THE OPTIMISTIC FARMER-December 2025
- theoptimisticfarme
- Dec 1, 2025
- 4 min read
2025 December Edition
Tall and (Small) Tales from the Great Basin of Northeast Nevada
The holidays are in full swing and if you are lucky, you are getting your senses fully stimulated this month with the beauty of the season! Snow is likely to fly, and you may wake up to a stunning display of pogonip! Yes, it is cold, yes, you should drive slower in bad conditions, yes, there are no pretty flowers to admire, however December does hold its fair share of the WOW factor, so get out and enjoy this time of year, and know the earth is resting in preparation for spring!
News from the Garden
If you are a gardener, then you are likely also somewhat of a seed saver. You may find yourself with a miscellaneous containers or baggies full of seeds and because it is officially winter this month what better time to get all your seeds prepped and organized for spring or winter sowing!
A Plant Mom's Guide on How to Save Seeds for Next Year - Jonathan Roberts Landscapes (robertlandscapes.com)
From Left: Bell pepper seeds, eggplant seeds, parsley seeds
Innovations and Ideas
The Optimistic Farmer is still a fan of winter sowing and December is the month to make it happen. After winter solstice is the best time to winter sow, but you can get your jugs ready for planting and start sorting your seeds to choose what you are going to try this year! Once you are ready to plant, using metallic furnace tape to label each jug has worked well, so if it ain't broke, as the saying goes...once planted leave outside and wait! Come spring you will have sprouts, already acclimated, and ready to plant!
From left: Jugs filled with soil, clear Christmas bulbs planted with a pumpkin seed, jugs ready to go outside, label goes in each jug
Inner Work
Think about all the things you do want, and briefly (just for a moment) think about all the things you don't want, now imagine them being on either end of the same stick, when you envision circumstances this way, you can better understand how keeping things you do not want in your thoughts and discussions cuts off your ability to have the things you do want! By focusing on things that make you feel bad or irritated, you are not allowing yourself to focus on the things that make you feel happy and joyful. Sometimes it is just baby steps to feeling just a bit better and then a bit better, then a bit better. Once you understand the adage, "you get more of what you see", you start to look at things differently....and the choice is always ours!
Plants in Science:
Today we talk about mulch, just like clockwork the leaves fall, and the flowerbeds need mulch! You can mulch anytime during the year, but since the leaves are right there...fall and winter are as good as time as any!
Ok there are various items you can use to mulch your garden, so no matter your choice mulching is highly recommended because of the several benefits it provides, including but not limited to retaining moisture in the ground, suppressing weeds, and improving the health of your soil.
Mulch should be 2-3 inches and like Goldilocks your soil likes your mulch depth just right. Not too thin and not to deep! The information below mentions that wood chips are great protection for your perennials! If you use cardboard make sure there are no dyes on it, leaves are a favorite and add the organic material needed to enrich your soil for next year's harvest!
Of course there is science behind it all, the mulch will break down and provide nutrients to the soil, mulch is also a food source for beneficial microorganisms to help with decomposition. Mulching also helps in reducing irrigation, so if you have some fallen leaves throw them in your flowerbeds or garden, you won't be sorry.
Last, but Not Least: Poinsettia's and Amaryllis
Is it really the holidays until you have a poinsettia or amaryllis in your house? Poinsettias are of course the plant of Christmas with its spiky red petals and dark green leaves, it just screams "put a smile on your face, it is the holiday's"! Did you know that poinsettias can also last more than one Christmas and if you live in a warm enough climate they can even survive outdoors! Not in this neck of the woods, but there are places! Poinsettias like temperatures in the 65–75-degree F range and they like sun, so place them in a sunny spot to enjoy their festive beauty. When the plant dies back it will likely keep its green leaves all year around, starting around September you can keep your plant in a dark spot for 14 hours a day and then some light, do this and you are likely to have beautiful red blooms again! It might even work if you just let it do its thing!
Now let's talk amaryllis, you have seen them, shelves of amaryllis bulbs some in bloom and some just waiting to explode with color and the telltale trifecta of blooms. Amaryllis come in many colors, whites, pinks, and reds and will add a joyful punch to your holiday decor. The amaryllis will also come back year after year with a little care and patience!
Happy Holiday's from The Optimistic Farmer and Happy New Year!!
From left: Poinsettia, Amaryllis
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