Straight line winds. Cold mornings, warm afternoons. Thick new flower leaves elbowing their way out of the packed earth. Budding fruit trees. Shedding horses and amorous buffalo. Hens sitting faithfully on their eggs. All sure signs of springtime in Oklahoma, and they have only just begun.
I just came inside from working another raised veggie bed, thrilled to see the decomposition progress there. Horse and llama manures rotting together with dried leaves, chicken litter, and shredded paper. Sand has transformed into deep black, crumbly magic stuff. A vast universe of possibility for food growers.
What are you growing this early part of the season? What is your last average frost date, do you know? Are you working seeds early, indoors with fancy equipment, or waiting for a week later in the season to plunk it all down into the sun-kissed earth? So many wonderful decisions to make. All of it makes me deliciously light-headed. Drunk on chlorophyll and loam. So I hope you will forgive me for a slightly disjointed garden post tonight.
My sweet, smart, sassy friend Stephanie gave me this flat-out perfect dish towel for my birthday. Don’t you love it? I sure do. Steph is also growing a veggie garden of her own this year, right here at the farm. I am hoping she’ll bring her nieces to learn, too. Once kids see for themselves how fun it is to design and tend a personal garden, they are often hooked for life. Then, once they taste that incredible fresh food, well… Let’s just say that for every fresh carrot a teenager eats, a bag of potato chips dies.
So, here’s what I am planning to grow this month…
- spinach
- kale
- leaf lettuce
- head lettuce (butter crunch)
- mesculun
- radishes (both crimson and French breakfast)
- carrots (both scarlet nantes and a rainbow blend)
- snow peas
- potatoes (both reds and Yukon golds)
- cilantro
- asparagus
- strawberries
- garlic
- parsley
Five times as much edible beauty is on the books for May and beyond, but the foods listed above are classic springtime faves. The Lazy W is happy to honor the tradition.
Deep breath… Inhale all the new life. Listen to how many new bird songs you can hear. Walk around barefoot and peer into the naked trees and rosebushes for specks of bright color. Get tipsy on the details around you.
Tomorrow I have nowhere to go and a long list of happy farm chores to tackle, mostly centered on the gardens. Cuffed up jeans and a wide brim straw hat all day long. The only thing that could make tomorrow lovelier would be starting it with Hot Tub Summit and a few mugs of perfect coffee with Handsome.
Grow Your Own. Ok, I think I will.
“The care of the Earth is our most ancient and most worthy, and after all our most pleasing responsibility. To cherish what remains of it and to foster its renewal is our only hope.” ~Wendell Berry
XOXOXOXO
This will be my first growing season living here and we have too much to do yet for me to decide on where I want my raised beds to be. I’ve decided this year I do all container gardening. I’m so excited! This weekend for me, seeds, plants, dirt, setting up my compost. I cannot wait!
Yay Misti!! I remember you saying that, and I am soooo excited for you. The almanac promises a lush growing season in Oklahoma. Wahoo! I think container gardens are so glamorous, I hope you share your progress on your blog! xo thanks for reading. : )
I have only recently discovered your blog, and I just love it. I love your tone and your energy. It is so different from me and I feed off it! I often feel so high-strung and I just adore reading your work and about life on the farm.
oh man Kristin, what a sweet wonderful note, thank you!! So glad you’ve spent some time here and introduced yourself. Can’t wait to get better acquainted! xoxo
The pink and white trees are starting here. I can’t really believe it. Your garden will be a thing of true beauty.
Brittany.. I cannot remember, is this your first or second spring in Brevard? Enjoy every second. I imagine it is just magical. And thanks for your encouraging words, I am already having such fun!! xo