The Warmth of Plants

I don’t think Spring has looked at the calendar nor did it get the memo that it is supposed to be here!

Yesterday it was snowing.

This morning there was frost on the ground.

Each week it seems we may have one or two warmish days and then, BAM, it’s cold again!

We’re trying to figure out when to start sowing some seeds in the garden but no sooner do we get a couple nice days in a row then the forecast is calling for either more rain (it’s been a very wet and cold winter) or frosty temps.

Meanwhile, as we wait for the frosty nights to come to an end CountryBoy has several starts growing in the greenhouse such as tomatoes, brussel sprouts, green peppers and squash in hopes that we won’t be too far behind in the growing season.

Speaking of greenhouse, we recently had to repair a rather large section of the roof in between all the rain…

For once, duct tape did not fix the problem.  What was the problem you ask?  Multiple cracks in the panels due to being walked on.  CountryBoy was removing a storm gutter and the easiest point of access was in front of the greenhouse.  These panels have been through the summer’s sun and were on the brittle side so when he stepped on them they cracked and the greenhouse has leaked ever since.  We ordered enough panels to replace them and on a rare warm day after I got home from work we jumped up there and replaced them before the rains came that evening…

It’s so nice not to have a leaky greenhouse now!

Our local farmer’s market is starting earlier this year and I’m afraid all we’ll have to offer for the first few weeks will be our country eggs.  Lots and lots of country eggs!  In fact, we have SO many eggs right now that we sent 9 dozen to New York with my brother and sister-in-law who stopped by for a visit on their way up from Florida and yet we STILL have oodles of eggs!

Speaking of the market, we are more involved this year and it’s been a lot of fun being a part of the planning for this years market and getting to know the other vendors a little better.  Since the beginning of the year we’ve had a meeting each month to discuss and make plans for the market.  During several of the meetings we have been trained on how to create an enticing display at our booth as well as training on accepting senior vouchers (offered to local senior citizens) and WIC.  I spent some time creating several drafts of possible logos for our market and, as a group, we made suggestions and tweaked them until we came up with one that we’re all happy with.  That was a fun process and threw me back to my days as a Graphic Designer.  CountryBoy and I have also applied to be ‘Kentucky Proud’ vendors and are waiting to hear if we’ve been accepted.  What is ‘Kentucky Proud’?  It’s the official state marketing program for agricultural products.  I am especially excited about this certification!  I may have only lived in Kentucky for three years but I am happy to be here and proud to be a part of the agricultural community.  My hope in the years ahead is to be able to offer more Kentucky Proud products grown and/or made right here on the farm.  That’s what it’s all about!

Now that I’ve been getting a handle on where to place our furniture (it’s a trial-and-error process!) and finding creative ways to decorate with dual-purpose or well-loved items I have slowly been adding some greenery indoors.  I think indoor plants help warm and soften the space and can help ease the long winter months.

My favorite plants?  Free ones!  I’ve been splitting and repotting plants that have outgrown their container such as the one above and have propagated several others such as the one below…

that came from this one…

If you follow our Dream Valley Farmstead Facebook page then you’ve already seen the previous photo with the jute plant hanger.  But for those that aren’t on Facebook that was a fun, easy DIY project using stuff I already had on hand.  I really like the way it turned out and I’ll definitely be making a few more using some of the glass bottles I’ve saved.  If there’s one thing I have a weakness for hoarding it’s glass bottles and containers.  Colored ones, old ones, unique ones, big or small ones, etc.  This bottle was a soap dispenser we had while traveling and the metal dispenser broke and quit working.  I saved the bottle because I liked the color and the shape (and because I have a thing for bottles as you now know, ha!)

Spring is trying its hardest to push Winter out of the way as is evident by the new growth that is bursting out of the ground…

Peonies (and who knows what else) given to me from a friend.  More free plants, yay!  I can’t wait for these to be chock full of beautiful Peonies!

Seeing the trees begin to produce tiny leaves or buds and plants emerging from a long winters rest brings warmth to my soul and puts a smile on my face!

Till next time my friends!