SSFS Farm Blog Jan. 2026: Snow Day Dilemmas

As I write this, we are in the middle of a long stretch of snow days due to the recent historic storm and cold. And while I understand some of the mounting frustrations around returning to school (trust me: I want to get back there as well), I guess at the end of the day I’d rather hear grumblings around being too safe or too cautious than complaints about putting students in a dangerous situation. It’s certainly complicated, and I am glad I am not the one making those decisions!

While I may not be able to do anything about the snow days, I can give families a couple ideas and resources for fun garden related activities that can happen inside this time of year. They can even happen today! Believe it or not, it’s actually a busy time of the year for farmers gearing up for warmer days ahead. Looking forward to warmth and new growth just puts everyone in a better mind space! So go ahead: put some paper down, dig in, and get those hands dirty!

It’s actually the perfect time to start planting some types of seeds indoors, believe it or not! Mostly, these plants fall into two categories. They are either seeds that germinate and grow extremely slow, or seeds from plants that are cold hardy and can go into the ground as soon as the ground can be worked.

Many kinds of herbs can be started from seeds now. This includes oregano, sage, mint, thyme, parsley, lemon balm, and lavender. These plants will take several weeks just to germinate and then grow slowly, ready to be put outside in spring after the threat of the last frost, around Mother's Day in our area. Several of these can also be grown in a pot or container, and do not have to be transplanted into the ground at all. Simply move the plant outside when it’s warm enough.

Extremely cold hardy plants that can be started indoors this time of year include kale, collard greens, some varieties of spinach, some lettuces, mustard greens, Swiss chard, arugula, and even onions. These plants can be started indoors now and transplanted into the ground in mid March, as soon as the ground can be worked. In most cases, they do not have to be covered unless temperatures drop dramatically.

Starting these seeds does not have to be complicated. Any shallow tray a few inches deep will work. Most hardware or garden supply stores sell kits with a little plastic dome top to keep the moisture in and keep them a bit warmer, and although these are convenient, they are not necessary. Your average takeout container serves as a great starting point. Heated grow pads help if you are like me and keep your house barely above freezing temperatures in winter to save on heating costs, although they really are not necessary either. Just place the seeds close to a window or light source and water occasionally.

Amazon sells some really cheap LED full spectrum grow lights which do not consume a lot of energy (like they used to ten years ago) and offer a great light source once the seedlings start getting a little larger. A complete DIY indoor seeding starting station including grow pads, a wire shelf, and a couple hanging LED grow lights can be had for under 100 bucks using these supplies. Considering you can harvest a massive amount of fresh herbs and veggies from the seeds you start today, it’s a great investment you can use year after year.

Because of the weather, we’ve likely done a lot of eating at home lately. Onions, garlic, celery, lettuce, and some other vegetables can actually be potted and grown from food scraps. The process normally involves soaking certain parts of the vegetable in water for a few days and then planting in dirt once some roots develop. The process is called “regrowing” and is becoming more and more popular. With a little bit of research and some experimentation, your kids can be turning food scraps into new growth, which is pretty darn cool!

Seed catalogs are a great way to get excited about spring. The last few years, some varieties of seeds have sold out fast too, so I suggest flipping through those catalogs, looking at those websites, and getting your orders in fast. Johnny’s Seeds, Park Seed, and Seeds N Such are the three that I probably use the most. Their websites are beautiful and helpful, their catalogs are prettier, and if looking through them doesn't make you ready for spring I can’t help you!

Finally, it’s a great time to actually plan your garden with your kids. How big will it be? How many rows? What will you plant in it? These are the questions to ask now. Ask your kids what they like to eat the most and grow those varieties. Since becoming the farmer at SSFS, one thing I am still constantly shocked at is how much kids like to eat what they grew. Involving your kids in planning and planting a garden is probably the most “low key” sneaky way to get your kids to eat healthy. Even adding a few containers to a patio or balcony can produce a lot of healthy veggies!

So plant those seeds, set up those indoor grow stations, and have some fun with planning your garden this year. We will be back at school soon, so take advantage of that family time now to get things ready for spring!