Will winter ever leave? The normal temps here this time of year are suppose to be 45 to 50 degrees. Last week, I planted two 30-foot rows of potatoes in my greenhouse. It was so nice and toasty warm in there I had to wear short sleeves. I also planted lettuce, spinach, beets, carrots, and radishes. Now today we’re in for 1½ inches of rain turning to snow with an ending accumulation of 6 inches accompanied by 35-mile an hour winds. I can’t complain too much though for I have many projects going.
To start with I painted my bedroom. Poor Joe almost had heart failure at my color choice. After being married for 32 years and going through the entire color palette the world has to offer I chose white with a creamy white for the moldings. He couldn’t believe it (“How will you ever decorate that? We’ve never had a white room. It’s going to be boring!”) The room came out nicely and he has adapted. Good to stir things up a bit, it makes life fun. Sewing new lined curtains has led into finishing two long sleeved shirts, which has led into summer shirts and little tops for Emily.
Son Joe came over yesterday afternoon with a packet each of rutabaga and turnip seeds. We went to the greenhouse to plant them. He asked me how to plant potatoes. At this point I have to say I love my son completely, but sometimes I wonder where he grew up. How many times I toiled in the garden and he would seek me out to discuss a problem, argue a point, flamboyantly tell me I was ridiculous for not allowing him to do something. Did he ever look down and observe? Every time I asked for his help he told me it wasn’t his thing. I inwardly chuckle when he tells how important in this economy it is for him to raise a garden. Or, how nutritious homegrown local produce is. How it loses flavor in trucking. How much he loves eating a fresh warm cucumber straight from his garden. It really warms my heart when I finally see the interest unfolding before me and gladly share my knowledge.
As I write this article this morning I can’t help but wonder about the economy. How many people are food compromised and have no knowledge or anyone to guide them in the lost art of raising a garden, or processing by way of canning or freezing. There is so many resources at our fingertips. The Internet has a wealth of information to get you started. Your local extension office should offer master gardening classes, or seek out information from garden clubs and community colleges. A gardener is always willing to share their knowledge, so ask around your place of work. The point is that summer is coming. Don’t miss your opportunity to play in the dirt. If you don’t have land, think about a community garden, picking at self-pick farms, and putting away that bounty.
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