Spring Ahead

This past weekend was the annual time to set the clocks ahead one hour, or "spring ahead" for daylight savings time.
As always in gardening, we've had to keep a wary eye toward the weather forecast. The weather in Feb. stayed cool and rainy for the most part, but in spite of it we managed to make progress.
Starting the first Saturday in February, we had to cancel twice on cold rainy days.  The second time a couple of us went out to the garden on Sunday afternoon.
Since the ninth of February, the garden has been springing ahead slowly, as we cleared mulch from the beds, weeded, planted some early seeds, and some onion plants.
This week we'll be adding some blueberry plants.  That project involves some digging into the clay soil, and adding pine chip soil conditioner, which we started last weekend.

Garden experience: getting your hands in the dirt...

 I have a cousin who lives in Maine, and often I can hear a phrase resonating from him to me--
"You gotta get your hands in the dirt".
He has been growing things his whole life; most of them are legal too. Anyway I am just getting acquainted with his phrase now. I have recently become a member of the Koinonia Garden, which first attracted my 12-year-old daughter when she passed the sign on the road. "Mom we should go check it out this week what do you think?"
Well all I needed was that invitation from her, and soon my nine-year-old boy chimed in ..."sure I'll do it too mom."
For the last several months we have tried to come each Saturday morning, and I have alternated time there with each of  my children. They have participated in the planting from the very start, helping to prepare the beds, setting up the hydration system, planting the seeds and now getting to harvest the wonderful bounty.
I don't know who has been more excited to see each of the seedlings sprout and grow every week and see the final product of everyone's labor.
For me I have always loved to be outside and working. I recently lost my mom in January, and I have found that being outside in my yard connecting with nature has been the most therapeutic thing I could ever imagine. I have also planted my own garden, of course with much guidance from my noble comrades from the garden who have guided me with their wisdom.
Not to mention I have loved getting to know each and every one of them and working side-by-side with them. For me I have had several moments of Zen just being there-- I even enjoy the sound of the cars passing by and different sounds coming from the garden tools clanking and voices about comments of the new week's activity, feeling welcomed every week by friendly kind faces who want nothing more than to see me happily existing in the garden with my family and to share as much as they can of the harvest already.
So now I know a little bit more at the meaning of getting my hands in the dirt, which too can cleanse the soul.
--A.S.