Because We Couldn't Plant ...

The ground remained soppy. Jadon and I planted about 100 bulbs, slipping in the mud, hoisting heavy bulb planters caked with mud, tromping around in shoes heavy with mud. Once we reached swales with surface water still running, we gave up.

Instead, as Phil and I talked about what to do in the market garden, we came to a surprising conclusion: we are not satisfied with the placement of the road, with the water runoff of the various swales. We had taken the advice of a friendly expert about nine months ago, and, as we've learned more about water management on the land, we've seen that our starting point was incorrect.

One benefit of running out of time and money before planting the market garden to perennials: we have little we must move in order to redo the layout.

So Phil and I laid out new swales. From the very first one, we grew excited: "This feels right!" And then, as we progressed, the angles of water movement continued to match what seemed to make sense; the road placement shifted precisely as it should.

After some discussion, we agreed to leave some of our slope as it is. Our lovely planting of ryegrass, with swales planted to daffodils and places for future blueberries, will stay as it is.

After such drastic shifting, Phil headed off to fix the tractor (a part on the three point hitch finally broke late Saturday).

And the boys and I, in lieu of anything productive to do outside, continued our progress through The Complete Calvin and Hobbes. I get such a kick out of the absolute exuberance of the boys when it's time to read. All of them wiggle and giggle and bounce with glee.

And in those rare strips where Calvin and parents, or Calvin and Hobbes, celebrate life and relationships, Jadon says, without fail, "That was a nice one!" And he's right.