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[Gloria Morris <gloriamorris59 AT gmail.com>]

It has been a beautiful winter here in Central Illinois - the most 
lovely I've seen in many years.

It has been a great many years since I've seen so much snow here! And it 
is rare for there to be snow cover on the ground for most of the winter. 
I've not SEEN my garden in ages. It is covered in snow. I cannot imagine 
planting anything in mid-March this year unless the weather changes 
very, very soon. There is no way right now to begin any soil preparation 
for peas or potatoes, as the soil is covered in snow and very, very 
saturated. Right now, the only places where I can see the ground, it is 
extremely muddy. When sandy soil is muddy (I live, essentially, on a 
great sand dune), you know there is a lot of water! It is going to take 
awhile for the ground to thaw and let all that excess water move on down 
to the water table.

Given current conditions, I anticipate delayed planting this spring.

Today is less than beautiful - it cannot decide whether to rain or snow. 
It has been alternating between those forms of precipitation off and on 
all day. It is is - cold and wet. It is not cold enough to keep you warm 
and dry when you go out to do chores, so if you are out for long it 
feels colder than it feels when the weather is 30 degrees colder. But it 
is this transitional weather that signals that winter is passing and 
that heralds the promise of spring.

This too shall pass. Spring will get here. And the forest will blush 
with green as the days lengthen and warmth returns. And in time, I will 
be able to get into the garden and plant. It may be another challenging 
weather year, though. :)

Gloria


On 2/21/2010 9:58 AM, Robert Walton wrote:
> >      
> > > The beds will be where I plant the
> > > other stuff.  I'm going to try to work smarter in the garden. Plant
> > > less, care for it better and harvest more.
> > >        
> > Let us know how that works out, Rob. My experience is that gardens are never 
> > tended perfectly. So I plant more than I need, plant it in multiple places, 
> > tend to it as well as my time and focus permits, and figure the bugs, 
> > critters and disease can have half and I will still have enough.
> >
> >      
> My problem has been to plant more than I can reasonably care for. I'm
> also hoping that by using beds, I can grow more intensively. More
> stuff in less space.
>
> Another resource in this area is that I've found a homesteading
> neighbor that grows extra for the market. She also can't seem to
> butcher her own meat. I'm hoping to do some bartering.
>
> Rob - Va
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