I know that the Worm Moon is named for the helpful critters churning around in the soil after winter's break, but I can't help but think of Big Worm (aka Big Perm) from Friday every time I read it on my calendar.
This month has been bumpin' with no sign of slowing down for the next few weeks. My Pappy always said, "Don't put off for tomorrow, what can be done today." which became my motto this month. I finally weeded the prodigious garlic beds, picked up errant sticks, and did some reluctant mowing where I could. I planted spindly blueberry bushes, and fruit trees in the North garden, poor critters purchased from the Soil and Water Conservation district. The small paper tags fell off the twigs almost immediately after I loaded them into the back seat, so it was a fun afternoon of digging holes and making guesses. We'll see what comes up. There isn't anything in a garden that can't be undone, so I just don't sweat perfection or control as much anymore.
My year's worth of cardboard I had been hoarding like a dragon finally got put to use. I laid a thick layer close to the house facing West. It will kill out everything under it and I'll get a clean slate to lay gravel on. My mountain of cardboard didn't even cover half the space I needed it to, which was a bummer. You can't be skimpy with the cardboard though, I've learned from former failure and we both know I'm not yanking up all that turf by hand so back to cardboard hoarding.
My fall planted friends all pulled through and the daylilies I mass planted to naturalize a slope are showing new greens. I gave the roses a haircut and trimmed back the tree that tries to take my eyes out by the compost corner. This week, the wisteria have come back and I surprised myself knowing that is was about 2 weeks later than last year. I've never stayed in one place long enough to notice changes. The daffodils lived and died whole lifetimes this month and the azalea buds are bursting for their short season show. I hacked the azaleas that circle my water oak back to bits last fall and unfortunately, they look like they survived.
My walks take in the signs of life and also register a punch list as long as my arm. The priority has been preparing for this market season. I've enjoyed the rhythm of working with plants and making medicines. Crafting these products has been a real labor of love and I hope they bring health and happiness into the lives of good people. I especially had fun with the packaging. I wanted to use only upcycled materials and stick to my zero waste guns. While taste is extremely subjective, I think they turned out cute or at least cuter than what I made last year.
So last year I sold plants - veggie, herb, and flower starts as well as house plants. I had maybe a dozen upcycled type items, but different markets have different rules about what can be sold, so I met some limitations.
This year I am super excited to offer more than 100 unique apothecary and pantry items in addition to plant offerings. I have shifted to more medicinal plants and I'm opening a vegetarian kitchen with a seasonal menu of Mississippi grown produce. Coming up with recipes that showcases what we have available locally and supports other small businesses has been extremely rewarding. Even if nothing sells and I am eating my way through 500 servings of Everything Bagel homemade hummus (not a bad way to go!), it's been a worthwhile experience just get myself further off the grid of our broken food and healthcare systems. The most patriotic thing you can do is develop a relationship within your local food chain. Grow it or know it!
