It's blowing hot and cold with the first real sprinkle of pre-spring--and our gutters are overflowing. You might think it would be a job for my mercurial landlord, but why not harvest the surplus agua to store for the dry days of summer ahead?
Check out RABwork for some creative thinking about rainwater collection, storage and use--not to mention the awesome hydroponic sculptures growing food! Also keep your eyes peeled for the inevitable spring "rain barrel" sales...but why shell out buck one when you can DIY? Lots of ideas are out there. Mid-MEAC has a great selection of resources on this and other topics.
Its almost time to masticate fresh home-grown veggies again! Meantime, what better chance to get in some last licks of true winter comfort food like the homefry venison poutine with broccoli shown above. At The Garden Project's Garden Leaders Training tonight, we heard testimony that at least one gardener's parsley is poking its green shoots from the muddy earth, and some well-mulched chard is generating new growth from the sheltered meristem within.
If it seems like your basement is getting a little wet with the melt off, join the club. Just be glad its not this bad...yet.
Besides, everyone knows those river beds and alluvial moraines (or whatever) provide ideal fertile growing conditions--hence the Lansing Urban Farm Project, with its aim to turn Urbandale into a productive farm. Meanwhile Allen Neighborhood Center has got a large-format FEMA flood map they might let you peek at. NOW IS THE TIME to start seeds for broccoli, cabbage, peppers, eggplant, onions, and other cool-weather or slow-developing crops. Don't say I didn't warn you. You can even get some peas going on St. Patty's Day if you're eager to get sweet tender pods and can't wait till April to get your hands dirty.
Stay tuned for updates from the newly thawed compost pile and other grimy details.
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