We’ve melted out!!! Or almost anyways!!!

We’ve melted out!!!Or almost anyways!!! Not only have we made it through the winter –the snow is melting!!!!  Even faster than the Wicked Witch of the West!  We’ll cool down fast enough, but it sure is nice to have the snow dropping below knee height – might even make ankle height before the cool down comes in. Having said that – the slow melt is good for the maple syrup industry – they need warm days, cold nights and snow cover to keep the roots cool and moist.

That warm up and melting means that Spring Fever has arrived!  People are buying potting mixes (and we have the best in the region!), seeding mixes (ditto!), pots, packs, trays and seeds.  Houseplants are flying out the door (and we keep them in good shape and restocked!) along with new pots and macrame hangers to help them look their best. We have a decent selection of terrarium containers – and all the pieces that make them work.  We’re happy to help you put one together and can even arrange for a group event where everyone builds their own – advanced planning is required for that so please reach out for details and we’ll get back to you.

And the Bluebirds and Robins are feeding frantically at the meal worm feeders. Plan on mixing meal worms and soldier fly larvae as the breeding season approaches – better for the birds – more calcium and protein in the soldier fly larvae (information you might not want to know!!).  Makes for healthier eggs and babies – and yes, we have both kinds of worms.  There’s even a seed mix specifically for the insect eating birds that has fruits and meal worms already blended – just as they like it.

Speaking of birds – our Baby Chicks are due to start arriving at the end of the month.  We do custom orders for chicks – not a free for all grab and go approach.  The chicks come in, are started on Hydro-hen water (electrolytes, probiotics and carbohydrates) and Poulin Chick Starter with a bit of Azomite (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8131723/)  worked into it and we don’t call you to pick up the birds until we see that the chicks are all eating and drinking well.  This means you have a much better chance of all your birds surviving.  There are no guarantees of course, since day old birds are fragile, but we lose very, very few – less than .5%. One reminder – most of the birds are sexed but there’s a 10% chance on getting a rooster. And all bantams and ducks are “straight run” – you get what you get…

To date, the workshops have been fun (entertaining and educational) and more are planned for the rest of March and in to April.  If you’ve enjoyed one of our programs, please let people know about it – our goal is to get real information out so that people can be successful. Check the end of the newsletter for those details.

Here’s for what’s coming in for the 2026 season!

The spring bulbs have arrived!  These are the dahlias, begonias, caladiums, callas, cannas, elephant ears – and did I say DAHLIAS!!  We had a great time picking out the colors we thought people would like so come in and see if we picked right!

Potatoes, onions, strawberries (bare root) and asparagus (bare root) are all due in the first weeks of April – weather dependent. 

All of the nursery stock and perennials should start arriving at the end of April – again weather dependent.  We don’t want to lose everything to a hard freeze!  We have a special emphasis this year on native and pollinator plants as well as an extensive list of permaculture and homestead plants that includes fruits and berries.  Really can’t wait for the season to get started!

Now for a bit of science – with a couple of links if you’re curious…

I took the store to the NOFA Winter Conference in late February…and got to listen to two fantastic lectures (and answer a whole lot of questions at our booth!). 

The first lecture was by Dan Kittredge of the Bionutrient Food Association (BFA) and his report on the results of the last 5 years of data collection on the nutrient variability found in our food supply.  People have been curious for years about whether there are differences in food quality and Dan can now report that YES!!!! that is the case indeed! There are differences and they are measurable!  He used the common carrot as the demo – fascinating!  Here’s a link to the website if you get curious – The Bionutrient Institute - Who We Are — The Bionutrient Institute - Understanding the Science… From Field to Plate. We’re also looking at bringing this information to the region…

The second workshop was run by James White, PhD.  He’s a researcher at Rutgers University and studies the relationship between roots and endomycorrhiza. I know this sounds esoteric - and it is!!  But it’s also cutting edge about how healthy plants engage with their soil system.  He had great slides about how roots grew when mechanically stripped of their microbe partners – they didn’t. And had even better slides of roots fully colonized and how truly active that microscopic zone of the rhizosphere is.  Here’s a link if you’re curious - James F White's lab | Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (Rutgers) .

The questions we answered at our booth were largely grouped around the pictures of William Albrecht’s rabbits.  Many of you have seen these pictures since I use them for all the soil classes! Bet you could have answered the questions too!  Here are the pictures in case you want a refresher.  They tell the story of soil health in a very clear way – and mammals are mammals are mammals…Quality of the food supply drives the health of the organism – always has – always will.  It’s a marvelous concept actually! 

And a note from me…bone is bone is bone…it matters what’s in the soil!!!!

And that’s enough science for now!!

We’ll wrap this up with a short list of things to keep in mind as the season opens up…

• We are still in drought (yes, I know you think there’s been plenty of snow!).  Much of the snow volume wasn’t high in water volume.  In fact, that first storm had so little moisture in it that the goats and horse did NOT use it for moisture – they stuck to their water buckets – really interesting to watch (if slightly horrifying!!). Trees and shrubs that were having a rough time of it in the fall will need help as they come out of dormancy.  Slow deep watering will be needed if the weather pattern continues as it is now.

• If you’re starting seedlings, don’t forget that if they aren’t getting much direct light, you may need to add additional lighting as plants that have stretched in their search for light don’t tend to transplant well to the great outdoors.

• Soil tests can be a useful asset to manage yard challenges – and a complete soil test from UMass is a great way to get started.  Here’s the link - https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/services/soil-plant-nutrient-testing-laboratory

• And – last but not least – PLEASE DON’T CLEAN YOUR GARDENS UP UNTIL THE RED MAPLES BLOOM IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD!!!  I know everyone is fairly frantic to get this past year behind them – I do sympathize!  Really, I do!!  BUT, that’s not how the outside world is “thinking”.  It has no choice but to come alive in its own time.  That means that when you clean down gardens and edges too early, you can do ENOURMOUS damage to local insects and amphibians.  Please be kind and let them wake up as they’re supposed to do!

  
  

Here’s the list of programs for the next few weeks – some are filling fast…

3/21     Designing a Productive Home Landscape 1:00-2:30pm

Your home landscape can be much more than eye candy for the realtors.  You can design for all kinds of projects from wildlife and pollinator support to fruits/ veggies/flowers – with more than a nod to soccer and baseball training on good quality grass.  Limit 10 – register early! $15          

 3/28    It’s a day dedicated to the chicken!!!!  All day

First up:  Decorating Easter Eggs  10:00-11:30am

We’ll provide the eggs and the colors – you provide the imagination! Let’s face it, colored eggs are a sure sign of spring everywhere that spring arrives! Good for all ages. $10

And Then: Getting Chickens Started Right 1:00-2:30pm

You want chickens?  Learn how to raise healthy chickens and get great eggs! The team of Nyki and Sarah can answer any of your questions and help make you make smart decisions $15 – limit 18 – register early!  

 4/4      Garden to Support Bees, Butterflies, Birds and Other Pollinators 10:00-11:30am

Pollinators are in fairly desperate need of support across the region.  Numbers are falling.  But you can help!  Learn how to make positive changes in your yard, your neighborhood and your town.  There’s LOTS to be done – and you can do it! $15