Muddy footprints of the canine kind begin dotting the hardwood every morning with the livestock guardian dog Stanley's ritual of coaxing my wife from her slumber all the while robins begin their morning ritual
of celebrating the sun's daily rise over the McGregor Mountains.
Mud-season, or spring as the non-farming population would call it, has no doubt arrived.
Another winter survived on dreams of the new season's coming. Plans of abundant fields seeded deep into cerebral loam, begin to germinate as dripping icicles take the highway traveled by all glaciers.
Daily routines include coddling of nature's photovoltaic receptors (veggie transplants) in anticipation of the stored energy known as fruits and roots begin as greenhouses warm.
Farmers are the true green energy engineers, attempting to maximize the solar energy storage and efficiency of the 4.3 billion year old genetic restructuring resulting from trial and error.
All winter shrouded in darkness and absence of sun's warming rays, warmed only by the past-stored solar energy radiating from a cast iron box, the organic farmer plans the new year, plans to maximize production with given resources beneath the feet and above head.
Maximizing food, for passion, for income, for the neighbours, for the future, all the while politicians quibble over sustainable energy and needs for more jobs to gain our votes and in turn for our dollars, yet they eat the imported sunshine from far away places in the form of fresh fruit during winter months. Fresh fruit in winter months is the problem not being addressed.
Meanwhile, the glacier moves faster to the sea and the sea to the glacier.
Anyway, now what plants you should be coddling as planting season creeps closer is what you really need to know.
Basil, squash, pumpkin and cantaloupe are going to be started, according to our calendars this week. Zucchini, cucumbers and cabbage all get their start to life next week.
For the basil, ensure it is plenty warm and don't place
it in the greenhouse just yet unless your greenhouse is heated.
A cold stunted basil will never recover. It is funny how this plant that can be so finicky here and yet I recall in university it essentially being a weed in the backyard.
Basil will take nearly a week to germinate, while your zucchini, squash and cukes will germinate within three days if your temperatures are warm enough.
Happy seed starting, Prince George.
