March 17, 2023

“March is the month for waiting” said an old farmer friend of mine. It’s good advice. Even though I’m chomping at the bit to work in the greenhouse, I know it’s too early to start all but perennial herbs and flowers that take a long time to germinate (or onions, peas, and cabbage family crops that we no longer grow.) The vernal equinox is coming soon, and today in New Hampshire we have reached equal hours of day and night.

We had nearly 2’ of snow earlier this week which crushed berry bushes and downed many tree limbs - but the upside is that it’s filling the aquifer and keeping me from rushing the season.

Because seed-starting is one of my most favorite jobs in the world - the scent of the soil when hydrated is my favorite aroma - I have started perennial cornflowers and coneflowers, Greek oregano and Roman Chamomile, parsley, amaranth, and some spinach. I work in the sunny and warm greenhouse, then bring the flats into the house in the big bay window where they start on heated germination mats. On the new moon I’ll start lettuce mixes and kale, both of which can then be potted up, then go into the gardens earlier than most vegetables with a little protection.

Heat-loving crops like tomatoes are better started when the temperatures are warmer and day length longer, and peppers even later because they can suffer greatly in cold temperatures. Both of these germinate easily so there’s no need to start them any earlier. I’ve been doing this for nearly 50 years now and learned from starting seeds in waves timed about a week apart that the later sowings consistently outperformed the earlier attempts. I’ll start these in early April and germinate them on the grow mats in the bay window, (and move the perennial herbs and flowers into the greenhouse then, when it will be easier to hold the heat and use less electricity to keep it warm during the nights.) The tomatoes will go into the greenhouse and get potted up about 3-4 weeks after sowing so they’re on a positive growth trajectory when they go into the garden beds in late May - never getting leggy or stuck languishing in a pot screaming to be planted because they were started too early.

I’ll start the bulk of the flowers and herbs in mid-April through May, and pot them (or plant them out) up a few weeks later - again so they’re on a positive growth schedule when they go in.

We had a good old-fashioned winter with plenty of beautiful snowfalls, and only lost power for a couple of days a couple of times. The coldest temperature of 14 degrees below zero only happened one night in February. We had heavily mulched the strawberries and garlic so I’m optimistic they’re ok. Raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries have all been bent low by the snow and some canes may be broken - it’s too early to tell. Peaches suffered some broken limbs and may have had some frozen buds during the coldest nights, but since we grow “Reliance” peaches - bred in New Hampshire for excellent flavor and resistance to cold, I’m optimistic about them too.

We’re still mourning the loss of our beloved Damson Plum trees - done in by porcupines - but I have six new trees due to arrive any time now. They’ll take several years to bear fruit, but I am optimistic we’ll live long enough to enjoy them once again! (Of course, with 2’+ of snow out there it will be a while before we plant them, but the trees are still dormant and can wait in the cellar until the time is just right.)

In the kitchen we’ve been busily putting up preserves, so we have nearly everything on hand. (We had to suspend wholesale business last summer due to the severe drought, so we’ve put up preserves exclusively for our mail-order and local direct sales.) I was laid low by Lyme again this winter, but Ralph and Lara worked tirelessly to get it all done. We are out of Black Currant and Strawberry (because we are saving the remaining frozen strawberries for making our Dark Chocolate Moon Cakes for Tiny Farmstand). We also have plenty of Farmhouse Mustards and Herb and Fruit Vinegars.

We plan on opening Tiny Farmstand in early April. It’s a little later than usual but all good things are worth waiting for, and we’ll save electricity by not needing to heat it. Additionally, the beautiful, curved arch door smashed in a windstorm in December and needs to be rebuilt. Ralph already has lots of storm-related repairs on his list and I don’t want to pressure him by an early opening. And, he’s the guy who makes the Mooncakes!

He’s been busily baking all our bread and making fresh pastas and all kinds of good foods throughout the winter. Today he’s proud he’s fixed his 45-year-old Husquarvana chainsaw (one of 3 chainsaws, his oldest). He also stayed busy cutting firewood and keeping the stoves going - (and moving snow!) - pretty good for a 72-year-old! He has plans for another woodshed and potting shed and other projects - sometimes I have to point out that he needs a rest - but he’s always happiest doing things.

Happy Abbey misses seeing visitors to Tiny Farmstand and is awaiting their return. She’s happiest when her girls Lara and Elisha come to visit or work and gets a great kick out of watching our neighbors boil maple syrup at their sugarhouse down the road. She loves the snow and hates to see it go, always seeking out the biggest piles to lie in, even though we buy straw to make a comfy outdoor bed under the old cherry tree where she can keep an eye on the neighbors (of course, she’s always inside at night!)

Bluebirds are around, but I haven’t yet seen robins or red-winged blackbirds, though other friends have heard them. In the old cherry tree, the mourning doves are feeding each other and amorously billing and cooing, and I’ve seen them visiting their old nest in the ox yoke above the woodshed. Also, in the woodshed a small bird has been flying in and out with straw - Ralph thinks it might be a wren or sparrow - I’ll happily welcome either - I’m anxiously awaiting spring’s birdsong and frog song - my heart sang when I heard someone chirping away when I worked in the greenhouse last week, and I always love to hear the owls at night.

Happy Spring My Loves!

Patti & Ralph and Happy Abbey

Seedling coming up through the soil