Spring Greens

Hoop House Compost Material

“I saw another sign of spring!”  This is the battle cry against any lingering winter at my house. My children are very into pointing out the signs- a warm day and short sleeves, crocuses in the green grass, twittering birds, pussy willows and forsythia, daffodil buds, a bee, and lots and lots of fresh air.  Our windows are now open at night to hear the spring peepers. The buds on the trees are showing a little color, a tinge of pink and green.  I have seeded spinach and peas in freshly raked beds prepared with a layer of crumbly compost.  But I am enjoying salad greens from the hoop house above and beyond anything else.

We have been eating our own greens for about a month now, but the warm weather of the past couple weeks has made them abundant.  There is a lettuce mix and spinach that was seeded in the fall, chives, arugula and miner’s lettuce.  Whatever was in my salad bowl this winter is not worthy of mention compared to what graces it now.  I am not sure how to describe how wonderful these greens are and do them justice.  I stroll out to the hoop house, colander in hand and start grazing like a hungry, growing lamb.  The bounty feels decadent.

Greens is not all the greenhouse is providing this spring.  There are lots of weeds, one large patch in particular, that for once I am pleased with.  I am not sure what the weed is, but it comes up easily, is not rhizomatous and has not gone to seed, making it great green material for my ComposTumbler, at a time of year when green material is lacking.  I also trimmed the rye grass I seeded in the pathways last summer.  It was almost a foot tall, making it fantastic green compost material as well.

Spring is happening around here.  There is a little harvesting, more seeding, some composting and multiple daily trips through the perennial beds to see what has emerged.  There is something new everyday.  At times I feel like we are entering the growing season with unstoppable speed.  I panic with so much to accomplish and then I set myself straight.  What I have been waiting for is here and I am loving it.