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Tuesday, May 3, 2011

Gettin' the Garden Ready!

Winter finally let go up here,  and we have been  busy. Tomatoes, peppers,  kale, cabbage and Brussels sprouts are started.  Lettuce will be direct seeded, and some herbs will be getting started in the ground this week.
By far the most exciting part of the week was getting the garden harrowed and plowed. 
The garden was disc harrowed first.  This churns the soil and breaks everything up,  which gets it ready to be plowed.


Molly stood watch close by. She is too old to work, but she likes to be in the action.   The soil is dark, beautiful and healthy.  Having sat through the winter really makes you love when land turns workable again.  All the old corn husks, and remnants of plants are gone, and the garden looks young.  I can feel the momentum that has been building. Just like all these plants that know its time to get going, we feel it to.  There is nothing, nothing, nothing in the world that I love more then spring after New England winter. 


After a few days, its time to plow.  Markus and Gus get harnessed up again are ready to work.  I loved watching this team work.  I  learn a little bit more each time I watch them work.  Turning and steering a plow is a very advanced knowledge and it is something that can only be learned from watching and listening, and noticing how the land is being plowed.  When the horses turn, they side step, one foot in front of the other, and it looks like dancing when they are in sync. 
The first furrow.



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