Sunday, April 05, 2009

Spring Sprung Early

So, the mild March weather (which was actually about normal, just a little drier according to the NWS) has got us in the spring mood.

Spring newsy notes:

1. Spring Peepers came early - first peeper was on March 16th, about 10 days earlier than any spring since we got here in 2002. Northern Peeper showed up 5 days later, also about 10 days earlier than we have seen. Don't know the peepers - hear one here.

2. Seeding has begun - we lost the hoophouse spinach crop to very cunning chickens, but we planted the flowers, tomatoes, peppers, chiles, and broccoli. Broccoli sprouted and went out to the hoophouse to get some au natural sun and harden off.



















3. Seeded sugar snap peas, spinach, and lettuce in the Main Garden - Seeded these out in the big garden using one of Carol's b-day gifts - an Earthway Seeder.

Took us a couple of rows to work out how to use a row seeder to do square foot measurements. Jeavons would be horrified, but it worked out pretty well.

Our big tip - don't bother covering over any openings in the seeding plate - they don't always fill up. It works for us now - especially if the soil is very fine.


4. Chickens in the Front Garden! - We moved the ladies and Featherfoot the rooster into the remains of last year's garden out front. They needed to give the chickenyard pasture a break while we reseeded it. And the front garden needed some scratching to break up the grass, weeds, and mulch from last fall. Only 2 of the 24 hens got any "happy feet" and now one lives with the goats and one lives with the ducks :D

5. Finally, the kids have gone Spring Crazy - it ain't easy being a kid with variable weather. Thursday they all lost it and went face paint crazy. All three ladies got spring-y!

Eiley first as a butterfly
Brianna as a Swan Princess

And then Carol left and right (by the ladies)


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