28 April 2007

So, it has begun again. I wandered over the muddy fields a few days ago, always curious this time of year what is stirring in the sleeping dirt. I was suprised to see mache had overwintered and upland cress, and that the garlic came through beautifully. The deer dug all my spring parsnips again. I think, judging from the prints, we feed quite a few deer and turkey and maybe moose. Time to move out critters--here we come. Peas are in, potatoes should go in this week, as should transplanted Asian greens, lettuce, mache, arugula and more. Piles of seed packets surround me, lists, notes and intructions, last year's planting log. Getting it all going, responding quickly to poor germination in the Gomphrenas and the sage, replanting celery, eggplant, and chilis due to poor germination and damping off. Hiring. Trying to recollect the things I wanted to do differently. The greenhouse is full with lots of trays moved outside already. This big push of seed planting is almost over--two more big weeks and then it will moderate, and we'll all get to work outside more. My crew isn't complaining but I know all those little seeds get tedious. We all have a taste for some greens and for some sunny weather. It is good to be back at it.