1st Week of April

Spring is such an invigorating time. We've been out digging in the garden, pruning grape vines, and cleaning up flowerbeds. New babies are also coming in abundance. Our first ever lambs were born this week. What a thrill it was to discover triplets (Billy, Willy and Milly) on Monday and then for Elizabeth to watch twins (Molly and Polly) being born on Tuesday. Triplet Lambs Our family Jersey cow, Belle, finally had her calf (Hershey). He looked strangely like a Hereford although his mother had been bred to a Jersey. We figured out that she didn't take the first time and some fence jumping happened with our Hereford beef bull the next round. Our family is very happy to have our own milk again and we'll be soon making more butter, yogurt and cheese.

It was finally dry enough for Olin to disc my spring patch and we got a start on planting potatoes but darkness prevented us from getting the peas planted. The greenhouse continues to flourish with salad greens and chives plus we've added foraged greens like nettles and dandelion to our April diet. In years past, these "weeds" were eaten as spring tonics and are full of good nutrients. Many of the wild greens taste somewhat like spinach and we add them to soups and stir-fries.

Unfortunately the relapse of winter weather had the untimely effect of freezing the apricot blossoms and some peaches. But it seems that every year has it's abundances and failures.

[Return to Garden Journal Page]