Spring babies

It’s so much fun to observe the new growth springing up. Here’s a gallery.

Rhubarb bed
Rhubarb closeup
Nelson blackberry, neatly pruned by Sam
Nelson blackberry extravagantly leafing out
Asparagus spears
Peas on both sides of trellis
Favas
Wild blueberry’s tiny pink blossoms

Woodstove

Keeping the fire burning

Might be my favorite thing about winter. The stove is a companion. And warms us.

Our stove is the Castine model from Jøtul and it’s perfect for us.

Of course, part of the reason I can love heating with wood is that Sam takes care of all the chores involved with getting a handy supply of ready-to-burn logs.

Mulching for winter

We mulched most of the beds for winter. The two near the back got a layer of chicken coop waste covered by a layer of straw. The other beds got waterlogged straw, picked up from J&P Farmers Market. And some leftover hay.

The strawberry bed got a light layer of mulch. It really needs the blighted leaves pulled off and more mulch. Maybe later.

What’s left in the garden? A nice patch of leeks, quite a lot of kale, some juvenile broccoli that I don’t have much hope for, and mostly bygone escarole. A row of half-hearted spinach.

It’s definitely getting to be wintry out there.

Getting reacquainted

A walk in the woods after a weekend away in Connecticut.

Brought home some pieces of birch bark. Destined for the wood stove, but maybe will make some craft items from them.

Also noted this florescence of mushrooms near the garlic beds. Not sure what kind they are, but they look very healthy and happy.