Being Part of the Whole

Almost all the snow is finally melted. The garden lays wide open. Ready. Waiting. Three days ago there were rivers between the beds. April showers. When I walked there yesterday it was still soft and wet. Daniel, our intern for the summer, and I planted 6 more flats of seeds last Thursday. Big melon seeds and the teeniest of seeds that look more like hair. They are unfolding quickly in the warm soil. I love the larger ones. You can see everything that is happening. You can almost watch them grow if you could stand there long enough. Most of the seeds we plant here are heirloom seeds. Seeds that came from all over the world. Black Krim tomatoes, Dr. Wyches yellow tomatoes, Copenhagen cabbage, Black Turtle beans, Oxheart carrots and Granda Ott's morning glory.

Since the snow is gone from the path on the perimeter of our farm, Tim and I were able to walk with the dog this morning. It was very squishy, and we wore our wellies but we made it all the way around. I happened to notice that while I walked, I was concerned about my footing perhaps and mostly, I looked at the ground right in front of me. I walked this way for a few minutes when Tim pointed out a huge ant hill. I observed the large lump covered in dried grasses and moved on, looking at the ground in front of me. A few minutes later, Tim pointed out something else. It was then I realized that I was missing so very much by only watching the foot  or so of ground in front of my feet. I forced myself to look up as I walked so I wouldn't miss anything. It was hard to do. I must always walk this way. We have 40 beautiful acres, with pastures, a pond, meadows, and lots of birds and other animals that I was missing on my "walk". So I was very mindful to keep my head up and my eyes looking ahead. To the horizon, the future, forward. I am now wondering how often do I keep my head on what is happening right this moment or the next but in doing so, miss the world around me? Not looking at the big picture. Today I will be more mindful to keep my head up and my eyes searching for the whole, recognizing that here and now is just a part.Taking a cue from my husband, Tim who always manages to see the hawk in the sky or the bluebird on the fencepost. Because he is paying attention.

We will be ordering our piglets this week. 10 little pink Berkshire piglets will arrive in a couple weeks to live with us for the summer. Perhaps we may keep some to breed this year. Tim has obtained Naragansett turkey eggs for hatching. Those will mostly be for starting a breeding program for next year. The female ducks are sitting tightly on their eggs. They will started busting out next week sometime. Things are rolling now and I should even begin working on my dojo again. Then we can get up early, sneak out to the dojo and start the day with some yoga and a little martial arts conditioning. Spring is here. It is good to feel deeply being part of the whole.

Sitting in the sun

Sitting in the sun typing, I feel like a cat. The warmth of the sun penetrates me deeply and I feel an overwhelming connection with the universe. The sun and warm temperatures are helping the snow connect with the earth more totally as water. Filling the spaces in the earth for this purpose, the water nourishes the land. We will need it later in the summer when the sun dries up all the water topside.

            We have received our shipment of quail eggs. Tim has fired up the incubator and we will hopefully hatch out the 60 eggs. We plan on building a moving pen for them. They are the tiniest of birds. The eggs are a little bit bigger than that of a robin egg. When they hatch the minute bird is the size of a large bee.

            Our highland cattle are joyously welcoming spring with lots of running and kicking it up, a happy dance indeed. Our new calf, Ferdinand is growing and was spied munching on hay just the other day. The three young ones chase each other in the muddy field. The bull, Veto and our ½ steer, Benji, go head to head, banging quite hard.

            With the hope of spring in the air, I voted today. I encourage everyone to do the same. I feel it is not just a right but a duty. We must actively engage in our world. We only have one life. 

           The laying hens run about the barnyard searching for grass and insects. I never tire of the sight. I do, in fact, tire of seeing them hopping the fences and ripping up my flower gardens. I must remember to shut the coop door in the evening after they have hopped up on the roosts and tucked in for the night. They lay their treasures in spurts and fits. For a couple days I get about 5 or 6 warm brown eggs and then 15 of them the next morning! Tomorrow I will transfer the remaining group of young layers to the back coop to live for the summer. These are my blue/green layers. We call them Lindacaunas, after a friend who gave them to us.  They will lay Easter eggs. The most beautiful shades of blue and green to go with my warm shades of brown eggs.

          More than half of the garden is free of snow now. The mounds of compost are piled high on each bed from work done last fall. Sitting in the sun, waiting for seeds from me. Of course, there are plenty of seeds in the beds probably germinating there in the sun right now. Wildflower seeds, or weed seeds depending on your point of view. In a game we play each year, I try to grow MY seeds while the wildflowers try to grow. Time for the straw to inhibit the wildflowers from growing. Perhaps in a couple weeks I will be able to get into the garden to work.

           In the meantime, I watch for the chives to burst from the ground. The day lilies are already up a couple inches and somewhere under the snow I have some small grape hyacinth waiting. The buds on the trees are straining to remain closed. and the animals on the farm move around stretching their legs from their long winter confinement. Spring is here.

           

           

Anticipation

The baby chicks are old enough and have enough feathers to be outside now. They are happy in their outdoor locations. One, upstairs in the brooder area and the others, in the back coop. They don't care about the snowstorm. The younger of the two batches still has use of a heat lamp, should they feel a chill in the air. The older ones, just don't seem to notice. Francois, our large dew-lap Toulouse goose, escaped from his winter digs, in the barn, the other day, when I left not only the gate, but the barn door open while I fed the gang. He saw daylight and made a break for it! As fast as an old goose can waddle, anyways. All winter he was content in the barn. Food, water and warmth. That's all he needed. Now the wonder and pull of spring has him out wandering the barn yard. I always wonder what they think of the snow?

I was fortunate enough to be able to visit my friend in Sturgeon Bay, who is an urban chicken farmer. She is a wonderful chef/baker, an amazing carpenter and above all, adores her chickens. Her set up is sweet for any girl who lays eggs.  They were out in her yard today, scratching up the piles of leaves, looking for a hint of green grass and better yet, bugs. A mutual friend has decided she, too, will be an urban farmer. We discussed coop options, feeders, bedding and feed. We poured over the catalog discussing breeds while sipping tea. Beth would like a nice, friendly, docile hen. Something her young daughter can pick up and perhaps, bond with. Maybe even show them at the Door County Fair in the summer when she is old enough. Very exciting.

I have some planting and transplanting to do tomorrow. More vegetables and lots of flowers. The seedlings look great. I am running out of lighting/rack space for me seedlings. We went to Green Bay to buy more seed trays and pots. The feel of earth as you dig is amazing. Fills my soul. The smell of the tomato plants is almost too much. Funny that in the summer when I pick tomatos and prune the plants, I will be covered with a green substance that smells just like the tomato plant. I am sure it won't have the same effect on me then. I love how different times, places and people have such an effect on perspective. 

The sun is warming the earth and melting the snow. Calvin, my black and white tomcat ,is happy to soak it up. Me too, while I am sitting at the window, typing on my computer, anticipating.