Come on spring! I’m ready to get building and planting but the snow just won’t let up. On a positive note, many of my seeds have sprouted. I have three kinds of tomatoes growing, two kinds of squash, pumpkins, goji berries, and leeks. Quite a bit hasn’t managed to break the soil yet. I’m anxiously waiting on peppers, onions, strawberries and some potted herbs. We’re getting a good amount of sun, just not much heat.
I also built another raised bed garden I’m working on filling. It’s quite a large space, spanning 2/3 the length of the domestead, and we’re still getting blizzards so it’s slow going but I’m getting there. Today is clear and the wind has died down so it looks like a good day to work on the next layer. With winds between 40 and 70 kilometers an hour, putting straw down hasn’t been in the cards the last few days.
Next year I’ll build a more permanent frame for the new garden, probably earthbags or rammed earth, with a bench on the north side. This year is all about efficiency and getting as much done in as little time as possible. My very rough attempt at carpentry with wood that hasn’t been earmarked for other projects will have to do for now. Can’t wait until it’s booming with life!
Oh, and I’ve sustained my first injury of the year! (It’s kind of a ritual I have going, signals the start of the season.) Managed to pound my thumb not once but half a dozen times with the hammer. It feels pretty wrecked. You’d think I’d have been more careful after the first thwack but then you wouldn’t really know me. The good news is that I won’t lose the nail like I did on my toe last year. And I think with the first injury out of the way, we can officially call the season begun!
tiny little gojis
first frog of spring 
start of new garden
mostly tomatoes
tomatoes and herbs
gojis, tomatoes & pumpkins
Awwww, what a cute frog!!!
You are catching up for lost time post wise! Makes me feel sorry for my neglected blog lol!
Since i am apartment-locked at the moment, I don’t think i can do any plants… I have one good southern facing window in the bedroom though, so maybe i can try… just gotta keep the kitties from digging/eating! Maybe I’ll try a Jalapeno!
Isn’t he adorable? We get some damned cute newts too but a little early in the season for them yet. Maybe you can try bucket gardening? We made some and they really do work. You could probably use smaller containers. Hey, what’s your blog address? Do I have it? (Short term memory)
We were about to get going building octagonal raised beds (for my herb gardens) with deadfall we pulled from our woodlot, but then the sky opened up and dumped a foot of snow on us. So much for outdoor work this weekend. Gotta love the prairies…
Hi there,
he is a cute little frog, they are all so docile normally it is a shame people do not like them more.
You said you hit your thumb sorry to hear that, there is a handy little invention that helps, made of plastic for people afflicted by Diabetics. This little gizmo holds the nails or screws for you, so you can start them. I think you can get them at any Home Hardware or the big box stores, it could help you out, lots
Another option would be to use dowling instead of nails or screws in the corners of raised planter beds. Just use a small auger bit and then pound/put in the wood dowel, it would be good for corners on raised bed gardens.
OUCH … my thumb twinged in sympathy, having been on the receiving end of many a hammer in its time. Spring has definitely sprung here on the west coast. Sprung a leak and hasn’t stopped since. I can only hope that Winter will also decide to delay itself as long as Summer has.
I loved your blog – I’m off to my first ever gardening class tonight and I’m totally inspired to get started on my seeds indoors. (I have just the sunny little window in mind) Thanks for the inspiration! – and sorry for your thumb: ouch!