I’m so excited this week! My two favorite signs of spring have arrived! Birds and seeds!
I heard the first flock of birds twittering in our treeline this week. They’re some kind of blackbird but I’m not sure of the name. I am always reminded of Hitchcock’s “The Birds” when they arrive. They’re black and there’s always so many that they cover the trees and fields like a noisy black blanket. Really cool and a little scary. Another sign of spring is watching my husband remove the first bird’s nest from the gutter on the back porch. Unfortunately, the birds cannot live on the porch. Farmer Moke’s language when they poop on the porch would terrify them. Definitely not my favorite sign, but a sure sign as well.
The other, just as fun, event was the arrival of the first package of seeds! We ordered Bull’s Blood beet seeds this year and are hoping to get them in the ground soon. Those beets will be adding great taste to my smoothies in no time! The high tunnel is almost ready for seeds and plants, as well, ramping up my daydreams of delicious homegrown green beans, tomatoes, cucumbers and herbs.
Spring really is a magical time, not just a season; the earth is waking from a long nap and ready to show off. There’s just something so special about spring as a time of rebirth, reawakening, renewal, all those warm, inspirational concepts of opportunity and second chances.
In spring, ancient religions and practices that follow seasonal transformations are all around us – Christians celebrate Easter through Christ’s rising, pagans celebrate Ostara and the fertility and renewal of earth, Judaism’s Passover honors the rebirth of freedom, Hinduism recognizes the arrival of spring and fertility, and then there’s the head-shaking symbolism of the bunny and eggs, both symbolic of fertility and rebirth. I truly do not know how chocolate became involved! Seeds though ... the tiny seed shines as a symbol of all. Seeds facilitate the life of plants that sustain all else – people, animals, insects, birds, bees – we all depend on seeds to produce plants for food, for clean air, for nourishing the earth, for beauty, for medicines, and more. If seeds made noise, it would sound like a Fourth of July celebration all summer!
So, to come back around, we feel so lucky here on our little farm to have the opportunity to reconnect with our roots and our future each spring. Every seed and plant that we drop in the ground feels important, a way of celebrating life. Each year we harvest apples, peaches, pears, berries, grapes, and a cornucopia of vegetables and herbs. We harvest wild plants for medicine and other uses. We trust those tiny seeds with our future—plants that will grow into food and products for our family and community. The farm comes to life. Call it science, call it magic, call it anything you want. It’s amazing!
If I seem to be lost, look among the plants. I’ll be there having a garden party, listening to birds sing and celebrating seeds!
