Spring on the “farm”

This will be the second year at our rental house, so my second full season of garden beds.

I learned a lot last year - mainly that the squirrels will be my biggest pest and I didn’t account for the trees having leaves when I build my beds so sunlight is a partial issue.

My amazing husband built a cage around my largest bed that hinges open to protect my young veggies from squirrels. And the other beds I cover with mesh until the plants mature some, so squirrels shouldn’t be too big of an issue this Spring. Dealing with the more shaded beds just means I pivot on what I can plant there.

Another issue I struggled with last summer was powdery mildew on my melons and squash. It’s generally recommended you don’t plant other plants prone to mildew in the same spot the following season, so I’ll be playing around with my beds this summer season.

But I’m getting ahead of myself here, it’s not even technically spring yet. So what’s happening right now in the beginning of March…

• I’ve overwintered some calendula that I’m harvesting, drying, and will be using for salve and soap.

• I recently planted clover throughout the yard where the ground has been bare dirt since we moved in. Hoping the kids get to enjoy it thing spring as our weather warms up.

• Lettuce and brassicas have been started and are slowly being transplanted. Unfortunately the slugs have found us…time to deal with our next pest I suppose.

• I’m looking forward to opening the farm stand again where I’ll be offering flower seeds, seedlings, and soap.

I think that about covers it! Most of my days are spent engrossed in motherhood. Although our winter weather is never hard hitting, it’s still nice to have some consistent sunny and 70 approaching!

Can’t wait to be out in the yard with the kids.