25°- 54°F, sunny, calm
Once again it started out clear and icy. The sun is nice but I really miss having running water and a useable toilet. I’ve found the perfect sized bowl that fits perfect in my camper toilet, lined with compostable bags for compost buckets, and I bury them in the woods. It sucks. But it is what it is right now. Pee gets poured into the compost or in the woods.
The sun however is very nice once it warms up to work in. Everyone is enjoying it. The chickens, the pup and kitten, and even a few bees have shown up. I’m sorry bees, that I don’t have many winter blooming flowers yet. I’ll work on that, I promise. I was delighted one these sweet little honey bees landed on my hand. We had a moment of shared joy before it took off again.
I filled up one of the raised beds with soil. 8 bags of my favorite store bought compost which cost $67. Yeah it’s a bit pricy but it’s good stuff. My plants love it and it’s not the Monsanto miracle grow crap. I won’t have to spend that ever again because I’ll be able to top off the beds every year with home made compost and leaves. I could have gotten away with only 6 bags for this first bed. I had estimated I would need 6, but at the shop I second guessed myself and bought 8. It’s extra full but will probably settle once it rains. I figure I can buy enough soil to fill a bed each week so it’s not too much work for my body or too costly at once. After that, I can decided when and how to keep expanding the garden.
I did spend some time cutting out the blackberries along the back of the garden. It’s casting shade into the garden and I want to harness all the sunlight as possible.
Climate Wary Homesteader 