Spring McSprunglington

We've been having quite the favourable weather here in Nelson this last week: warm, sunny days accompanied by gentle, mild breezes. I just returned from a trip out east (southern Ontario), where the style of wind and precipitation were—to be frank—totally uncool. Granted, there were a few springlike days now and then, but as I was leaving it was all snow and bone-chilling winds. Compared to Toronto, Nelson feels like a walk in the park. Well, a hike in a park, to be more precise.

The crocuses are in full bloom here, and we have snowdrops that have been up for over a month now. Yes, that's me trying to convince you to move here.

I did a tour of all the farm plots today, and was pleased to see a healthy cover crop of rye on a few of them, and garlic vigourously poking out of others. I'm thinking of mulching the garlic again soon, seeing as much of it never was properly mulched, and that which was I now realize needed a much thicker layer. Straw seems to be the most popular choice, but the permaculturist in me wants to use something more local (straw is hard to come by in these here parts). Dry leaves maybe? Any ideas, anyone?

I'm hoping to plant spinach tomorrow in one of my newly acquired plots up the hill. Needless to say, I'm looking forward to getting down and dirty again!