February was very up and down with regard to weather. Thus far, March has said “Hold my beer and watch this.” We have had snow, sleet, rain sunshine, 10 degrees above and 25 degrees below…in the same day.

Today, for instance, it is pouring rain. Our yard is an ankle-deep sea of mud. Tomorrow, we are under snowfall warning, and then Friday, it is supposed to be sunny and warmish. Forecasts arent accurate beyond a day or two, but as of rifht now, it’s looking like the traditional St Patrick’s day storm is shaping up to show its face on time.

It is just sunny enough and just just warm enough to give one a false sense of optimism. Spring must be just around the corner, no? Time to rip open the seed packets and get our hands in the dirt! Except no. ‘Safe’ frost-free gardening isnt until the full moon in June. We’re still a good three months out yet. However, I do intend to start a few frost-hardy things in the greenhouse in a couple weeks. I have 10 different kinds of perennial greens to try out. I have some very difficult-to-germinate herbs to play with, and of course things like celery and peppers need as much of a head start as they can get.

I have a chicken in the nesting box today. Their pen only gets East sun, so they are slow to start laying in the spring. I will allow whichever of my hens wishes to brood to do so, as my ladies are all quite aged and none of the broods were successful last year. We have a new young rooster this year, so hopefully stronger genetics will win out. I need the refresh in my coop.