With Christmas behind me and the new year ahead, I find myself looking forward to spring. I’m sure many of my Arctic Amigos feel the same way about now, buried under feet of snow, no sign of their garlic bulbs, their tulips and daffodils mere glimmers of hope, reminding them “this blizzard, too, shall pass.” And as any organized organic gardener would do, I’m plotting mine out in Excel.
“What?” Glancing about, I ask, “Doesn’t everyone?”
Realizing I’m standing alone, I think, perhaps not. But it does make for easy record keeping; where I planted what and when, which variety matured first, when did I begin harvest, what goes where next…
Sure, most gardeners use a journal for this type of business, but I’m visual. And I like color (excel allows me to color code everything from roots to leaves, from fall to spring — oh joy!).
Okay. So it’s not that exciting, but it does add a bit of fun to the process. More work, but more fun. Works for keeping track of Girl Scout cookies sales, too! So while these carrots are tolerating the frost, hunkering down and going about the business of growing, I’m going about the business of planning.
My cabbage are thriving in the cold.
As are my broccoli.
Even my tender sweet peas are tolerating the chill. Not in stellar fashion mind you, but at least they’re still alive.
And tomorrow… Well, it will probably be more of the same (with the winter we’re having). Eventually the ground will soften and yield to my touch and I’ll till and I’ll plant and I’ll begin the process anew. I’ll try new techniques, I’ll expand on what’s working… And I WILL grow tomatoes to perfection. If my students can do it, I can do it.
That’s how the mantra goes, anyway.
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