Hello there, Rural Sprout readers,  Yesterday was cold and sunny, the perfect day to work outside. I replaced the straw in our hens’ nest boxes and added new
shavings to the coop. The girls did their part and helped out in the garden. During the growing season, they aren’t allowed in. They would create havoc. But once we close the garden in the fall, we leave the gate open for them.  They spent most of the day in the garden, scratching in the soil and eating every last bug they could find.  I told them to be sure and get all the Colorado potato beetles, flea beetles and cabbage loopers wintering over
from last season. We fought with all three last year, and while it was a draw with the potato beetles and the loopers, the flea beetles won. We had a poor crop of eggplant.  But it’s a new
year, and like most gardeners, I’m filled with fresh hope for the coming season.  This year, I expect quite a bit more color. Each season I plant more and more flowers among my veggies. It makes my garden feel friendlier when I’m out there playing in the dirt. Plus, I get the bonus
of attracting more pollinators to the garden. And as each year passes, it feels less like I’m starting from scratch and more like a spring sprucing-up.  That’s the beauty of no-dig
gardening.  I said I had a little something just for our newsletter subscribers, so I don’t want to keep you waiting. One of the articles I wrote this week looks at some important questions to ask yourself as you’re planning your garden for the year.  As I was
writing it, I thought it would be handy for you to have a pen and paper so you could take notes. And then I thought, how about I whip up a little download with the questions all laid out with room for you to write your answers, a place for notes, and a grid for planning your garden.   You’ll find the link to download the pdf below with the links to the article. I hope you find it useful as you’re reading. Â
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It's hard to imagine, but there are plenty of gardens out there that are making climate change worse. Find out if yours is one of them, and how to fix it.Â
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You only need one reason - it's stunning.Â
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This article was so popular we revamped it with five more plants you should prune before warmer weather arrives.
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Planting a stand of milkweed is such an easy thing to do and can have a big impact the more people do it.
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Okay gang, here's the surprise. Click HERE to download a pdf that has all of these questions from this article printed out with room for notes as well as a sheet to draw out your garden plans. Print it out and have it with you as you read the article and you'll get a jump on planning your garden when you're finished.Â
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Did you miss a newsletter or want to go back and read a few for inspiration - Click this link. Don't forget to check out our Facebook page for daily updates.  That's all for this week, Rural Sprout Readers.
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Sincerely, Tracey Besemer Editor Rural Sprout
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