Spring Tease

Spring has merely flirted with me so far. Such a tease, showing up for a day or two here and there. After only a day above 50 you begin to believe it will never be cold again. Oh but then she leaves again. So cruel.

Of course the glorious first days of springy weather I had to work, then head out of town for Munfordville, not that I'm complaining, mostly. Saturday morning I did chores super early under light of the full moon in time to enjoy the sunrise on my way to Munfordville for the morning hog slaughter. It was a wonderful day around people who love and care about their food. How odd it is to get flack from people about being present for the slaughter of three happy, healthy hogs that will provide months of food for three healthy families. It's so sad to me that people really do consider themselves more humane and kind to animals by never seeing them die. Ugh. I consider myself a big advocate of animal welfare and thoroughly enjoy being there with the animals I intend to eat; from birth to death. Anyhow, I better get off my soap box while I'm ahead, because I could stay on it all day.

Sunday Josh and I spent hours planning our season. We thought we might watch a movie, but our romance really revolves around watching life coming out of the ground, not images on a screen, and we just ran out of time. Money is a fret, loans debt continues to be our greatest impediment to possible financial freedom, but our plan is something to smile and feel good about.

Now I've returned to Kokovoko, as has the chill of winter. At least its rain rather than snow, progress, but it's far too muddy to work so I sit here and type. Lambing is in full swing, and as any farmer knows, animals tend to give birth in the worst of weather. I came home from a rather lucrative night at the pizza joint into a raging rainstorm. Water seemed to pour from everywhere as I threw on my coveralls and headed out to the barn at 10:30pm. Sure enough, a ewe was there, as Leslie puts it, "making mommy noises" to her healthy, new lamb. This made me quite happy for the glorious miracle of spring is also a time to be reminded of death. After healthy twins last week, another ewe was not so fortunate and had one dead. It's horribly sad each time these things happen, but also makes me ever more grateful to be present for the lessons. Death is very much a part of life. I buried the little feller in the new compost pile in our garden and look forward to him becoming a part of the earth, and in time, our nourishment.

Other garden news since I've returned; I got a fine make-shift cold frame set up and sown, just in time before light snow followed by heavy rains. I'll do my best to leave our cherished broccoli, cabbage, onion, scallion and leek seeds to germinate undisturbed, difficult as that may be. Instead I've been focusing on the mucky work of prepping beds. Remember we are avid non-tillers! The only tilling done here is by the worms, who are the real farmers I must say. I have the beds all marked and am now (well not now exactly, as its far too muddy to keep ones boots on, much less move said mud around) pulling all the barn manure I've dumped alongside the garden periodically over the winter across the garden. Also knocking down some hills and moving all hay that's been dumped in the middle out and across the beds. It's a bit like sculpting. I have this big glob of a garden and must carve out paths and build up beds for planting. Leslie says the garden's not much to look at right now, but beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. A great big wet mat of hay and organic debris makes my heart leap with joy!

I'll be stealing Josh from the wonderful people of Emerald Glen farm on March 11^th and if we can gather the funds (a whole $12 each, a splurge for us!) we're going to go see one of my favorite bands, Menomena, on our way through Louisville to see his parents. After he sets down his bags I just might sit back and make him move some muck around! Sounds bad, but it's hardly cruel nor true. He'll be delighted to get all up in that hay mess, and I won't be able to resist joining him.

Oh and there's still more exciting news! Lovely Leslie has purchased Josh and I our first home; a tipi! This tipi idea has been brewing for some time and it's finally becoming real. Between Leslie's master chainsaw skills, her fruitful forest of black locust, her awesome boyfriend Chris, and some help from me, we got all the trees we need down (healthy thinning of forest) and soon we'll begin peeling and all the work of making fine tipi poles out of them. Yay! I'll let you know about a possible tipi-warming bonfire party later…

Has this been random enough for you? More of it promised next time. Hope you're all signing up for CSA shares or planning your own gardens! sMuch love to you all.