This “winter” we had some threats that it would become its usual blustery self, but it turned out to be just wind.
When it threatened winter I took a short video- but that was the last of it. Every other “snowfall” has immediately melted, if it even landed. The video looks white, but it is a scene. of walking down the drive..
Actually we had a short period of snow, some frigid temperatures, but my woodpile is still sizable and hopefully the electric bill will be a pleasantly reduced number. I have seen signs of the flies awakening, but my hope is that the chickens will continue to reduce the amounts of insects around the yard.
Chickens
Speaking of chickens, I have way, way too many eggs. I knew six Buffs and a Bantam would be too many, but I thought there might be some losses and I didn’t have solar light all winter in my previous chicken and the egg adventure.
It works so well, and the first year laying is so successful that I have a super abundance of eggs. I have to start giving gifts… and have sold about four dozen at a deeply discounted price.
Have a family of four? No more than two chickens, three at the most will take care of you and some friends.
Sprouting Bulbs
Warm temperature have meant the spring bulbs are growing and poking through the ground. If they get too far along, late frosts can kill the blooms, but it is anybodies guess at this point.
Usually those green spikes are perfectly hardy and unhurt by snow or cold. Snow is usually good.
Rain Aplenty
Central Ohio has had lots of rain this winter and soaked ground is more of a problem than the cold, here. No snow cover to speak of this winter. I’ve had mud season starting, and the chicken yard is a particular mess, but in nice weather they run around wherever they want on more than 3 acres, so it isn’t a problem.
Grass is a real boon for place like mine. Our water table is high and the land is prone to ponding. When we walk around the yard during winter or spring the ground makes squishy sounds, shoes and boots stay clean as long as grass grows there, but without it, it is a mudbath.
We use paver walks, and those are good, too. Mulch paths between the raised vegetable beds. But with acreage, grass has its uses. Not golf course manicured grass, however- I am talking about grass with plenty of clover, simply kept mowed, with no pesticides or herbicides.
Seed Starting?
I’m going to make a trip to visit my grandson, on my lonesome, and plan to help him start some seeds. He likes to grow tomatoes now, and I think he is ready for more than just a fun experiment.
He seems serious about getting some real produce, but I don’t think his GenX dad is ready for digging up the yard, and containers will “have to do”. So I hope to help him start some plants and have really big containers to transplant into, in the spring. He did well with normal sized flower pots, but those really won’t allow for full size tomatoes to produce well.
He is a State of Georgia gardener, about ten years old. If I do this project with him (depends on his level of enthusiasm) I will take pictures! I love Instagram for that.
For myself, I decided to delay seed starting until April… outside. I might do some March indoor stuff. My spring time schedule is so unpredictable that I can’t count on “being there” for my plants, but it looks like I will be home for a solid couple months this year.
My thinking on this is that seed starting should be a fun project, not an obligation. Its main advantages are wide selection of plant choices and economics. It is much less expensive to have lots and lots of plants when growing from seed.
Well, what about you?
This is a blog and I’d like to hear from you 🙂 are you starting any seeds this year? Or will you be visiting the local greenhouses for plants?
What state do you find your garden in at this time of year?
Will you be out in the garden in February, or do you wait until March… or later?
Check in, why don’t you?
Oh, and right after I wrote this, it snowed. Of course.
As you know, the snow came this week, and made a big, wet mess out of things. But I like the snow for the water it will provide to my yard later on when it melts. I’ve actually made no plans for the upcoming garden year, because we may be moving. All is uncertain at this point, but I haven’t even bought any seeds, because I just don’t know where I’ll be. I hope to stay here in central Ohio, but it may not be possible.