My First Day of Indoor Gardening: Planting Seeds for a Modern Homestead
There’s something deeply fulfilling about growing your own food—knowing that with patience and care, a tiny seed can turn into something nourishing for your family. Today, I officially took my first step toward creating a modern-day homestead, a dream that has been stirring in my heart for quite some time.
In a world where food prices are rising, supply chains feel uncertain, and processed foods dominate grocery store shelves, more and more people are returning to simpler, more self-sufficient ways of living. And before I even realized how many others were doing the same, I felt led to take this path. It’s as if God had already placed this calling on my heart, guiding me toward a life of greater sustainability and stewardship.
"The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." — Isaiah 58:11
This isn’t just about gardening—it’s about building a life that aligns with my values, teaching my children life skills, creating a space of peace, and trusting that God will provide.
Our First Step: Starting an Indoor Garden
Since my patio space is small and mostly concrete, I plan to build a raised garden bed in the backyard come spring. But for now, I’m getting a head start by starting seeds indoors.
The best part? The kids helped! We turned this into a family project, setting up shelving downstairs near our homeschooling area. Now, we can check on our little seedlings every day as we learn together.
We planted a variety of veggies, herbs, and greens that do well with an early indoor start:
Herbs: Basil, Chives, Parsley
Leafy Greens: Gourmet Blend Lettuce, Spinach
Root Veggies: Carrots
Warm-Season Veggies: Cucumbers, Zucchini, Cabbage, Bell Peppers, Cherry Tomatoes
Simple, Budget-Friendly Indoor Gardening Setup
We kept it simple, affordable, and fun:
✔ Containers: Ziplock bags as mini greenhouses
✔ Soil: Moist, well-draining seed-starting mix
✔ Shelving: A DIY setup near our homeschooling space so we can monitor progress daily
✔ Grow Light: On for 16 hours a day to mimic natural daylight
✔ Temperature: Warm (65–75°F) for the best germination
The Ziplock bag trick: We placed our seeds inside Ziplock bags to create a humid greenhouse effect—this helps seeds sprout faster!
A Daily Rhythm for Growth (FREE Checklist!)
Starting seeds takes a little daily attention, but it’s worth it! To stay organized, I created a Daily Seed Care Checklist—and I’d love to share it with you.
Download My Free Daily Seed Checklist
Here’s what’s inside:
Check soil moisture daily & mist if needed
Monitor condensation inside Ziplock bags
Adjust grow light height as seedlings grow
I’m so excited to watch these little seeds grow—not just into plants, but into lessons for my family about patience, care, and faith. This is just the beginning of our homegrown journey!
Have you started an indoor garden? I’d love to hear what you’re planting! Let me know in the comments, and let’s grow together.
“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
