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Small Craft Advisory— Cape Tolstoi to Cape Sarichef out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Tolstoi to Cape Sarichef from 15 to 100 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Unimak Pass|Small Craft Advisory— Adak to Kiska Bering Side|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Sarichef to Nikoski Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Seguam to Adak Pacific Side from 15 to 75 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Nelson Lagoon to Cape Sarichef from 15 to 70 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Nelson Lagoon to Cape Sarichef out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Bristol Bay from Cape Chichagof to Cape Pierce out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Saint Matthew Island Waters|Small Craft Advisory— Castle Cape to Cape Tolstoi from 15 to 100 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Seguam to Adak Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Bristol Bay from Port Heiden to Cape Chichagof out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Nikolski to Seguam Pacfic Side out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Nikolski to Seguam Pacific Side from 15 to 75 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Kuskokwim Delta from 15 to 80 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Port Heiden to Nelson Lagoon from 15 to 60 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Sarichef to Nikoski Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Nikolski to Seguam Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Port Heiden to Nelson Lagoon from 15 to 60 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Sarichef to Nikoski Pacific Side from 15 to 85 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Seguam to Adak Bering Side out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Sarichef to Nikoski Bering Side out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Port Heiden to Nelson Lagoon out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Seguam to Adak Pacific Side out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Adak to Kiska Pacific Side|Small Craft Advisory— Nikolski to Seguam Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Kiska to Attu Pacific Side|Small Craft Advisory— Kiska to Attu Bering Side|Small Craft Advisory— Castle Cape to Cape Tolstoi out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Sarichef to Nikoski Pacific Side out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Bristol Bay greater than 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Sitkinak to Castle Cape out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Sitkinak to Castle Cape from 15 to 100 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Nikolski to Seguam Bering Side out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Icy Cape to Cape Suckling out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Northern Lynn Canal|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Spencer to Cape Fairweather out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Icy Cape to Cape Suckling out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cross Sound|Small Craft Advisory— Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision from 15 to 90 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Northern Chatham Strait|Frost Advisory— Marquette|Dense Fog Advisory— Washington|Dense Fog Advisory— Walworth|Frost Advisory— Washington|Small Craft Advisory— Cook Inlet North Kalgin Island|Small Craft Advisory— Chiniak Bay|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Tolstoi to Cape Sarichef out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Tolstoi to Cape Sarichef from 15 to 100 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Unimak Pass|Small Craft Advisory— Adak to Kiska Bering Side|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Sarichef to Nikoski Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Seguam to Adak Pacific Side from 15 to 75 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Nelson Lagoon to Cape Sarichef from 15 to 70 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Nelson Lagoon to Cape Sarichef out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Bristol Bay from Cape Chichagof to Cape Pierce out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Saint Matthew Island Waters|Small Craft Advisory— Castle Cape to Cape Tolstoi from 15 to 100 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Seguam to Adak Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Bristol Bay from Port Heiden to Cape Chichagof out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Nikolski to Seguam Pacfic Side out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Nikolski to Seguam Pacific Side from 15 to 75 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Kuskokwim Delta and Etolin Strait out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Kuskokwim Delta from 15 to 80 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Port Heiden to Nelson Lagoon from 15 to 60 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Sarichef to Nikoski Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Nikolski to Seguam Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Port Heiden to Nelson Lagoon from 15 to 60 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Sarichef to Nikoski Pacific Side from 15 to 85 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Seguam to Adak Bering Side out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Sarichef to Nikoski Bering Side out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Port Heiden to Nelson Lagoon out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Seguam to Adak Pacific Side out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Adak to Kiska Pacific Side|Small Craft Advisory— Nikolski to Seguam Bering Side from 15 to 85 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Kiska to Attu Pacific Side|Small Craft Advisory— Kiska to Attu Bering Side|Small Craft Advisory— Castle Cape to Cape Tolstoi out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Sarichef to Nikoski Pacific Side out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Bristol Bay greater than 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Sitkinak to Castle Cape out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Sitkinak to Castle Cape from 15 to 100 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Nikolski to Seguam Bering Side out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Icy Cape to Cape Suckling out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Northern Lynn Canal|Small Craft Advisory— Cape Spencer to Cape Fairweather out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Icy Cape to Cape Suckling out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Cross Sound|Small Craft Advisory— Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision from 15 to 90 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Dixon Entrance to Cape Decision out to 15 NM|Small Craft Advisory— Northern Chatham Strait|Frost Advisory— Marquette|Dense Fog Advisory— Washington|Dense Fog Advisory— Walworth|Frost Advisory— Washington|Small Craft Advisory— Cook Inlet North Kalgin Island|Small Craft Advisory— Chiniak Bay|

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Beginner One full growing season

Gardening

Feed your family from the ground up.

Overview

A productive garden is the heart of every homestead. Whether you have a quarter acre or a few raised beds, understanding soil, seeds, seasons, and plant relationships will multiply your yields and reduce your grocery bill. This module covers soil building, planting calendars, companion planting, seed saving, and pest management.

Step-by-Step Guide

Know Your Zone

Find your USDA Plant Hardiness Zone. This determines your frost dates, which dictate when to start seeds, transplant, and expect your last and first frosts. Everything else flows from this.

Build Your Soil

Healthy soil = healthy plants. Add compost, aged manure, and cover crops. Test your soil pH (most vegetables prefer 6.0–7.0). Amend based on test results, not guesswork.

Plan Your Layout

Map your garden before planting. Consider sun exposure (most vegetables need 6–8 hours), water access, and crop rotation. Tall plants should not shade shorter ones.

Start Seeds Indoors

Start tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant 6–8 weeks before last frost. Use seed starting mix, not garden soil. Provide adequate light — a south-facing window or grow lights.

Companion Planting

Three Sisters: corn, beans, and squash support each other. Basil repels aphids near tomatoes. Marigolds deter nematodes. Nasturtiums attract aphids away from vegetables (trap crop).

Water Management

Deep, infrequent watering encourages deep roots. Drip irrigation is most efficient. Mulch heavily to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Water at the base, not the leaves.

Seed Saving

Save seeds from open-pollinated (not hybrid) varieties. Let fruits fully ripen on the plant. Dry seeds thoroughly before storing in cool, dark, dry conditions. Label with variety and year.

🌿 Seasonal Notes

Spring: start seeds, prepare beds, plant cool-season crops. Summer: maintain, harvest, plant fall crops. Fall: harvest, preserve, plant garlic, cover crop. Winter: plan, order seeds, maintain tools.

Pro Tips

Compost Everything

Kitchen scraps, garden waste, and animal manure all become free fertilizer. A simple three-bin compost system produces rich compost in 3–6 months.

Keep a Garden Journal

Record what you planted, when, where, and how it performed. This data becomes invaluable for planning future seasons.

Succession Planting

Plant fast-growing crops (lettuce, radishes) every 2–3 weeks for continuous harvest rather than one big glut.

Perennials Pay Off

Asparagus, rhubarb, herbs, and fruit trees produce for years with minimal replanting. Invest in perennials early.

Resources & Links

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

tool

Seed Savers Exchange

organization

Old Farmer's Almanac Planting Calendar

tool

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