Hey everyone! It’s been a whirlwind around here this past month! We wanted to stop for a second to update you all in a couple of developments. First off, let’s talk about Garden+, our garden tracking system we released as a free preview this month. In less than 3 weeks, over 25,000 people have logged plants in their garden using Garden +! The response we’ve received has been overwhelming and we’ve been encouraged by the flood of support, ideas, and feedback! We’ve received more emails than we can keep up with and have a clear understanding of what we need to do with Garden + moving forward.
Today, Garden+ will replace your gardening journal allowing you to log your plants, record events, and capture notes for your plants. This is a great solution for experienced gardeners, but we’ve heard from a number of you that are just starting out about how we can make it easier for beginners. Upcoming features meant to help beginners include notifications when it’s time to plant, water, fertilize, or protect from the weather.
Custom Plants
Probably the most popular request thus far is for the ability to add your own plants. We are excited to say that code is literally being written for this right now and we will have this feature available for the full release of Garden + coming soon!
New Plants Coming
We’ve also received a ton of requests for new plants you’d like to see added into the app. Carrie is the main person that enters new plants and she’s been swamped with her day job teaching nursing, but will have lots of time to catch up on your requests next week when school is out. Some of you have sent in some pretty detailed growing information with your plant requests and that has been incredibly helpful for us!
Fixing Issues on Flaky Internet Connections
There haven’t been reports of very many bugs in Garden+, but there definitely has been a pattern of issues that occur whenever your phone is right on the fringe of an internet connection (which tends to happen if you’re out in your garden and your phone is still trying to use the WiFi in your house). We’ve had some pretty intense coding sessions working to restructure the app to solve this problem and you’ll see those changes rolling out in updates over the coming weeks. We’ve also monitored the developer error reports that we’ve seen and have fixed a number of underlying issues.
Calendar Features
We’ve also had many requests for calendar features and that is high on our list of things we’re going to add next.Â
Mapping / Garden Layout
The last popular request that we’ve had has been for a visual garden planner where you can draw your Gardena and lay it out. This has been the vision and the goal for From Seed to Spoon since we’ve been learning how to code. We have begun working on prototypes and have done enough to firmly understand that it’s more than we can do on our limited schedules right now.
How Much Will Garden+ Be?
Right now all of us have full time jobs outside of From Seed to Spoon. We work on this project on late at night after our kids go to bed and spend much of our weekends working on all this. In order for us to be able to expand and build all of the features we’d like, we’re going to need to be able to hire additional help. Developers aren’t cheap and this app has been free since release so something has got to give in order for us to truly build what you all want. This is one of the reasons Garden+ will become a paid feature later on this season. We also have an increasingly staggering amount of server costs and other costs associated with running this whole operation. Rest assured Garden+ is going to be reasonably priced and will be a small monthly fee less than a packet of seeds. We will also have options to pay seasonally or yearly at discounted rates. If you decide that you don’t want to continue on with Garden+ after the free trial is over that is fine as well! You will always continue to be able to see all the plants that you logged into your garden during this trial run and you will always have the rest of the app for free!
We remain passionate about this project and committed to our mission of making it easy for anyone to grow food. Thank you to everyone that has taken the time to email us your feedback, ideas, stories, and encouragement. I read every single email and wish it was possible for me to reply to all of them. We started learning how to code and building this app in July of 2017 and never dreamed it would turn into what it’s become! Over 250,000 people have downloaded the app and that’s largely because of each and every one of you that has shared the app with a friend, left a review, and supported us along the way! Please continue to send us your feedback and I assure you I will continue to read all of them!
Thanks,
Dale Spoonemore
Founder & Co-Creator
From Seed to Spoon
Seed to Spoon 101: Tips & Tricks for Managing Your Garden with the App Creators
Missed our latest workshop? Catch up anytime! Learn how to make the most of the Seed to Spoon app with insights from the creators, Carrie and Dale. Discover key features like Growbot for plant issue identification, personalized garden profiles, task tracking, detailed planting schedules, and more. Get practical tips to maximize your gardening efficiency and uncover often-overlooked features to boost your garden’s health and productivity. Watch the full workshop here.
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Customizing Frost Dates in the From Seed to Spoon App
The From Seed to Spoon app offers a feature that allows users to set custom frost dates, enhancing the gardening experience with tailored planting guidance.
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How to Change Your Location in the From Seed to Spoon App
Changing your location in the From Seed to Spoon app is straightforward, ensuring that the app’s recommendations are tailored to your specific area. Here’s how to do it.
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Dale Spoonemore is the visionary co-founder of “From Seed to Spoon,” a groundbreaking platform that has revolutionized the way individuals approach gardening. His journey from a novice gardener to a leading advocate for sustainable living and mental wellness through gardening is a source of inspiration to many. Dale’s personal transformation and dedication to making gardening accessible and enjoyable have propelled “From Seed to Spoon” to become a vital tool for gardeners of all skill levels.
Dale’s venture into gardening began as a personal quest to improve his family’s health and well-being. Faced with the challenges of learning how to garden without prior experience, Dale turned his journey into an opportunity to simplify gardening for others. He leveraged his background in technology to develop the “From Seed to Spoon” app, which guides users through the process of starting their own gardens with ease. The app covers everything from selecting the right plants for your region to tracking your garden’s progress.
Beyond the app, Dale’s contributions to the blog reflect his deep understanding of gardening, his commitment to organic practices, and his belief in the therapeutic benefits of connecting with nature. His posts are rich with practical advice, personal anecdotes, and a clear vision for a healthier world through gardening. Dale often shares innovative gardening techniques, ways to incorporate technology into gardening, and tips for growing a wide variety of plants.
Dale’s passion for gardening is matched by his advocacy for mental health. He openly discusses how gardening has been a crucial part of his own mental health journey, offering a powerful testament to the restorative and calming effects of nurturing plants. Through his work, Dale aims to inspire others to discover gardening as a pathway to physical and mental health, sustainability, and a deeper connection with the environment.
As a key voice on the seedtospoon.net blog, Dale Spoonemore continues to educate, inspire, and empower individuals around the globe to start their own gardening adventures. His story is not just about planting seeds in the ground; it’s about planting seeds of change in communities, encouraging a shift towards more sustainable living practices, and fostering a global movement of wellness through gardening.
2 thoughts on “Addressing Your Most Common Garden+ Questions”
Hi! Hmmmmmm I’m not too crazy about a monthly/yearly subscription as I only spend about 20 dollars on Veggie plants a year I don’t want to spend more on an app. I would suggest a one time purchase option. Look at Microsoft’s Enpass app that gives you that option (either subscription or one time purchase). I think right now it’s a one time fee of 40 bucks. I think that’s a deal and would gladly pay it. I just feel like the monthly subscription thing is a bit gimmicky like we’re idiots who think it’s a small price to pay, not realizing that it costs much more in the long run. I would gladly pay $20-30 for an app like this but probably no more. That’s just my opinion though 🙂 Regardless, hope you guys make good income from this app as it makes gardening easier for me!
Looking for assistance on the plant dates. For example, I’m in Zone 5a/b. Using Garden +, it tell me I should direct sow my banana peppers early Feb. We have snow on the ground. When I looked up a couple other direct sow plants it is the same. Feb is too early to direct sow for my zone. Your dates seem to be a month earlier than other garden planners so I wanted to find out if it’s a glitch or if I might be missing some information ? Appreciate your help!