On the Cusp of Spring, So Much to Do

I think spring has finally arrived. Temperatures are hovering in the fifties but signs of spring and new life are popping up every where.  I’ve got my fingers crossed the snow forecast for this weekend won’t cause lasting damage. April is pretty late for us to have snow, it’s only happened four or five times in my lifetime, but we had snow last year at this time too. Is this another sign of the new normal?

With spring comes a long list of things to be accomplished.

I lost one more tree, the almond tree, from last year’s cicada invasion. I had hoped it would survive. Parts of it had died but I counted on the few lower branches that didn’t appear to have sustained major damage to make it, they didn’t.  So now the list of trees to replace has grown. From the one section of the yard only one apple tree made it.  It’s a bit depressing to think both of the money lost and the extra time it will take to have an orchard that provides almost all my fruit and nut needs.

This year was supposed to be the year I put in the rest of the trees for a nominal cost. Instead, I will finish the task but for a larger outlay than I had budgeted for.  The list includes: two almond trees, two more apple trees, two bing cherry trees, a plum tree and an additional peach tree.

Just when I felt defeated by the growing list I spotted flowers on the only surviving trees, a peach and an apricot.  Knowing I should have the first fruit from these two made the list weigh less on my mind.

In addition, this year’s planting list also includes three blueberry bushes, a cranberry bush, replacing and increasing the raspberries and rhubarb plantings.  Room has been set aside for another fifty strawberry plants as well.

Indoors, I started another planting of spinach. This time I invited Little Guy to help. When I asked if he wanted to fill the box with dirt he squealed in excitement then told me he liked dirt. I don’t know a child who doesn’t.  To speed up the process I soaked the seeds in a cup of filtered water while we prepared the box. Little Guy insisted the seeds weren’t spinach but quinoa. That boy loves his quinoa.  Three days later he was able to see the new sprouts.  I thanked him for helping to grow my food and was rewarded with a smile and hug.

I grow lettuces and spinach indoors during the colder months which frees me from needing to purchase greens for salads. Every little bit adds up to reduce my reliance on the grocery stores. I would love to one day find I had no need of stores for my food.

There are still jobs to be completed indoors and as seeds and plants are arriving I’m busy working on finishing up the inside jobs I slacked on during the winter months. Hopefully, they will be completed by the time I move on to the busy time of planting the outdoor beds.