Ring in the New Year—Time for Garden Work

   As I welcome the New Year I am traditionally gearing up for family "hibernation". Generally when it becomes too cold and very snowy we bunker down, our focus becomes heating the house, more time spent indoors and breaking into the canned goods we have stored from the fall harvest. This year I decided we would shuffle things up a bit, and signed us all up for a family membership at the YMCA. We will also have some increase in outdoor activity, well that is if there is deep enough snow, for snowshoeing. If the snow doesn't pile up we've got a couple of new scooters to try out, and if all of those activities aren't enough to get us through the winter blues…well then there is always garden plans! 

    Our gardening plans seem to start when the previous garden ends, with the harvesting of seed garlic and planting of garlic cloves in early November. Late December and early January tend to be the onslaught of garden catalogs. We begin envisioning the garden, and deciding on what we try this year. Last year it was Luffa Gourd which did not fare very well and Parsnips which we decided to leave growing overwinter. This year will be the second year that I will take on the responsibility of Garden Coordinator at Thomas Prince School.    
    Already there is winter rye from a fall planting, protecting the soil from the winter it will add much needed nitrogen for spring planting. Also at the school garden there several perennials; strawberry, rhubarb, chives, lavender and catmint. We will meet in late January with a team of teachers, and decided on garden design and additional vegetable plants to grow. Beginning sometime in March and April the teachers will engage their students in planting seeds, whether it is inside, or outside the will all have their hands deep in soil! The students are able to harvest strawberries, lettuce, early peas and radishes for a nice salad before the end of school. The majority of the harvest is over the summer by family volunteers and during the fall when students return to school. There is so much to learn from gardening, particularly vegetable gardens that I find myself learning something new at least each season!