And if winter comes…

can spring be far behind?

The days are already a bit longer.

The earth gently turning, tilting as El Nino does his thing so that currents thousands of miles  away alter jet streams and climate patterns. All across the globe.

For the gulf coast, its been a mild winter,  with rain, too much some time. Today its blustery and cold, reminding me that those inland are not mediated by the dirty, but vital broad span of water just south of me. A lot of my friends and loved ones are watching their yards and gardens rest, blanketed by ice and snow.

See:

Photo credit: D. Cartwright, cousin, Arkansas

So let’s just dream about what comes next.

Because its very certain, that spring will come indeed, the sun will warm the soil and some of you will be itching to get your hands dirty.

I’ve discovered two things:

1. If you garden, which means you weed, you need to get something called a circle hoe. It’s amazing. A gardener, Ralph Henningsen, invented it, perfecting it over several years. It’s well made and reasonable. For a while they were out of production, but they are back in business. I talked to him over the phone. He’s a nice guy.
2. If you garden, it means you like dirt and I have finally found the best bagged dirt. Ever. Just like weeding, there is no end to soil amendments. I first found Kellogg Garden Organic at the Home Depot down by my Josh’s. They certainly didn’t have it at the one close to me. No matter which product I have gotten, I love it. I wish I could buy it by the F450 load. You should buy this stuff. It’s addicting. (Which means I hoard it. Sort of. Let’s just say I can’t pass it up when I see it.)

Let me know if you have any problems. (I will commiserate with you. I had to wait 6 months for my circle hoe.)

Editors note: Pineknot Farm and Lab receives no monetary gains from these suggestions. So you can be more confident how MUCH I REALLY DO LIKE THEM!