EBT Card Emergency
Let's talk EBT cards. I am hearing some case workers in Los Angeles CA say people may not be getting them next month - with the government shut down - and that people should start growing their own food.
While I am most proficient in northern climates, I know how to use technology to my advantage!
In THAT region, cool weather crops could be started and grown.
I asked ChatGPT and this is what I got:
“Great question — Los Angeles’ mild, Mediterranean climate makes it perfect for cool-season vegetables during November, December, and January. You can grow quite a bit through the winter months! 🌿
Here’s a breakdown by type:
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🥬 Leafy Greens
These thrive in cooler weather and shorter days:
Lettuce (all types: romaine, butterhead, leaf)
Spinach
Kale
Swiss chard
Arugula
Mustard greens
> 🌱 Tip: Succession-plant every 2–3 weeks for a steady harvest.
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🥦 Brassicas (Cool-Weather Crops)
Plant these in fall to harvest through winter or early spring:
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Cabbage
Brussels sprouts
Kohlrabi
> 🕐 Best started as transplants in late October–November. They’ll grow slowly but steadily through winter.
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🥕 Root Vegetables
These love the mild chill of winter:
Carrots
Beets
Radishes
Turnips
Rutabaga
Parsnips
> 🌤️ Direct sow — they do best when grown where they’ll mature.
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🧅 Bulbs and Alliums
Slow growers but great to start now:
Garlic (plant in November; harvest in summer)
Onions (choose short-day varieties)
Leeks
Shallots
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🌿 Herbs
Most herbs do well year-round in L.A., but these prefer the cool season:
Cilantro
Parsley
Chervil
Dill
Thyme
Sage
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🍓 Bonus
Strawberries – plant bare-root or starts in January for spring fruit.
Now let's do the same for southeast Michigan!
ChatGPT said this:
Absolutely 🌱 — southeast Michigan has a very different rhythm than Los Angeles! Because of the cold winters and shorter daylight, outdoor vegetable growing is limited in November through January — but there are still options depending on how you’re growing (outdoors, cold frame, or indoors).
Here’s a breakdown specifically for Southeast Michigan (zones 5b–6a):
🥶 OUTDOOR GARDENING (November–January)
By November, the outdoor garden season is mostly wrapped up — the ground can freeze and snow may cover your beds.
However, some cold-hardy crops can survive or overwinter if planted in late summer or early fall.
🌿 Survive Frost and Light Snow (Harvest through early winter if planted earlier):
• Kale
• Spinach
• Swiss chard
• Arugula
• Carrots (can stay in the ground under mulch and be dug as needed)
• Beets (same — mulch heavily)
• Parsley (often survives into December)
• Leeks
🧤 Tip: Use a cold frame, hoop house, or frost cloth to extend your season.
🏡 COLD FRAME / GREENHOUSE CROPS
If you have a cold frame, unheated greenhouse, or low tunnel, you can grow and harvest:
• Lettuce (winter-hardy types like ‘Winter Density’)
• Spinach
• Claytonia (Miner’s lettuce)
• Mâche (Corn salad)
• Green onions
• Radishes
These grow slowly in the low light but will perk up on sunny days.
🌱 INDOOR OPTIONS (Windowsill or Grow Lights)
Winter is a great time to grow:
• Herbs: basil (under lights), cilantro, parsley, chives
• Microgreens: arugula, mustard, radish, sunflower, pea shoots
• Lettuce or baby greens in containers
PLANTING OPPORTUNITY
There is one outdoor crop to plant in November in Southeast Michigan:
🧄 Garlic!
Plant cloves in late October to mid-November before the ground freezes. They’ll root, go dormant over winter, and be ready to grow in spring for a July harvest.
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🌷 Summary by Month
November - Plant garlic, harvest remaining kale/spinach, mulch root crops, start indoor herbs or microgreens
December - Focus on indoor growing (herbs, microgreens), maintain cold frame crops
January - Plan next season’s garden, start early seedlings indoors at the end of the month (like onions or leeks)