used too to provide a short-term boost that plants will benefit from.

*Improve the soil in your vegetable garden and your crops will thank you*

4. Managing your vegetable garden

Once you have identified the perfect spot for your plot, the next step for starting a vegetable garden is to actually consider how you want to manage that patch.

Traditionally, growers would dig their plots every winter – either by single or double-digging – and work in lots of well-rotted manure or organic matter as they went. However, nowadays there is more of a common thinking that no dig, or no till, gardening is the way to go. It is thought that too much digging and working of the soil actually harms the structure and the beneficial microbial life within the soil.

No dig gardening involves laying a base level of cardboard and then mounding the compost or organic matter on top – adding to this each winter. The materials smother weeds and rely on worms to incorporate that compost down into the soil over time. It is now a very popular method of growing and has many benefits – I myself started running my allotment using no dig principles and have worked in kitchen gardens that were no dig. I found them highly successful ways of growing and I would class myself as an advocate for that growing method.

Alternatively, you can create full vegetable gardens using raised beds and that allows you to have more control over the soil that you are growing in. Raised beds can also be beneficial for anyone with mobility issues as you can adjust how tall a raised bed should be to suit your needs. You can build a raised garden bed from wood, bricks, metal or other materials, or get construction kits such as the Costway Wooden Vegetable Raised Garden Bed available at Walmart (opens in new tab).

There is also the option of growing in just pots and containers, and it means there is lots of scope for vegetable garden container ideas. This can provide the opportunity to grow vegetables even if you do not have much outdoor space and can only grow on patios or on a balcony garden.

*No dig vegetable garden beds are simple to make and easy to manage*

5. Clear and weed

Before you get to sow any seeds or put any plants in the ground, there comes the task of clearing the area and getting it ready for your vegetable garden. The amount of work involved will depend on where you are planning the plot and what stood on that area previously.

Any rubbish, debris, bricks or large stones need to be removed and the soil needs to be cleared of any weeds, especially perennial weeds that must be removed fully with the roots to stop them coming back. If you want tips for how to get rid of weeds, you can remove them by hand, smother them to suppress the weeds, burn them, or use chemicals as a last resort.

If you are planning to convert an area of lawn, the turf also needs to be lifted. That is unless you are planning to go no dig or do a lasagna garden as those beds can be created directly on top of existing lawns or weeds. If you lift an area of lawn, then stack the turf upside down and it will break down over a year to give you lovely homemade compost that can go back onto the bed.

If you wish to, dig and turn the soil and break down any big clods and work in lots of compost or organic matter as you go before raking the bed level.

*Weeds are likely a constant battle that needs to kept on top of*

6. Choose your crops

Surely one of the most exciting parts of thinking about how to start a vegetable garden is planning what you are going to grow. There is such a huge and varied range of vegetables that you can grow and perusing websites and seed catalogs could be potentially daunting to a novice.

However, the best way to go is to grow what you and your family like to eat. There is always room for some experimentation but a good way to start is to think about what you eat regularly and focus on growing that. If you eat a lot of carrots, opt for looking at how to grow carrots – even for that one root crop there will be so many different varieties that you can try that you will not see in grocery stores.

Another good tactic would be to start off trying some of the easiest vegetables to grow, things like lettuce, radish, peas, beans, carrots, kale, or beets. A good piece of advice would be to not rush and go with the seasons. When you start sowing or planting always follow the advice on seed packets to avoid making any common seed sowing mistakes. It can be easier said than done, but restrain yourself from trying to sow or plant things early as, on most occasions, it does not end well.

*Carrots are a popular vegetable garden crop and are sown direct into the soil*

7. Pick your growing method

After flicking through the seed catalogs or browsing retailers websites and deciding what vegetables you want to grow in your garden, comes the next decision – how to grow them. There are often several choices available. You can either grow them from seed, buy small plug plants to pot up and grow on, or get plants that can go straight out into the vegetable garden.

Each one comes with their own advantages and disadvantages. For example, seeds are the cheapest way to grow vegetables but you often need somewhere warm to germinate them – if you want earlier crops – and space to propagate and grow them on.

Seeds can be direct sown into the ground when the soil warms up, and root crops such as carrots and parsnips always need to be direct sown, however it can be a more inconsistent method than sowing seeds indoors and growing them on to plant out.

Plugs or plants can be sourced online or in garden centers and are a more expensive option – though plugs are cheaper than fully grown plants – but they can provide a more instant impact as they are easier to grow and can be planted straight into the plot.

Think about what works best for you in terms of budget, time, and space and, if in doubt, try to keep things simple as possible.

*Many crops can be started indoors and transplanted into the vegetable garden*

8. Crop rotation and companion planting

When planning your vegetable garden and deciding what crops will grow where, it pays to take crop rotation and companion planting into serious consideration.

Crop rotation means moving where you grow vegetables around the garden year-on-year. This offers several benefits, including preventing the build-up of diseases in the soil and it can improve the fertility in the soil, helping you get bigger yields from your crop.

Companion planting is an organic method of protecting crops from pests and diseases, by the simple process of planting beneficial crops near each other. Some crops, for example alliums like onions and garlic, prevent pests from attacking others by the smell that they emit. So using them for carrot companion planting, for example, means the smell of the onions will deter carrot fly.

If you do some research beforehand then you will discover that both crop rotation and companion planting can be used to offer simple and organic pest and disease control for your vegetable garden, they are an easy win for the grower.

*Vegetable gardens can easily be made on top of existing lawns*

9. Get inspired

Here comes another fun part of how to start a vegetable garden. That is the process of designing and planning the vegetable garden. Here is the chance to get inspired and be creative to create the vegetable of your dreams.

Look at a lot of books and magazines and also use social media such as Instagram and YouTube to see other people’s vegetable gardens and get inspiration. There are so many popular vegetable gardening influencers that can be seen publishing daily pictures and reels of their plots, with gardens ranging from large kitchen gardens to homesteads, allotments, and tiny urban vegetable gardens in small backyards.

There are tips, tricks, and gardening advice to be found out there all across social media – so use that as a tool when thinking about how to start a vegetable garden in your backyard. There will be many growers who started off with a space exactly the same as you are planning, so why not borrow a few ideas of those who have succeeded?

*Many different materials can be utilized in a backyard vegetable garden*

10. Buildings and structures

This might just be the luxury for those who have larger backyards or bigger budgets, but at the start of planning a vegetable garden is the best time to plan for any large structures or buildings you want.

Structures such as greenhouses, polytunnels, or cold frames can help increase the vegetables you can grow, opening up the door for more heat-loving plants that maybe would not thrive outside in your climate. The list of vegetables to grow in a greenhouse is long and most crops will be able to take advantage of that protection, even through the colder winter months.

Such buildings also allow you to extend the season, start sowing seeds earlier, and give you indoor areas to potter if you still want that gardening fix when the rain comes. Greenhouses and cold frames are also a great way of protecting plants from frost and backyard greenhouses are now more popular than ever. There are also plenty of ways of creating a DIY greenhouse, so even if budget is tight there are options available to you.

Though not as glamorous, incorporating a shed or backyard building into your vegetable garden can boost your backyard storage so you can store and organize tools and accessories. It also helps to declutter a backyard and means you don’t have to carry tools a long way to the plot.

There is also the chance to consider putting wires on walls or fences to grow climbing crops on, or put in arches or other garden structures that vegetables such as squashes can climb. This allows you the chance to grow vegetables vertically and take advantage of using space that is not always utilized.

*A glasshouse allows you to grow more tender crops*

Starting a vegetable garden is an exciting prospect and an experience that should be enjoyed. Growing vegetables at home has the potential to transform your life and, even if starting off small, I would recommend it to anyone. Do your research and your planning, and then go for it.

Remember to take lots of pictures to track your progress and make lots of notes of what you grow and how it goes. Not only are they cherished memories, but it will help you transform your vegetable growing year-on-year as you can see what worked and what didn’t do so well. If you have space to start even a small vegetable garden with a few pots, then I encourage you to give it a try.

Source: homesandgardens.com

Popular Flower Types

There are more than 400,000 types of flowers in the world, each with its own name and classification. With so many choices, picking the right flower can be overwhelming.

Luckily, we’ve put together this guide to the ten most popular flower types you can find in bloom. Each one has its own meaning and charm, and each will make a lovely addition to any bouquet or arrangement!

March is a good time to plan and gather materials to start your vegetable, herbs, and/or flower seeds indoors.

In the Mohawk Valley, gardeners will start sowing seeds indoors in mid to late April.

That way, the plant is ready to be transplanted outdoors in late May or the beginning of June, safe from the last frost date.

What type of flower, vegetable, or herb seeds would you like to grow?

Seed catalogs, seed racks in department stores, and online seed shopping can help you decide what to grow.

Consider seed tapes in 2023

National Invasive Species Awareness WeekWhat to know about species in the Mohawk Valley

There are annual (grow only 1 season) and perennial (come back year after year) flowering plants to choose from. For vegetables and herbs, pick plants that you and your family would like to eat or add to culinary dishes.

The seed packet has lots of good information. It will tell you if the plant should be started indoors or if it is best to start outdoors in the ground. Also, how soon to sow the seeds, how many weeks before the last frost date, or when the soil will warm up.

CCE Oneida County has a fact sheet on Starting Seeds Indoors found online at cceoneida.com under Home and Garden; see Fact Sheets.

Looking for top-rated vegetable varieties or the most reviewed ones?

Check out Vegetable Varieties for Gardeners, a citizen science program of Cornell Garden-Based Learning, Cornell University Extension, at vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu.

Cornell Garden-Based Learning website https://gardening.cals.cornell.edu/garden-guidance/foodgarden/ has helpful information on Food Gardening. Check out the Vegetable Varieties List 2023. This list can help you plan what vegetables to grow in your garden resistant to specific disease problems.

If you want to get a jump start to starting seeds in March, try milk jug sowing of seeds that will be placed outdoors. I have tried growing some perennial flowers this way over the past two years. I plan to start some flowers and vegetables again. A good website resource from Penn State University Extension on sowing seeds in winter can be found at https://extension.psu.edu/starting-seeds-in-winter

Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County answers home and garden questions which can be emailed to homeandgarden@cornell.edu or call 315-736-3394, press 1 and ext. 333. Leave your question, name and phone number. Questions are answered weekdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Also, visit our website at http://cceoneida.com/ or phone 315-736-3394, press 1 and then ext.100

Source: uticaod.com

Starting A Vegetable Garden

Selecting a variety of vegetables is a good first step, depending on your climate and space. It also depends on your level of experience and your taste preferences.

Vegetables need sunlight, water, soil and fertilizer to grow.

Spring is just around the corner, which means it is time to start thinking about your summer gardening plans. Gardening in our region can be a rewarding challenge due to our shorter growing season, as well as late-season frosts and snowstorms that make it risky to plant too early. Pikes Peak Library District has excellent resources to help you get started! Keep an eye on our events calendar for fun programs about gardening as well.

Depending on where you are and what you’re growing, you may already be starting some of your seeds indoors this month, so they are ready to plant when the seasons change. If you are new to gardening in our region, or want to level up your skills, use your library card to check out gardening books and magazines on flower and vegetable gardening, landscaping, container gardening, xeriscaping, gardening with children, gardening in Colorado, and other useful topics. Even if you’re not looking for how-to information, you will discover books on the philosophy of gardening, gardening memoirs, and histories of famous gardens in our collection.

Whether you plan to start seeds this month or next, there are other things you can do now to start getting ready. Determine if you have the right number of pots for anything you plan to grow in containers. You can also start collecting the containers you will use for your starters. Use pots you own or hold onto sturdy single-use containers. Yogurt and cottage cheese tubs work great.

If you haven’t yet, start thinking about the types of plants you want to grow this year. Will you grow your own lettuce, spinach, and tomatoes for DIY salads? Zucchini so you can bake great zucchini bread? Flowers to brighten your yard? As you plan, get inspired by the Seed Library at High Prairie and Manitou Springs libraries. The seed libraries allow the Library to support a thriving community of gardeners of all levels by offering a variety of seeds, some of which came from local gardens the prior year. You can take home a few seed packets per month to get your garden started, and feel free to bring unused seeds or seeds you harvest back to share with the community.

The Library is also starting to think ahead to gardening season, because we have gardens at three of our locations. The Carnegie Garden, between Penrose Library and the Knights of Columbus Hall, is home to a demonstration garden and has a lawn that is perfect for public functions and Library events like the Jean Ciavonne Poetry Contest Award Ceremony next month. Penrose Library also has a vegetable garden and pollinator garden, and we donate produce grown there to local nonprofit organizations. At High Prairie Library, we grow produce that we donate to the Fresh Start Center. The Elmohr Iris Society maintains a garden at East Library that is the only public, high-altitude trial garden in the world.

Carla Bamesberger is the Public Relations and Marketing Manager for Pikes Peak Library District. Besides reading and touting all that the District offers, this Coloradoan enjoys spending time with her husband and pets, biking, crafting, and gaming. She can be reached at cbamesberger@ppld.org or by calling (719) 531-6333, x6259.

Source: gazette.com

A garden is a bounded space usually associated with a residence and contains cultivated plants.

It is a place for producing food for private use, or flowers or fiber for others. It is a space for biodiversity and for healthy ecosystems.

Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) has finally acknowledged that some of her authoritarian COVID orders were ridiculous. Unfortunately for her, everyone else knew this three years ago, when she first put those orders in place.

Speaking with Chris Wallace, Whitmer acknowledged that “there were moments where we had to make some decisions that in retrospect don’t make a lot of sense.” For example, her restrictions on gardening supplies. “You could go into the hardware store, but we didn’t want people all congregating around the gardening supplies,” Whitmer said. She tried to downplay it, claiming that “people said, ‘Oh, she outlawed seeds.’ It was February in Michigan. No one was planting anyway.”

MICHIGAN BANS TIKTOK ON STATE DEVICES WHILE WHITMER ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO USE IT

“That being said, some of those policies I look back and think that maybe was a little more than we needed to do,” Whitmer concluded. You could say that again.

Michigan Democrat Gov. Gretchen Whitmer very grudgingly admits restricting seed sales during her endless lockdown orders “maybe was a little more than we needed to do.” pic.twitter.com/HMRe6oNPNl

— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) March 13, 2023

The gaslighting here is simply breathtaking. The orders (multiple) were in late March/early April (NOT February) and were so unclear that some stores put caution tape around entire aisles to not risk noncompliance. A bit of humility would be nice. https://t.co/vVrnSLBhZM

— Peter Meijer (@RepMeijer) March 13, 2023

Whitmer’s meek attempt at defending this is wrong because it was not February in Michigan. The orders were put in place in March and stretched into April, while planting season in Michigan is “usually late March or early April,” according to Michigan State University. Whitmer also went further than just banning seeds, forcing the closure of garden centers and nurseries and banning landscaping work, which she justified at the time because the weather wasn’t good.

But, more importantly, her decision was clearly anti-science and authoritarian when she made it in March 2020. Kaylee McGhee White detailed how ludicrous this was for the Washington Examiner on March 13, 2020, explaining that you could buy chalk from Lowe’s but not paint and buy a brand new TV from Walmart but not a couch. “At both stores, home gardening supplies were completely off limits,” she wrote.

Whitmer’s logic of not wanting people to “congregate” around the gardening supplies should be laughable. Michigan residents were free to enter these stores and buy multiple other things, but Whitmer was apparently worried that they would throw block parties in the gardening section of Walmart. Michigan residents apparently swarm garden tools at Home Depot like fans of a boy band.

But it is not laughable. Whitmer is so flippantly authoritarian that she barged forward with this and several other overreaching, unscientific COVID restrictions without even thinking about it. She was only able to admit that she “maybe” did “a little more” than was necessary, and even then, she defends herself by misrepresenting the facts of what happened. Her attitude belongs nowhere near any level of governance, let alone the governorship of a state of 10 million people.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

Add to that her clear national ambitions, and you have a wannabe tyrant on the level of Vice President Kamala Harris.

There must be electoral consequences for the authoritarians that wielded power the way Whitmer did during the pandemic. Michigan Republicans evidently weren’t (and won’t be) competent enough to pose a threat, but Whitmer’s national career should be ended by her pandemic actions and her inability to acknowledge how absurd and overreaching they were.

Source: washingtonexaminer.com