It has been a long while since I managed any gardening posts. Last summer, we were traveling across Canada aboard our skoolie, Gladys the Bus, so I didn’t garden for the first time in 24 years. I was excited to hop back into it upon our return, but was slowed down by a broken ankle. Needless to say, this year I am eager to get my hands dirty and with a family of helpers due to Covid-19…well, things are looking good!

We have had some typical moody spring days with rain, making the pastures green up and the cool weather crops thrive. I have had to spend a lot of time cleaning up the beds right now which is a reminder that I so prefer all that hard work in the autumn, allowing me to simply plant out in the spring. But, I am grateful for our farm sitters last summer and all the good work they did in keeping my flowers alive and the weeds mostly at bay.

Because we still have cool nights (a good frost a few days ago!), I am waiting to plant out some tender crops. But in the ground we have peas, broccoli, cabbage, and potatoes. We don’t eat a lot of carbs here on account of Type 1 Diabetes, but I found a low glycemic potato called Nicola. We will try it out as hashbrowns as eating a heavy carb load is easier to burn off at the beginning of the day rather than at the end with dinner. Crossing our fingers it isn’t a food that will spike Sunshine’s blood sugar. Oh, and I’ve also seeded greens greens greens oudoors, and radishes. Dahlia tubers are in pots in the greenhouse and ranunculus just went in the ground along with sunflowers. Things are happening!

So far, we have just been enjoying fresh spicy chives (they are always packed with a punch this early in the season), and heaps of nettles. We like them steamed slightly, with a dollup of butter and a splash of lemon juice, sometimes with some minced garlic or onions. I could eat a whole salad bowl of that in one sitting…so yummy! We have spied some early morels up at the top of our property, too….so we know we will be feasting soon. Also ready to eat is some fresh rhubarb, but I prefer it paired up with strawberries…we will have to wait a bit longer.

Around the house in vases, we have hyacinths, tulips, and forsythia.

Every morning I head out to do farm chores, letting the lambs and families out of the barn, getting the hay for the sheep, feeding the hens and broiler birds (after a year off we are back to raising 100 birds), and I am so grateful for this work, this life.

Wishing you all a good growing season….I’d love to see what you are up to!

xo Jules