Sow Smart: Seed Starting School

Are you ready to nurture your well-being from the ground up?

Sow Smart Seed Starting School is designed for gardeners ready to take charge of their health by embracing kitchen gardening as a pathway to wellness.

You’ll learn how to avoid the nursery and start nutritious vegetables and herbs right at home.

You, if you’re focused on healing and health through kitchen gardening.
You, if you’re eager to grow a garden that enhances your vitality and peace.
You, if you are seeking empowerment through growing your own nutritious produce.

What seeds to buy so you have the strongest seedlings

Make sure your seedlings are ready to take on our cold Chicago climate! You don't want seeds that were grown and packaged in a warm climate like California. Just think of how much your friend from CA struggles when they come to visit you in Chicago in any season other than summer! Your seedlings will struggle just as much if they're used to warmer climates, and you'll end up with smaller harvests or no harvests at all. You'll want to buy seeds that are comfortable in Chicago, and I'll share my favorites with you during Sow Smart.

How to care for your seedlings so you don't end up buying plants at the nursery

Once your seedlings sprout, the real work begins! We'll talk about light requirements, how and when to use heat mats, how to water your seedlings so they stay disease-free, and how to harden off your seedlings so they don't get sunburnt when you put them outside for the first time. Each of these is critical to making sure you have the strongest, healthiest seedlings, which means you'll have a strong, healthy garden!

For just one payment of $95, you’ll receive:

Sow Smart Seed Starting School
With five on-demand classes, you’ll gain the confidence to seed start everything for your garden the right way, the first time.
($200 value)

A Private 30-Minute Private Garden Planning Call
Ensure your 2026 garden is off to the strongest start it’s ever had.
($95 value)

BONUS: My Seed Starting Setup Revealed
($30 value)

BONUS: My Chicago Planting Calendar
($50 value)

Class 1: Welcome to Sow Smart

Whether you’re a novice or have gardened for years, I’m here to empower you on your journey to wellness through gardening. Start Sow Smart with a special welcome video introducing the transformative benefits of seed starting. With each module, move closer to a thriving kitchen garden and a healthier, happier you.

Class 2: Which Seeds You’ll Need for a Thriving Garden

Build the backbone of your nutritious kitchen garden with the right seeds. On Day 2, discover five types of plants crucial for a nutrient-rich kitchen garden and how to select seeds ideal for Chicago’s cold climate. Hint: it’s not the 99 cent seeds at the hardware store! Plant seeds that promise growth and well-being through every harvested meal.

Class 3: The Foolproof Seed Starting Gear You’ll Need for a Healthy Start

We’re diving into the world of seed starting equipment! From containers and lighting to soil and temperature control, we’ll cover it all. I’ll share the gear that I’ve used to seed start for my own garden and my client’s gardens successfully for years. We’ll save you from headaches, frustration, wasted money, and wasted growing seasons. After watching this, you’ll be empowered to invest wisely in seed starting products that truly work and support your journey to health.

Class 4: Let’s Start Sowing

The highlight of your spring kitchen gardening adventure—starting your seeds! I’ll walk you through each step I take to start seeds that I use in my own garden and my clients’ gardens. We’ll also dive into techniques that you can use to make sure that every seed has the best chance of sprouting, innovative watering strategies, and ensuring your adorable little seedlings remain vibrant and disease-free. This interactive module bridges the gap from seed to sustenance.

Class 5: The 4 Ways Your Seedlings Need to be Nurtured Before They Can Nurture You

I’ll teach you how to use light, water, heat, and (eventually) the outdoors so your seedlings turn into an abundant kitchen garden that takes care of you as much as you take care of it. This session is vital to nurturing strong, healthy seedlings.

Class 6: A Private 30-Minute Ready-to-Plant Coaching Session

I’ll help you move from “thinking about it” to setting your garden up for the most successful year you’ve ever had. We’ll create a custom roadmap for you to grow as a gardener this season. Step into seed starting and your garden with confidence this spring. No guessing. No overwhelm. Just excitement over your newly-grown green thumb and pride that you set yourself up to enjoy nutritious harvests for the next 10 months.

Step-by-Step Coaching: From seed to table, each module supports you and your garden on your wellness journey.
Flexibility: Progress at your own pace with accessible on-demand lessons. After you enroll, you’ll have lifetime access to this course and any future updates made to it!
The Cute Factor: You’ll have adorable seedlings around to lift your spirits during the depths of the winter
Grow Unique Herbs and Veggies: You’ll be able to grow unique and different herbs and vegetables that your nursery just doesn’t have room to carry
Grow 10 Months of the Year (yes, even in Chicago!): You’ll be able to plant your garden earlier in the spring and again in the fall once everyone else has stopped gardening, stretching our cold growing season to 10 full months. If you continue seed starting through the summer, you’ll be able to pull fresh veggies from your garden for your Thanksgiving and Holiday meals. How awesome would that be?

I’m invested in your seed starting and gardening success. That’s why, when you enroll, I’ll send you:

My Seed Starting Setup Revealed ($30 value) – As a special bonus for Sow Smart members, I’m sharing a guide that includes links for everything in my tried-and-true seed starting setup. Don’t miss out on this one-stop-shop!
My Chicago Planting Calendar ($50 value) – Once you’ve started your seeds, how do you know when to plant them? You’ll need to be careful or those late frosts will wipe out all your hard work! This comprehensive guide is like me being in the garden with you. I remind you what to plant each month AND what you can expect to harvest, so meal planning will be a breeze.

As a garden designer, I wholeheartedly recommend the Sow Smart course to my clients. It’s a thoughtfully designed and comprehensive resource that demystifies seed starting. By focusing on exactly what you need to know—nothing more, nothing less—it offers a streamlined, approachable experience. The course’s supportive videos guide you step by step, helping you bypass the steep learning curve that can turn a simple, rewarding activity into a source of frustration. From selecting appropriate seeds to planting day, you’ll gain all the knowledge needed for success.

– Kiera

Nicole’s seed starting course was exactly what I needed to be successful growing vegetables from seed! I had attempted seed starting in the past, but hadn’t been very successful yet. Nicole’s class breaks the process into bite size pieces which gave me to confidence to try again! It turns out, have the right guidance and materials was everything. I grew some vegetables from seed that I had never grown before – and then transplanted them to my garden with much success! I even volunteered to walk my son’s pre-k class through the seed starting process, and we started seeds as a class. Each child planted their own tomato seed and got to watch it grow into their very own tomato plant in just a matter of weeks! The kids took home their plants to plant – and I heard stories about their summer tomatoes! This course quite literally planted a seed in me that I was able to grow and share with others. I cannot recommend it enough!🌱

– Claire

Nicole Jagielski

GARDEN COACH

Helping you incorporate growing your own herbs and vegetables into your busy, modern life is my passion. Most people believe they have a “black thumb,” but with the proper setup, I believe in your ability to grow more food on your patio, in your backyard, or on your balcony than you know what to do with.

Certified Gardenary Consultant

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What seeds to buy so you have the strongest seedlings

The exact supplies you'll need to start your seedlings