Well, alright, happy second day of spring. How are you this week? Have you adapted to the time change? I have to say daylight savings time always messes with my sleep, but it sure is nice having those extra daylight hours in the evenings.

It’s been cool and rainy here in Pennsylvania all week. Meanwhile, in Romania, it seems Cheryl is getting more snow. You’ve got to love the weather this time of year. Do I need a jacket? Or a t-shirt? Should I put my winter coat away? Maybe not just yet. 
 

 

Some of you may have noticed that I received a new ‘toy’ in the mail last week. I got a Garden Tower 2, and I am beyond excited to try it out this year. It’s a vertical growing tower that can hold up to 50 plants. 

As an apartment dweller, growing space is a premium. Especially up here on the second floor. So, any opportunity to grow up rather than spreading out, I’m happy to take advantage of. 

I’m even expanding my rooftop garden this year too. I’m tripling its size. 

I can’t remember the last time I was this excited about a growing season. You’ll have to read the article to check it all out. The link is at the end of the newsletter. 
 

 

My friend and I are teaming up and sharing a garden this year. So I get to have access to a patch of dirt to play in. 

 

We were planning it out this week on paper. I had a ruler and colored pencils and was happily plotting everything out on graph paper when I said, “This brings back memories. I’ve been planning gardens this way since I was a kid.” 

He looked at me funny and laughed and said, “Seriously? You used to plan gardens on graph paper as a kid?” 
 

 

Even as young as ten, I remember pouring over seed catalogs and drawing up the fanciest vegetable patches and herb gardens. Few of them came to fruition until I was an adult, but I still enjoyed all the planning. I still do, too. 

How are your garden plans shaping up? Do you have everything ready to go? Or are you one of those wing-it gardeners who plans and plants everything in a single weekend? 

It seems with the time change and warmer weather, everyone is gearing up for the 2021 gardening season, and I just can’t wait. 

Last year we saw so many new gardeners join our ranks thanks to the pandemic and the lockdowns. This year many of them are returning, and even more are getting started. It puts a smile on my face to see so many people dipping their toes into a more self-sufficient way of living. 

Who knows, maybe next year all those new gardeners will add a chicken coop to their backyard. 

Whatever your plans are, you know we’ve got you covered with everything you need to have a successful garden, or to start that new flock of chickens off on the right foot, or what to do with all that produce later this summer. 

 

And in this week's suggested reading, I'll even help you put a popular social media debate to rest. 
 

Here's hoping you enjoy sunny skies and warmer weather this week, folks.