DIRT

It's the end of April and this month has proven to be a slow start to Spring.  The last piles of snow are finally gone and our vernal stream bubbles along through the normally dry creek bed adorned by blooming red Trilliums and Round-Lobed Hepatica.  The days are getting longer allowing for more time puttering in the garden beds after work.  I walk my yard every evening serenaded by tree frogs and barred owls calling to each other deep in the woods.  It's a time of renewal, for the sleeping soil and for my soul.  Digging in the dirt is the best therapy.

This year Bolduc Farms is adding a few new crops, incorporating 2 varieties of hops and 2 varieties of strawberries. I invested in 25 bare root strawberry plants and converted one of the existing vegetable beds into a strawberry and herb garden.  I plan on mixing perennial and annual herbs in with our 2 varieties of berries.  Centennial and Cascade hops, both cold hardy species for the Northeast, will grace the Southern side of the house where we will build a permanent trellis once we are sure they have taken hold.  After they are established we hope that the vines will produce enough hops for us to use for home brewing. 

The 2nd weekend in April the sun finally warmed the soil enough to thaw out the last of the permafrost and I was able to turn over the raised beds and pull up the carrots and parsnips that had wintered over. The Snap and Snow peas are poking through the ground this week, their wrinkled lime green tops polka dotting the 4 foot rows.  If the weather cooperates I'll put my leeks and fennel outside to start to acclimate them to the cool temps before I plant them in the ground. It's been a slow start but it's New England and when you live in New Hampshire you get used to dealing with whatever Mother Nature decides to throw your way.  Based on April, I won't plant my warm weather vegetables until Memorial day or after and will hope that we have an extended growing season to make up for the cool early spring temperatures that have lingered entering May 1st.