Somewhere
a black bear
has just risen from sleep
and is staring
down the mountain.

- excerpt from Spring by Mary Oliver

It is April, and the farm—like the black bear—has stirred from its winter slumber. The limelight hydrangeas are greening up after their annual spring haircut, the ranunculus are filling the world with color, the bachelor buttons are budding up…and the grass is growing. It’s spring!

The crew is slim at this time of year, but metaphorically speaking, we are all staring down the mountain. In other words, we are busy preparing for the warmer temperatures and a productive summer season. We are trying like mad to get ahead of the weeds (that apparently don’t care to take the winter off) and seeding countless flats of all your summertime favorites. Okay…we actually do count them. Since we starting seeding in May, we have filled 417 trays with 34,018 seeds and 2,460 plugs. Our little greenhouse is bursting at the seams, and caterpillar tunnel for overflow is already at max capacity. It’s time to plant!

It has been wonderful seeing so many of you at Bel Air Farmers Market the past two Saturdays. Make like a bear and enjoy the spring!