January 23

Greeting from Forest Creek!

Hope everyone has been staying warm these last few days. Due to our north-east facing hillside, we've had snow over the whole yard for almost a week now!

I finished designing this year's garden just about the time we decided to go ahead and use the upper section this year instead of letting it lie fallow. I've got some more figuring to do now, but I'm glad for the space!

I have ordered and received most of the seeds I'll be starting in the next few months. There's nothing like that 'new-seed thrill' when your seeds finally arrive! The earliest seeds are scheduled to be started in the next two weeks, and, IF everything goes as planned, the year's first produce should be available in mid-late March. Spring will be here before you know it!

Today I'm headed up to Burnsville to attend a shiitake mushroom growing workshop. I'll be starting a number of logs (200!) this spring. It's a slow crop (takes about a year? to get good production), but I'll learn more at the workshop and keep you updated on production.

Have a great week!
-Mollie

January 1 - 5

We got 3-1/3 inches of rain last weekend! Wow, can't remember the last time our stream was that high! It's been really, really cold, so I'm glad to have something to work on inside these days.

As the new year starts, I am finishing up scheduling and mapping out our planting plans for the year. Thank you for all your input! Planning a big undertaking, and surprisingly, planting starts in not too many weeks -- it's time to start ordering seed soon! I'm glad though, there's just about nothing better than getting a box of seeds in the mail -- so much potential and life in each of those little seeds! Of course, right now in the middle of winter, we're planning for everything to work perfectly, without any weeds, droughts, excessive heat, weird late freezes, or anything else. Those things are where the real fun - and work! - comes in later.

Best wishes to you all for the new year!

-Mollie