My fire crackles rapidly these days with burns-as-fast-as-it-grows cottonwood. A series of storm fronts is visiting, no, taunting, the area and dropping just enough snow to muddy our outdoor garden bed preparation, making our eager spring spirits look elsewhere. We have little difficulty hearing other tasks call us by name. Standing dead cottonwoods have received some attention, as have emerging patches of lawn encrusted with rake-able leaves left to lie last fall. The burn pile should prove exciting . . .
And so, in the spirit of encouraging spring this Easter day, I found myself crumbling frozen soil in the 
thawed hoop house, hoping to start some seeds. I eventually moved the starting pots into a close huddle around the fireplace, where nighttime warming should enable me to plant tomorrow. Visits with friendly farmers have revealed vegetable starts sprouted and well into their second and third inches of growth; we direct seed many of the veggies we grow, and purchase some starts from a local, organic grower. I’m willing to throw anything into a starter cell these days, just to feel some action, and thankfully have ten or so trial varieties to begin playing with.
As the gray skies deepened during dusk today, further snow squalls threatened. It might just be time for another pot of tea and some quality Growing for Market reading.
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