Serendipity

I had a wonderful discovery today as I began a winter chore that I have planned to do this weekend. There is such little time during the growing season for these kinds of projects.

I have a place that was lined with black mesh fabric near my composte bin next to my newly planned out raspberry row.  This area was 40' x 12'.  I always wondered why the previous owner put it there because it seemed to have no purpose.  It was there so long that it was overgrown and unsightly.  I decided to pull it up this weekend and use that area to mow as part of the yard.

The discovery was better than anything I could have dreamed of...underneath was beautiful black, sandy soil with two irrigation lines running the whole length, 4' apart.  All I have to do is tap in several irrigation nozzles to have this area become a beautifully irrigated garden bed!  There was so much dirt I was able to make raised rows! 

My lettuce seed from the fall, which didn't do much, has sprouted early lettuce plants, already with several leaves, in some nearby beds and are over crowded.  They have lasted throughout the winter! I decided to move them to these new rows, since there are 7 more days of moderate weather forecasted.  They have been really taking off early this year and starting to grow some beautiful compact heads of heirloom lettuce. On Feb 1, I am planting my spinach seeds at the far end of this new bed.

This year, I decided to follow the farmer's almanac guide on best planting times according to the moon phases.  I am trying to appease Mother Nature...lest she get angry at me for making bad farming decisions!

Yay for Serendipity!