Judith Pettingell

I looked forward to being a part of this effort but have found that my mind is distracted and my plans to feature our/my connections with the environment and how I support that wasn't something I felt called to document. I still cleared the earth, worked in healthy materials from 3 compost bins, planted early hardy seeds (pea pods, chard, Kale ,carrots, and lettuce) as I also worked on a schematic for how to get the most from my semi-raised beds. I pruned fruit trees  (apple, plums, peaches, and apricot) as well as raspberry and blueberry bushes will pulling out weeds from the very moist soil, the best time to get out weeds with very long tap roots. I dug up and clipped off the roots extending far from the "mother" trees that like the soil where my gardens grow, sometimes more than 30 - 40 feet away. A good amount of an invasive species is no longer on my property and I'm trying to figure out out what vegetables and fruits (tomatoes are fruits) might be tucked in around my flower beds. So at the end of the day I can sort of see where I've been (although only the lettuce and rhubarb are now showing) but I know from some  good aches and pains (usually felt more so the next morning) that I've accomplished more than it seems.... so I'm doing what I set out to do in March , just not in an organized and with a recorded methodology. I'm writing this as more than half of April is over watching the snow coming down quickly, at a semi-melting stage, but sticking to the ground a bit. And wonder whether  with gratitude I'll hear the sounds of the peepers and owls at tonight just before bedtime.   It's not hard to love the earth......