It's always most important to write a blog when you're procrastinating doing other things. :-) I have two tasks I should be doing tonight: 1) sewing curtains for my son's new apartment and 2) creating a tri-fold display about Bear Butte Gardens for this weekend's Earth Day celebrations. Therefore, it only makes sense to get cracking on a blog post!
We're having a fabulous spring at Bear Butte Gardens! In contrast to last year's 70s-80s-90s in the spring, we are having what we're supposed to get......snow, cool daytime temps, below freezing nights, cloudy days.....yay! I'm finally starting to look forward to planting seed potatoes and spring greens because it actually FEELS like it's supposed to in April.
As usual, some things are right on track (onions, brassicas, and tomatoes maturing) in the starter house, more trays germinating under lights in the house (peppers, eggplant), peas and potatoes seeded into the cold soil in the garden waiting to sprout over the next few weeks. And, as usual, some things are behind schedule.......simply take the aforementioned list and repeat it. I have more onions, brassicas, and tomatoes to get seeded late. I have more peppers to seed. I have more peas and LOTS more potatoes to get out in the gardens. Alas! I believe I've seeded enough eggplant, though.
But, honestly, that's exactly what I love about gardening.....you can always do more. And if you don't have time, just be thankful for what you've accomplished so far. Each year is its own normal. This year will not be the same as last year and, happily, next year will not be the same as this year. I love this life!
This year we are venturing into raising certified organic chickens for meat. I have the chicks ordered and received confirmation on the orders today. I have the certified organic feed tucked into the storage room. In the next couple weeks we'll start building chicken "tractors" so they can be the happiest, healthiest little chickens for their 12-week lives. They will get access to fresh native grass pasture, fresh air, clean water, and the option of a dry and shady shelter on wet or hot, sunny days. In exchange, they will fertilize and till up our grassland and provide us and our customers with fresh, healthy chicken meat.
In case you haven't seen my post about locally grown foods vs. Bountiful Baskets, you can read it on the Dakota Local Food Network's site as well as a follow-up post regarding our personal efforts to support our local community and economy, in response to a reader's comments.
Over the next few weeks we're looking forward to seeing the trees starting to bud out, garlic starting to sprout up through the ground, bees starting to buzz, and birds hauling little twigs and dried grass to build nests. Happy Spring!
Michelle & Rick Grosek, Owners
Bear Butte Gardens
www.BearButteGardens.com
e-mail: Michelle@BearButteGardens.com
605.490.2919
