Spring Surprise

We have had a spring surprise. Some of our garden wintered over. The left over Swiss Chard is coming back up. Our thyme and oregano made it through as well. One cabbage made it but it was too damaged and in a bad spot so I took it out. I've built a new bed next to our walkway framing it with rocks left over from the failed decorative pond project and transplanted the herbs to it. I'm trying to keep the herbs as close to the house as possible so that we use them more.
Last Saturday was great weather for working the garden. The soil powdered under the tines of the tiller. I'm taking the old raised beds that are falling apart and moving some rhubarb into them. They're in a bad spot right now in an area I just can't keep clear of weeds. As soon as I can, I'll move them and mulch the hell out of them. I need more rhubarb to stay ahead of my relatives.
I've ordered an asparagus special of 30 plants. Maybe in a few years I can get enough asparagus to stay ahead of Stacey. I've covered one of the asparagus beds with old hay and chaff in an effort to keep the weeds down. I don't know if the stuff can push to the surface but I have hope.
I haven't been able to start my seeds in my incubator yet. There just aren't enough hours in the day.
I've started shearing the sheep. My goal is 5 a day but I only managed 3 last night before my back gave out. I'm going to have to build my body back up to handle this again and my increase in age isn't helping. Thankfully, my sheep are only half the size of regular sheep. The worst of this is knowing that I'll be using this beautiful wool for mulch since the handspinners in this area only want alpaca. Mere sheep wool just isn't good enough for them.
There's fence repairs to do as well. I've got to replace the west side of the rams enclosure since one of them busted through. I'll add a small gate in the corner to make it easier to get them out when I need to. I need to do the same thing on the northwest pasture. You need to put the gates where the sheep want them not where it's convenient for you.
We still have a steer. I suppose I should try harder to sell him but I'm busy and it's nice to have that beef walking around. Sure, it will take a while to eat the 400 lbs we already have but it gives a nice sense of security.
I still don't have a working plow. My farmer friend may still have his tractor in hock so I can't pay him to plow the back of the farm. I wanted to plow the back of the farm to get the weeds in check and maybe plant it to something useful. Farming with no money really sucks.
Thinking about farming is depressing and writing about it doesn't help. I need to get out and farm to clear this funk from my mind. I need the sunlight and wind to clear my head. Some days, at work, I can almost smell the manure. Maybe I need to clean my boots.

Spring is coming

Spring is coming but it isn't here yet. Still, it's nice to have the increased sunlight and a warmer temperature. I've gone through my seed stores but I haven't made a seed order yet. I've got to get them while they are still available. I took some of my duplicates to a seed swap at Wildwood park in Toledo. I'm not going there again without a taser and an iron rod to beat a hole in the crowd. There were way too many people in too small a space. I picked up a few things, mostly greens and rutabagas.
Spring means shearing sheep as well. I plan on starting about the middle of the month. If I push a bit, I should finish by April. Then the lambs will be coming. The hay should last. I've got the steer for sale. If I can sell him, that's ok. If not, he'll still be good eating two years from now.
Spring means working the bees. We've got to get enough supers together for all the hives. Each hive should start out with 4 supers and I know we don't have enough. I still hope to plant buckwheat so I can harvest buckwheat honey. If not, there's a farmer selling cheap red clover seed. If I got lucky, I could harvest honey and hay. Red clover is tricky, though. It molds fast when cut. Unless you get a hot dry spell when it's cut, it can get dangerous to feed.
Spring means working the ground and I don't have the plow working. I just can't break the wheels loose. I've been trying every trick I know and some from other folks and they're still seized up. I'm going to try and scrounge some cash and buy a working plow at auction. The rototillers are still in fair shape so the gardening should go on. I've still got to burn the brush in the field. I need it gone.
Spring means songbirds, green grass and flowers but I won't have time for them. I've got manure to move.