Greetings everyone (especially those with a touch of spring fever),

Here we are leaping into March. I must confess it’s been a relatively easy winter so far. Not much shoveling, no build-up of ice on our long curvy driveway- so different from the olden days. Make no mistake, though, March can throw us many a curve, yet on many a winter’s day so far, I’ve been able to rake, cut back brush, and even weed! There has been little frozen ground here- mostly a freeze-thaw cycle within an inch or two of the surface. I wish I could accomplish more, but I’m slower these days, and I certainly pay for my overdoing the next day. Well, I guess having more outdoor days to do more is one benefit of a warming climate.

Guess what? The snowdrops are blooming, daffodils are pushing up, crocus are showing color. Last Wednesday, Feb. 28th, I took the granddog for a walk around the perimeter of our property, and we flushed a woodcock! That’s really early! Spring already??

I’m now itching to start some seeds for the upcoming gardening year. I haven’t been champing at the bit until now. Perhaps it’s been all the previous cloudy days; perhaps it’s because I’ve known for so long not to start too early; perhaps it’s because the freezers and canned goods shelves are still a bit too full from last year’s harvest (and the year before that- just not admittin’).

So today I’m pulling the heat mats from the attic, gathering trays, plastic inserts with individual cells, humidity domes, labels (most important), a good pencil, and the seed starting mix. I think I’m ready. I’ll only seed peppers, eggplant, and a 6-pk of pelleted lettuce today. Lettuce should be ready to harden off and plant in the garden early to mid-April. Peppers and eggplant take a while to germinate and won’t be ready to plant outside until mid to late May. They will need to be transplanted into 4” pots before then. My goal is to produce stocky healthy plants that have not stretched for sunlight over time. The least amount of time inside, the better! In fact, on warm, sunny days everybody goes outside in full sun for an hour or two mid-day.

We are extremely lucky here, as our passive solar house faces due south. Our windows catch maximum sun, so on a long bench in the dining room, I’ll be setting up my trays. But first, my hands must get dirty! A couple of important tips to remember. Moisten the seed starter mix so it’s not too wet and not too dry. Fill your inserts and lightly press each cell to reduce air pockets. I sow 1-3 seeds per cell so nobody is crowded (and little thinning is necessary), then press them lightly for good contact with the soil and barely cover small seeds with additional soil. Larger seeds can go ¼-1/2”deep depending on seed size (large seed=beans or peas). I cover the tray with a humidity dome and set her on the heat mat as close to the window as possible.

While seedlings are tiny, I water with a mister and later graduate to a small watering can. Before you even open a seed packet, make sure you label everything. For example, I like a 606 deep insert that fits perfectly into a tray with no holes in it. In that tray, my insert contains six connected 6-packs. I’ll label one 6-pk for my lettuce for now, two 6 packs for eggplant, and three 6 packs for different peppers. Believe me, if you don’t label correctly, you won’t know who’s who!

Now to switch gears to what’s new at Nashua Farmers’. Wow! We are now an authorized Ruffwear dealer! That means dogs rule! We have an awesome inventory of collars, leashes, harnesses, safety vests, life jackets, and more. From your daily walk to your greatest hiking adventures, this is definitely the gear to keep you and your dog(s) safe. Now get out there!

Also, we’re excited about Heartwood birdhouses that have arrived from Mississippi. They are made from cypress wood and sport roofs of handmade shingles handmade (or zinc roofs). All pieces are of superb quality and functionality. With a bit of funk, too! We love them.