Germination

radishes germinating in the hoophouse

A few weeks ago I started to feel it. Really feel it. The awakening from my winters nap. After presenting at the MOFFA conference in January, I really settled in so deep this winter that it feels hard to pull myself out of it. Lazy mornings spent drinking coffee by the fire, reading my favorite books, and working on my creative sewing projects. I started a quilt last spring that is hand sewn. It's going to take some time, but I suddenly felt the need to put it away for another time as thoughts of seed sowing and garden prep began to creep into my mind.

This time of year is always a struggle for me. Do I have SADD? Maybe. Or maybe my body just follows direction from nature. My dog Luna sleeps when it is dark. It is unusual to see her sleeping by 5:30pm. During the summer she runs all day until about 9:30pm. Hmmm. Now that I think of it, her and I are on the same schedule. Regardless, I am slow to get moving, but that doesn't mean I can slack off on seed starting. For me, it is about 10 weeks to my last frost date. If you are a gardener, you understand this. If this is new to you, it just means that where you live, the last frost date is an average date when you would experience the final frost of the season. The next key time will be the first frost date which isn't until September. The gardening season generally follows Memorial Day to Labor Day for most. But seed starting has begun, and planting in the hightunnel has been going on. With the addition of social media and AI in the world, information is swirling all over the airwaves, so it's pretty easy to find the information you are looking for when it comes to seed starting. When I wrote for a magazine, my articles on seed starting were typically in the March issues.

There are a few key bits of information to keep in mind if you want to start your garden seeds. The soil temperature is more important that the air temperature.  Each seed has an optimum temperature for germination.  Detailed information can be found in the book The Seed Starters Handbook  by Nancy Bubel or in Knott’s Handbook for Vegetable Growers, Fifth Edition by Donald N. Maynard and George J. Hochmuth .  Odds are, in your home, if the temperatures are 70 degrees, the soil media in your little germination trays will be 70 degrees.  If you grow in the basement, like I do, it’s a little cooler, so for some veggies, like peppers, I will use a heat mat to increase the temperature allowing for improved germination.  Keep in mind that when seeds are germinated at their optimum temperature, you will see a more even, improved, and quicker germination. Place a clear cover or dome on top to maintain soil moisture. I like to use a spray bottle to mist the seeds, or sometime you maybe be told to add water on a bottom tray.

I use a simple seed starting mix, or make my own following instructions given in Eliot Coleman's book "The New Organic Grower". You don't need a mix that has fertilizer. A simple sterile mix like Jiffy Seed Starting mix is probably sufficient.

seedling germinating

Your seedlings will emerge at different rates.  You will notice the stem first, arching like a sea serpent with leaves to follow, roots beginning to anchor in the soil.  Within a day or so you will see little plants reaching toward the light with their cotyledon leaves.  At this time any plastic should come off, if you are using a heat mat plants should be taken off of it, and the lights should go on.  The cotyledon leaves are the leaves which hold all of the nutrients necessary for the plant to start growing.  The next set of leaves are called the “first true leaves”, which means exactly that.  Once this set of first true leaves unfold  the plant really starts growing and now is the time to transplant most of these new seedlings into larger containers or cell packs filled with a growing mix that may include fertilizers and/or soil amendments such as bloodmeal, bonemeal and kelp (a substitute for greensand which isn't available).  It is important to keep the lights on for 12-14 hours to allow for proper photosynthesis and to avoid stretching.  Providing proper lighting will encourage shorter, compact plants reducing that “leggy look”.  Even if you have a very sunny window sill, you will benefit by providing supplemental lighting for healthier plants.  For seed starting, full spectrum fluorescent bulbs or LED for plant growing work best.  These are available in many shapes and sizes.  You will notice soon that the cotyledon leaves will dry up and fall off.  That’s normal so don’t worry!

seedlings with seed coats

Not all seeds require starting indoors, some may only need to be started a couple weeks before planting outside, or it is better to start seeds directly in the soil.  Follow instructions from the seed company. I love starting seeds.  It gives me the option to grow so much more than what is available at the garden centers.  If you are hesitant about starting seeds, just try one new thing this year.  You may be surprised!

Maybe I am at the 2026 germination stage, just beginning to see the light and unfold my first true leaves of the season.

Hey, it's me, a real person writing this! I need to go outside, so if you want, here is some downloadable for you. I'd rather share it with you and not share it with AI, so remember, please give me credit if you share with your friends. Feel free to email any questions regarding your seed starting journey.

Heartwood Forest Farm Seed Sowing.pdf

Download PDF • 92KB

Summer Healing

"Lake Michigan Love" photo courtesy Toni DePaola

 This past spring season was a fast one.  It started with prepping the greenhouses, seed sowing and filling flats of pots.  Organizing the hoophouses and making my timelines for planting are the usual tasks that I have in March.  I realized last year that I was experiencing pain and more weakness in my arms, which prompted me to let go of vending at the farmer’s market.  I thought that with a little less physical work, it would heal.  But after several appointments with the doctors, I learned that I had rotator cuff and bicep tears.  So, a couple of weeks later, I had surgery.  About a week after that, I was able to transplant little seedlings into their containers.  Working in the warm sunny greenhouse was uplifting, and I knew that I would heal in time.  After a final delivery of plants to my wholesale accounts prior to Memorial Day, I turned my focus toward physical therapy so that I would be in good shape for an upcoming 11-day herbalists retreat to Ireland beginning the end of June.  The trip was hosted by Wild Routes Ireland along with herbalist, Rosalee de la Forêt.  I couldn’t wait and I needed to make sure that my body was ready to carry a backpack and that I could lie down in a bed (I was sleeping in a chair then in a bed with many wedges and cushions).  I had less than 3 weeks to go.

 Then my mom died

I am still processing. 

My family encouraged me to continue with the plans to go to Ireland.  So I did.

Landing in Shannon, Ireland

 I have so much to share, and I tried to separate what I wanted to write about the trip to Ireland from the death of my mother, but they were both so intertwined.  Here are some reasons why.

There were 25+ attendees, mostly women, and three men.  The first night there was an opening ceremony held indoors.  There were chairs lining the walls of the room in a circle, with a mandala created in the center on the floor.  A round flat basket was filled with plants and gifts, surrounded by branches, leaves, candles, feathers and other items representing the four directions.  I sat on a chair with a heater to my right, which I thought would keep me warm since it was beginning to storm outside.  Then to the right of the heater, another chair was in place to continue the circle.  To my left was a chair that continued the circle in the opposite direction.  People continued to enter the room and found a chair to sit in.  Then our host, Tara, entered the room and instead of sitting in the only empty seat to my left, she found another chair to add to the circle, and sat in that.  The chair to my left stayed empty during the ceremony. 

Tara started with her introduction, and the instructions for us after we sang a song and called in all of the directions. We were to introduce ourselves, what brought us here, and to share with everyone what our intentions were with this trip.  As people began sharing, emotions became elevated.  About a week before this trip, another herbalist, John Gallagher, died.  He was a mentor to many of the people in the room, but mostly a mentor and friend of Rosalee.  She spoke, as did others, mentioning his name.  Some talked about their intentions for this trip, others of personal struggles that led them to a transition in their lives, some wanted to learn more about herbs and plants, others wanted to learn more about the country.  Then it was my turn.  I spoke briefly of my intentions for wanting to learn more about Ireland and become deeply connected to the people, the land, and the plants, omitting anything about the death of my mom.  Introductions went past the empty chair to the left onto the next person.  I suddenly felt as if that empty chair needed to be there.  It was there for the people that were not physically in the room.  A place for others that were no longer with us.  I got a little choked up, feeling as if my mom was sitting next to me.  We finished the ceremony and left the room.  I thought to myself about the empty chair and told myself I was reading too much into it. 

Opening Ceremony Mandala

Next, about a week into the trip, we hiked through a formal public garden to an old growth yew woodland. I learned that Yews are Chieftain trees, are considered sacred, and are associated with death and resurrection.  We were given a brief introduction to the grove, and were instructed to spend some time here, sitting with a tree of our choice.  When we felt we were ready, then we would get up and find our guide to continue with our hike.  The grove felt calming, comforting, and cool (the temperatures were unusually warm for Ireland).  I really didn’t feel a connection to a specific tree, then I saw one on the outside edge of the grove where the roots were curving up and out of the ground and appeared like cradling arms.  I thought that it looked like a fun place to sit. 

As I settled into my spot, I took a few deep breaths and relaxed with my back against the trunk.  I thought of my mom.  I allowed the tears to flow down my face.  I whimpered and told her that I missed her, and that I didn’t want to leave this spot because I wanted to continue to talk with her.  I heard somehow, not with words spoken out loud, but heard and felt in my head and heart, that I couldn’t stay, but if I wanted to talk to her more, I could do that at my home in the pines where I have sat many times.  I wiped my face and crawled out of the embrace of the yew’s roots.  I was standing there when another woman in the group turned to me and was surprised to see me.  She told me that she saw me sit at the tree, looking around a little, and that I was gone when she looked back.  Then suddenly, I was there behind her.  I smiled and laughed a little, telling her that I was in the tree.  This experience in the grove felt like a matter of a few minutes.  I didn’t realize it had been a total of 30 minutes.  I continued with my group and never shared my experience.  I’m a bit shy and appreciated the other person sharing her experience of what she saw, or didn’t see, with me. 

Closing Day Mandala

On the last day, we all gathered flowers or other natural items for the mandala for our closing ceremony.  This was on the lawn nested between a beautiful stone building where we stayed and the ocean. The sun was shining, the sky was blue, and our spirits were joyful.  Again, we sat in a circle around the mandala.  Tara held a clear glass bowl of water that was collected from the holy well we visited the day prior.  As the bowl was passed around the circle, we were asked to share what we learned on this trip.  Everyone sat close together.  This was even more emotional than the opening ceremony, maybe because of our experiences, or because we knew each other better and felt that we could freely express ourselves.  I recall thinking about my gratitude toward the hosts, and how this was the best way that I could have been introduced to Ireland.  I was in love with the people, the land, the plants, the stones, the water, and the history.  The glass bowl of water was placed in my hands, and I started to share my gratitude for the hosts and found that the emotions of everything took over and I cried and cried.  I don’t even know what I said.  I passed the bowl to the next person, and it continued around the circle.  Our other host Chris was last.  I recall him mentioning how hard it was to be last after hearing everyone else.  The group was asked for volunteers to carry the bowl of water to the ocean and pour it in, releasing all of the wishes and words that were spoken back into the water.  I quickly raised my hand; this was something I needed to do.  I felt a strong urge to pour and release the emotions I was feeling at that time into the ocean.  I, along with two new friends, walked across the lawn, through a small, wooded area, and over some seaweed.  I was barefoot, I wanted to feel the whole walk.  We poured the clear glass bowl of holy water filled with our gratitude into the ocean and headed back to the group.

Pouring Holy Water of Gratitude with Autumn Photo Courtesy Shelly Freeland

We all proceeded to dismantle the mandala, sending the parts back to the edges of the land to decompose.  A woman, Bri, came up to me holding a white feather and as she handed it to me, she shared that when I was talking, crying and holding the bowl, that the feather floated down from the sky next to me.  At first thought I wanted to blow it back in the air, but then I decided to hang on to it for a bit. 

After coming home and began to unpack, I found on a quick internet search, by every source mentioned, that white feathers symbolized angels, links between the spiritual and physical worlds, and many other similar messages across many cultures.  I had to wonder if this message, along with the other experiences I had were from my mom.  Her way of letting me know that she was there with me.  I knew in my heart that everything was ok. 

Now, as the August sunsets become earlier, I feel the urgency to take more time for swimming and enjoying the warmth of the season.    Water is healing, and immersing myself in it is one of my favorite things to do.  The ocean in Ireland is about the same temperature that Lake Michigan is right now.  I’m now hoping to take a dip every day.  I hope that no matter where you are, you can embrace the water and experience summer healing.

In honor and loving memory of my mom, Joyce

Celebrating 10 Years of Plants and People

Patti Travioli, Horticulturist, Farmer, Herbalist

2024 marked the ten-year anniversary of Heartwood Forest Farm.  Reaching this milestone would not have been possible if it wasn’t for all of the plants and people in my life.  I had hoped to write an in depth story about each year, but it was more of a project than I thought.  The farm story is still being written, but for now, here is a little timeline to start.

2014-Official business papers filed with the State of Michigan.  I mailed them on my birthday in April and I was so excited when I received them back with the date stamp of May 1, 2014.  Many of you know that this date is the celebration of Beltane, May Day and other special springtime events.  So, this is the story of the official anniversary date of the farm.  The farm field was cleared of old dead Scots Pine trees and was planted with rye. 

I worked downstate in Mt. Pleasant at CMU for the biology department, so I lived in two locations.  I was also the feature fruit/veggie/herb writer for Michigan Gardening Magazine, and my garden in Mt. Pleasant that I was blogging about “My Urban Farmscape” was published in Groundbreaking Food Gardens: 73 Plans that Will Change the Way You Grow Your Garden by Niki Jabbour, Storey Publishing.

2015-For the first year anniversary, I invited friends and family to a farm blessing, where we hosted the first May pole and tied fabric ribbons that contained wishes for the land.  The bee pasture was prepared and their hives were set in place.  The building that now serves as the apothecary was moved from where our home is currently to the farm field.  The rye grew so tall it became fun playing hide and seek with my granddaughters. I planted the pollinator habitat during the dormant season once the rye was mowed.  

2016-The first high tunnel was constructed in the late summer with the help of a grant from USDA-NRCS.  An irrigation line was brought to the hoophouse from the house. Beds were prepped and amended, and it was planted in the fall with winter greens such as spinach.  Lavender beds in the field were planted with Lavendula x intermedia ‘Provence’, along with additional future field and bed preparations.  I decided that I wanted to create a soap from the farm, so I developed “Herbal Infusion” as my first soap.  The farm officially becomes USDA Certified Organic. 

2017-Early spring planting in the hoophouse.  I was still working at CMU and living in two locations, but managed to attend the Monday market at The Commons and began selling plants, greens and herbs. The summer continued with weekends full of harvesting tomatoes, beets, and other veggies and herbs.  I had a small CSA and learned that wasn’t really the farm model I wanted to follow.  I spent a lot of time during the weekday evenings taking art classes at CMU, studying papermaking, book arts, and printing.  It had been years since I had worked with my art, so it was a nice way to jump back into my creative space.  Living in two places was a little tricky, and I couldn’t have done it without the help from my husband who lived and worked from our home in Cedar, but the farm wasn’t his job.  I helped my parents move from my childhood home into an apartment in the fall and planted apple trees at the farm.  For Christmas my husband gifted me with my first copper alembic still. 

2018-I left my position at CMU early spring.  It felt like the work I was hired to do was finished, and I was ready to farm full time.  A second high tunnel was constructed in mid summer and additional spaces in the field were planted and beginning to take shape from what I had envisioned.  A row of English roses were planted by my daughter.  She would help with planting other crops when she was home.  I began vending downtown Traverse City at the Sara Hardy Farmers Market.  The first video was created at the farm by Novum Productions and feels very inspiring every time I watch it.  Classes and events began to happen at the farm, other vending opportunities took place.  Our first pair of farm cats, Rhu and Barb, joined us for pest control.   It was a very full and exciting year. 

2019-My stepdad passes away.  Spring planting was quiet and full of reflection.  I worked on my own therapeutic horticulture program with the plants as my guide.  It’s amazing how nature allows you to move through grief.  My mom moves to the area close by during July.  The farm is in full swing this season, and there are so many things happening.  Growing, harvesting, teaching, farmers markets and more.  Social media begins to be the “way” of promoting, and I didn’t care to spend a whole lot of time on my phone or computer.  I wanted to be outdoors in person with the plants.  I thought that others may want to learn this way, so I developed the first Herb Farmer Apprenticeship in the spring of 2020.  I attended my first Great Lakes Herb Faire in Chelsea, Michigan as a vendor.  What an incredible event.  I met so many herbalists including local herbalist jim mcdonald, friendly plant people and I learned so much.  I met Maria Noel Groves, who sent me seeds from her garden.  This is the year I began growing Korean Licorice Mint, Agastache rugosa. 

2020-My husband was retiring from his job, so we decided to take a long trip to Sedona, AZ.  What a place to experience transitions!  I began my online course with Rosemary Gladstar during this time, trying to dedicate a full day, but nature was calling.  We hiked up some of the biggest red rock formations, visited the Grand Canyon, and experienced the energy and spirit of vortexes. 

Then we heard the news during the last few days we were in AZ….you know, the pandemic.  We flew home and as a farm, I opened to the public and was propelled into working like no way I could have ever imagined.  The Herb Farmer Apprenticeship still continued, and with the students, we all experienced the power of nature and plants. The rest of the year is somewhat of a blur. 

2021- A train trip vacation to the west coast with my husband during the first of the year, then… there are puppies in the house!  My son,  daughter in-law and their dogs moved in with us since Oakley was going to have puppies and we had extra space in our home.  What a joy to experience puppies at this time!  We ended up keeping one of the pups, and you know her as Luna.  She was born on the first day of the new moon, so her full name is Nova Luna White Walker.  White walker is the part of her name from her mom.  The farm store opened on the farm, attending the Sara Hardy farmers market as a vendor continued, and classes were held at the farm as people continued to seek out respite in nature.  The volunteers worked with me part time, and the harvesting of lavender and learning distillation was the newest learning experience for us.  The Herb Farmer Apprenticeship continued where we ended that class with a trip to United Plant Savers.  Afterwards, I attended a weekend distillation workshop with Erika Galentin and Ashley where I continued my distillation learning journey and when I came home I bought a new still that would enable me to do steam distillations.  So much to learn as I began to distill rose scented geraniums, lavender, and rosemary.  I also attended a weekend workshop with an artist which launched my obsession with extracting pigments from plants and making paint.  Plants offer so many gifts!  And this was a year where I immersed myself in farm work and learning new things. 

2022-Early this year our cats disappeared, about a month apart.  I can only suspect coyotes.  But now, the farm fun continues and there is a new puppy!  Riley is his name, and his blue eyes put us into a trance!  I’m hopeful this will deter some of the wild animals that are browsing around.  I did end up with two more cats, two adult females I adopted from a rescue shelter.  They had both been in the shelter for 6 months and really needed a home.  One cat had short hair, and the other long hair, so I named them Sunny and Cher.  I continued with growing transplants for wholesale to local businesses and did not teach any Herb Farmer Apprenticeships this year.  I did however teach a woman when she was available while we worked together.  My soap making has evolved to include a lavender goats milk soap, using goats milk from a neighboring farm, rose garden, forest spa, new moon, and many more.  I continue as a vendor at the Sara Hardy farmers market, selling herb transplants, honey, soap, bulk herbs, fresh herbs, hydrosols, herbal jams, and some cute little flower and herbal bouquets.  I continued with my learning of distillation and pigment extraction.  I was approached by a local videographer that asked if I would like a video of the farm, so we met almost every couple weeks throughout the season.  I concluded that I didn’t like to be in front of the camera, but he did a great job capturing a lot of what I do.  At the end of the year, I provided housing in one of the hoophouses for chickens.  This was fun, and I almost became a chicken farmer, but realized I wanted to travel too much in the winter.    

2023-I was happy to finish my class with Rosemary Gladstar just in time to meet the deadline.  I learned so much!  By mid March the hoophouse was cleaned up and planted.  Sometimes I don’t give myself enough credit, but when looking at past pictures they remind me that I really do a great job!  The garden between both of the hoophouses was planted with cut flowers, which I called the “wedding garden” because two of my kids got married this year.  There were a lot of celebrations!  Both of my honeybee hives swarmed, and I was able to capture both of them and place them back into their home.  Beekeeping is always another adventure and I have become a skilled swarm whisperer.  At the farm I worked with women part time or as volunteers.  I have met so many people that have shaped what the farm has become.  It has been a big project!  After teaching a few classes about extracting pigments and creating watercolor paints, I realized most people attending the classes were more interested in painting, and needed to spend more time with that.  I learned that I personally LOVE the process of making the paint.  I’m still learning, and it takes a lot of plant material to make paint.  Rosemary Gladstar was the keynote presenter at the Great Lakes Herb Faire, and I was able to meet her and give her a big hug, not to mention pose for a picture showing off our henna tattoos.  Really, this event is so fun!  This was also the first year I “let go” of my organic certification.  I have been USDA Certified Organic since the beginning of this farm, as well as a previous farm I had downstate. 

2024-The farm is TEN!  This was the year I decided to take a “sabbatical”. I felt that I really needed to step back and take some time to look at where my intentions were for the farm.  My body had worked as hard as it could, and I was turning 62 this year, which used to be the age of retirement.  I will never retire from growing plants, gardening and farming.  But where was this business heading?  I lost sight of what it was that I really wanted to do and the direction I was heading.  During this sabbatical I decided that I would not be a vendor at the farmers market.  So why not have a festival!  Oh my, Herb Fest 2024 happened and I really didn’t think it would be more that 20 people or so wandering over to the farm that day.  Well, it was more like 200!  What a fun day it was.  As the season continued, I dove deeper into growing more plants for distillation and pigment extraction.  I should probably talk about these separately, but I suppose I’m trying to be a little brief because both of these deserve a much longer description (to come in 2025?)  The only vending event I attended was at the Great Lakes Herb Faire, where along with all of the other fabulous herbalists and plant people, I met Rosalee de la Forêt who was the keynote speaker.  I shared my vending space with Mary Colvin, and she later interviewed me on her podcast “Herbology Talk Podcast”.  This is also the second year that I had a roadside stand, and I learned that I need to be a better roadside stand manager.  The biggest challenge are the animals. Next, there isn’t any electricity.  I’m trying to figure out how I can make improvements to better serve you.  There will be plants again beginning in May 2025. 

I really can’t thank all of the people enough that have some how contributed to Heartwood Forest Farm.  There have been so many!  I am so grateful for all of you.  My journey as a plant lover has been lifelong, but as a professional horticulturist starting in 2000, when I graduated from Michigan State University with the desire to become more involved in the organic and local food movement, and then focusing on herb farming beginning in 2014.  I can’t wait to see what happens next!  This life would not have happened if it weren’t for the plants and desire to spend time outdoors.  When I step outside and wander my way through the woods to the farm, it is truly like experiencing and living in a fantasy these days.  I recommend this to everyone!

Herbal Blessings and wishing you a happy 2025!

Patti