...Out Like a Lion
At least that is the way it seemed. March just kind of eased in on us in such a gentle way that we were already putting plants in the ground outside. Then came the last week of the month where we had one weather warning after another - Severe Thunderstorm, Flash Flood, and most dreaded of all Tornado.
Tonight and the next two nights come with frost/freeze warnings. We are hoping for the best for all those little plants Carolyn has already put out. Most are cold hardy so we are not too worried.
Carolyn has already started some of the summer crop seeds - tomato, pepper, etc. Once they are an inch or so tall, she transfers them to larger pots then eventually into the garden. In the larger pots, she plants them fairly shallow so she can add soil as they grow to prevent them from becoming too "leggy". When she transplants them into the garden, I make a cover out of tulle to keep some of the insects off them until they are larger. Using row covers is something new for us. Honestly, they are not protecting the plants all that well. Next year we may wait to transplant until the plants are larger and can withstand a bite or two.
This month was significant for us in that we were both able to get our COVID-19 vaccine. Both rounds of the Pfizer. While we do not feel this makes us invincible, it does give us a little more confidence we won't be killed by this virus. If only everyone would do what they could to fight this, we could avoid further suffering.
I started digging new hugels last month and continued into March. We now have three new ones and I plan to add one more in the next week - if the rain will ever slack up. The basic drill is to dig a deep trench, fill it with a layer of dead wood, add a layer of clay soil, another layer of dead wood, another layer of clay soil, top with a layer of good garden soil, and finally top with several inches of wood chips to hold moisture and block weeds.
In addition to the hugels, I made a proper drain field for the kitchen drain. It had been simply pouring out onto the surface of the ground. I diverted the pipe toward the new garden area and added a clean-out port. Now the kitchen sink water drains into a deep pit filled with wood chips. Hopefully this will benefit some of the plants inside the deer fence.
When she is not helping me unload a trailer full of something, or tending her seedlings, or preparing something delicious to eat, Carolyn can be found tending one of her flower beds.
Well, that's it for now. Stay tuned for exciting bathroom developments. Until then, peace be with you.
