Happy the man...

"beatus ille qui procul negotiis...paterna rura bobus exercet suis"
-happy the man who far away from business...tills with his own oxen the fields his father owned-
                                                      Horace, Epodes ii:1-3

I was up early this morning for no apparent reason.  The terriers were more lethargic than usual, but after they bounced out the door and down into the woods for their morning constitutional, I settled in to pay some bills and take care of some outstanding business.  But first, I walked over to the left wall of the chapel to turn on the propagator lights.  I love starting seeds in the late winter.  Last week it was broccoli and collards- this week lettuces, cabbage, spinach, and kohlrabi.  After a couple of weeks inside, they will all be ready for transplanting to the greenhouse, although hard freezes this time of year can be treacherous even with double frames inside the unheated greenhouse.  Sometime in the next week or two, the tomatoes and peppers will get their starts, although they take a bit more care in handling until the last frost sometime in early to mid-May. 

My gardening propositions this year include plans to be a bit more intentional about row-cropping flowers to cut and keep in the house.  With Rebecca back to teaching from home again, it is wonderful to experience the small joys of domesticity, and cut flowers are definitely one of those joys.  I'm also planning to be a bit more organized about rotational planting this year to give more of a rolling harvest for immediate consumption, with the larger crops of garden peas, tomatoes, fruits, and berries being the focus of preservation for winter's enjoyment.  The plan this year is to start everything inside, even the peas and beans.  In theory, this should allow for more systematic weed control and less waste of seed.  It also allows me to play with my propagator and greenhouse.  When the well stocked grocer is just around the corner, one has a bit more liberty in exploring new horticultural ideas.

Ohio is a wonderful place to be as winter fades into spring.  I think I'll have a cup of tea and read morning prayer and give thanks for it all.