More signs of spring at the farmette

It's a sunny, warm (finally) day at the farmette. Supposed to get to 26C! It seems we go straight from winter to summer in this part of the world. We'll still have some frosty nights, though, I'm sure. The annuals will stay tucked in where it's safe for now.

Rob and I are ramping up the gardening this year. Okay, just a bit, actually.

Last week, sister Sandy asked if I wanted some strawberry plants since she was thinning hers.

Of course! Can't say no to 'free' as someone once said. The problem was that my beds and gardens are pretty packed already. So Rob suggested we 'grow' another raised bed. So we did.

On Friday, Sandy and I did some volunteer work renovating the beds for the Day Away program for seniors in Markdale.

While I was gone, Rob got to work with the chop saw and made the bed with wood left over from last year, when our handy man Bill made my vegetable beds. It took two of us for the final assembly, and then we toted it from the workshop to the west side of the fence yesterday. It's now adjacent to two other raised beds which are growing raspberries and garlic.

In the mean time, the strawbs were cooling their roots in my new greenhouse.

After lining the bed with garden fabric, we put in a huge pile of topsoil (bought cheap at the Hanover Home Hardware), the strawbs, and some chopped straw for mulching (from the local Co-op). We probably won't get fruit this year, but look forward to a crop next year.

We also noticed another real sign of spring.

What we think is a phoebe decided that the top of the downspout on the deck was a dandy spot for her nest.

We're trying very hard not to disturb her, but she's right next to the water hose. Fortunately we also have a rain barrel farther away at the back of the garage. Which will do for watering in plants for now.

Apparently, it only takes three weeks once the babies are hatched before they fledge. So we can wait.

Yay for spring. Yay for free strawberries (thanks Sandy). Yay for living at the farmette where life is busting out all over. Until next week.

Gratuitous cat photo courtesy of Hobbes who is chilling in his regular spot on the back of my oversized chair.