The weather

It looks like the midwest and east coast are still getting the same cold weather. Normally we have highs in the 50s this time of year, but we have been stuck in the 20s and low 30s for the last 10 days, with more of the same to come for the next week. Plus, the forecast calls for another snow storm on Thursday. And the foot of snow we got last week is still on the ground.

To give you some perspective, every winter we draw up a schedule for the season. Things can get hectic in the summer around here, so it is helpful to have a plan written out beforehand, even if we have to make adjustments along the way. For next week, the week of April 15, the schedule says "Prep beds for potatoes, peas, and early greens." I don't think that is going to happen! First the snow needs to melt, and then the ground needs to dry out, and at this rate I don't think that will happen by next week.

But weather is one of the wonderful challenges of this biz. And as a weather nut, I love watching the weather and trying to figure out how to work with it. Our friend and fellow farmer Richard talks about how it is our job to take what the planet gives us for free -- sun, rain, soil, bugs, microbes, critters, our hands and backs and heads -- and to turn it into food with the least amount of inputs. So this week we are going to try to figure out how to squeeze some more stuff into our greenhouses and hoophouses so that we have some veggies for our first markets in May. Since necessity is the mother of invention, perhaps we will stumble across some ideas that will help us in future years as well.

In the meantime, enjoy the spring skiiing!