On the Farm

Here is a list of things we've been doing:

• starting more seeds blocks of lettuce, lots of cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower

• sprouting potatoes to put in the ground in the next couple of days

• transplanting onions, broccoli, cabbage, kale, lettuce

• planting seeds: lettuce, radishes, turnips, mustard greens

• harvesting greens and radishes for Spring Shares

The coming weeks will bring more of the same. The push to get crops in the ground as the soil temperature goes up is relentless at this time of year.

We also collected the four beehives we ordered when there was snow on the ground. Last year we were too late with ordering and didn't have any bees. We noticed their absence in lower pollination rates. We were excited and relieved to bring the bees home and set them up in their hives, knowing they will partner with us for the summer.

Our township collects garbage and recycling on Saturday mornings. Well, this last week Bill was sorting through stuff that had collected in the back corner of a long, dark shed. And he stepped on a nail! It went through his work boot into his foot about a half inch. He hopped on one foot until he pulled it out. Liam helped him hobble to the house to get it cleaned. After bandaging it, he made the trip to the township yard with Liam to unload the truck. By the time he got back, it was really sore.

At the end of the next day, a little tired and in too much of a hurry to get done covering newly transplanted broccoli, Bill burned the palm of his hand on the hot muffler of our walking tractor. Trying to support himself with a wounded foot as he knelt to the ground to remove a dual wheel, he put his hand on what he thought was the air intake. Actually, it was the hot muffler. He howled and was again was hopping around - this time holding his hand. Liam bounded across the 100-foot rows to get the water hose. A lot of cold water and some burn cream later, Bill was in better shape.

We went to bed sobered. We often walk through life, busy with tasks at hand, not realizing how vulnerable we are to injury. Yet, how could we be conscious of it all the time and still get anything accomplished? But then in the space of not much more than 24 hours, Bill suffered two fluke, yet potentially, serious accidents. He is healing quickly, and it hasn't affected our schedule much. But it certainly got our attention and gave us a chance to recognize our fortune.