More Spring Planning



We're not used to winter babies - whoa! the layers! Little sister sleeps too much for Gi's taste, but luckily cousin Alex is always ready to play


Everyone is settling in around here - there has been much playing, much big sister helping, and a whole lotta recovery. Last night I finally started to feel human again - the spinal headache is finally letting go of its grip - so I'm hoping today is even better. Who knew a headache could take longer to get over then a surgical incision and a bunch of stiches!

E and I are getting excited about spring prep here on the farm. The dogs have been exiled from our pool-turned-backyard into their side yard, and we are going to be pampering that area with some organic fertilizer and regular watering in between rainstorms. Hopefully in a few weeks, we'll have a gorgeous little kid paradise back there! We may have to patch a few places where the sod didn't make it through the winter, but I think we'll be pleasantly surprised if we just give it a few weeks. Next on the agenda... turning the dog's path into a "real" one with some old flagstones and maybe, just maybe, a swing set this summer!

Roko and Lola will move out onto pasture in the next few weeks - if the weather is nice today E and I are going to stake out their first pasture in electro-tape today. Our first plan of attack is to get the pigs into harnesses, so that we can move them with leads to unconnected pasture areas, but our back up plan is to herd them into two dog crates and just use the truck to re-locate them out there, then try again with the harnesses in a few months. This "late" in the year the piggers won't be able to turn over our gardens completely before spring planting begins, but a few weeks in each area and they should be able to root out the perennial weeds, especially the tuberous roots, and mix in some aged manure, even in the beds we'll till and plant early on. Another addition out there are some movable 2 by 8 raised bed frames - not too high, but enough that we can drag them onto a tilled level bed and use the frame to keep the row covers nice and lifted over the leaves, while being able to tuck in all the sides under the wood - it is so, so windy out in our fields that the wind often tears the row covers right out of the metal landscape staples. I'm thinking we should be all right building 4 frames (one for arugala, one for mizuna, one for looseleaf, one for baby lacinato kale)- we'll see though, I think we may need double that since we have so much in mesclun production right now.

To set into motion my plan of growing all the perennial herbs in containers this year I'll start moving my rosemary, sage, oregano, mints, and chives into pots while they are still dormant. I still plan on growing our annual herb crops - the basil, cilantro, etc. - in with the rest of the veggies, but I think I can better mimic the perennial herbs' preferred climate in terra cotta pots and window boxes. The ideal situation would be to not lose any to winter kill in our iffy climate zone, move them to the hottest parts of the farm as the season progresses, and confine those wonderful mints so they don't become weeds in other crops. If it works, I plan on doubling our perennial herbs for 08-09, as well as adding some that I've avoided since they almost never survive our winters, like lavender. Herbs de Provence anyone?

We're still conflicted about indoor seed starting, but I'll suck it up and at least start peppers, eggplant, and tomatoes in here this month - E is going to move our grow lights back upstairs, as the basement is just too damp, not to mention a haul I'm not supposed to make while in recovery. We were all about the soil blocks a few years ago, and were disappointed in how fiddly the process was (getting the potting mix just right so the blocks held together long enough for the roots to start holding their own, moving the trays with completed blocks around to diff. parts of the house and barn without the whole darn thing disintegrating, etc.). We moved back to flats, but maybe this whole new surge in popularity due to Martha will result in some tips and techniques we didn't know to use back then. I'll be anxiously awaiting all of your notes on your progress, fellow gardeners.

I'm excited to head over to school today to see everyone and show off the new kid, but it's nice to be able to devote my mental energy to spring planting and planning this year.

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Posted: Tue - March 4, 2008 at 06:51 AM        

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