Week #7 - Plant therapy

I hit it! I hit the wall! 

Even though this winter has not brought particularly bad weather... each February usually just after Valentines Day, I hit the "I'm totally done with winter wall!

On Monday our seed order came in and the urge to dig in the soil and plant something was palpable! The yearning for the smell of freshly turned earth and sunshine on my face was overwhelming. 

So yesterday, I turned to a little bit of plant therapy.... Got some pots out and some soil and started playing! Planted some herbs, lettuce, some spinach and some edible flowers. Put some calendula in as I'm hoping to use the petals to dye our soaps and violas to add to our salads. 

Can't wait to see the green shoots pop out of the rich dark soil, reaching for the sun. It's not the same as digging in the garden but it will have to suffice for now.... spring is just around the corner!

What do you do to get through the winter months? 

Plants are in the Penthouse

FFF Photo a Day - Day 125

In previous posts, I've alluded to our plan to use our new greenhouse addition on the barn as a multi-level space. Chicks on the bottom and seedlings on top!

The birds need warmth which in turn heat the soil and roots of the seedlings speeding germination and growth. 

With our unseasonably warm spring days its taken a bit of adjustment to keep the temperatures even throughout a 24 hour period, however I think we have a system that is working well now and everyone (plants and birds) seem to be doing well in the space. 

Greening up!

FFF Photo a  Day - Day 120 

In my walk about the farm today, I couldn't help but notice how things are greening up... (despite how dry everything is). 

I found spinach in the front bed beside the house that I planted a couple of weeks ago as snow was falling! 

Underneath the straw, I found both rhubarb and asparagus starting to emerge. Both of these were moved last fall to a new location so glad to see they survived the winter with very little snow cover to protect them. 

New addition!

FFF Photo a Day - Day 112

Our greenhouse addition on the barn is almost done! Our plan is to house both chicks and seedlings in the same space. Both need consistently warm temperatures for a period of time. The chicks will be on the ground while the seedlings will be on shelving above. 

Our chicks come on Friday so it won't be long before we get to try it out!