Gardening…..

Worry is an addiction
That interferes with compassion..
Deng Ming~Dao

It's that time of year where we start planning ahead for summer's bounty.  We have been enjoying an early Spring, which under normal times it would be so wonderful to be out and about and enjoying our beaches, lakes and parks.
(although we may dip our kayaks into the lake this weekend if it is warm enough)

One way I am enjoying this early Spring gift is by getting my little beds ready for planting.
Even though I used to really love my big gardens, I won't lie….not having to do all of that weeding and tilling by hand certainly makes gardening so much easier.
It was so nice to just have my hands in the dirt again, spreading out the amendments that I know my soil needs.

Normally I purchase the bulk of what goes into these beds at a local garden center, Spiderweb in Tuftonboro, but not being sure if they would be open this year (which I now know that they will be), I decided to start the bulk of what I would be planting this year with seeds that a friend gave to me last year.

In the past I haven't started with seeds because I don't have a good east facing window to accommodate those seedlings but this year I invested in a seed heat mat, which has worked so well not only for the seedlings, but also for Matilda's fermentation and it gets just enough light from the west facing window.

Everything is off to a good start!  I have actually transplanted all of these into bigger flats and giving the the slower growing vegetables a little more time in their domed humidity house.  
I should be able to get the lettuce, herbs and spinach into the cold frame soon.

On a completely different note, see this pot?  
It's where my chives grow to keep them under control
I put the bowl that I always keep under it over the top because I knew we were going to get some snow and the soil in the pot was already very wet, so I didn't want whats growing to get drowned out.
They look like a matching set don't they, but they are not!
The pot was one that I purchased at the Lowes last year and the bowl is one that I made long before I purchased the pot.

As soon as all of this virus stuff is behind us, I am definitely getting my kiln rewired and ready to work with.
It will be fun to play with mud again too!