I have journaled about gardening and subsequent life endeavors ever since I managed an organic tomato and grape farm in the Rattlesnake Valley in Missoula, Montana. In journaling I recorded things I would likely forget like…start beets earlier next year or don’t ever plant anything in the southwest corner of the garden because my lame neighbor’s unruly, weedy, eyesoreish tree will completely block the sun by June…that kind of stuff.
A blog seems much more permanent and less likely to be left in the arugula row during an April deluge. Although those crinkled, barely readable pages offer nostalgia, really the whole point is for the information to be available the following year. And who doesn’t love to save paper?
Every year I can’t wait for this day. The first day I get to dig in the dirt, count worms and hope for a great tomato year. It is exciting and disappointing–I always wish I had done something differently the year before.
Yesterday I dug and weeded (why is that the first spring green in Montana is dandelions?). Today I spread my magic compost and plant Seeds of Change Butterking Lettuce, High Mowing Seeds High Mowing Mesculin Mix, Botanical Interests Arugula Mediterranean Rocket Salad, Seeds of Change Rouge D’hiver Lettuce, High Mowing Seeds Mammoth Melting Sugar Snow Peas, Seeds of Change Oregon Giant Snow Pea, and High Mowing Seeds Bull’s Blood Beets. These are all new varieties for me. I have to admit I am majorly influenced by a plant that references the french language or the rich color of blood. yum.
Good soil this year but not as many worms as I’d like>