Two days ago it was about 80, and gardeners were happily getting their gardens ready, even planting some early crops. Even yesterday morning it was in the mid 60’s. Not bad at all, just the kind of weather that gets a gardener’s green thumbs itching to work with seeds and soil. By afternoon yesterday, things had gone 180 degrees the other way. The temperature had dropped to the upper 20’s, and heavy snow was coming down so hard that it was difficult to see very far.

Fortunately, there was enough advance warning that gardeners were able to cover anything that had started to sprout with thick layers of leaves, tarps, even old blankets, before the snow started, so their gardens should survive this quick but short reversal to winter. It also helps that it didn’t get near as cold as predicted, staying in the upper 20’s instead of diving into the very low 20’s.

The gardeners are already excited about the upcoming garden season and the workshops; they are particularly eager about the food preservation workshops. Even those who have been preserving food for years are looking at what they might learn that’s new. Seems like even experienced gardeners learn something they can use at the workshops, no matter how long they’ve been gardening.

Another thing that’s nice with our workshops is how it’s the gardeners who actually do the workshop as they share their experience, knowledge, and thoughts. Have a plant that’s not thriving? Someone probably knows what to do. Pests? There are people who’ve dealt with just about anything and can share what worked for them that doesn’t require pesticides.

Any way, hopefully March will go out like a lamb, and April will continue as a lamb, giving us a great start to our gardening year.