By LYNNE IRONS

It’s happened again. I squandered many perfectly decent days this winter and never cut back some of the perennial beds. Now, snowdops and crocuses are pushing up through the debris. I am in the proverbial dilemma. Do I rake now and risk damaging the bulbs, or throw some mulch on the entire situation and call it a day?

By LYNNE IRONS

My kitchen sink is clogged! I am using the time while waiting for the plumber to monitor my water usage. I have been hauling the dishpan outside and emptying it on the garden. I use a biodegradeable soap (Shaklee Basic-H) so it is perfectly fine on the still dormant plants. I have, for years, been priding myself on being very thrifty with water. I turn it off while teeth brushing, take ridiculously short showers, never let it run while doing dishes, and have installed a water-saving toilet.

Kudos to Andrew Woodruff and the laborers at Whippoorwill Farm. I went to the final community supported agriculture pickup of the season last Friday. I don’t belong to CSA as I grow plenty of food myself. I wanted to support the farm last week and check out what was being offered. It was a chilly day especially in the shady open farm stand. Other customers went about their weighing and measuring hastily with no time for idle chitchat. Those heated vehicles were calling to them.

By LYNNE IRONS

By LYNNE IRONS

I have had it with the produce aisle at the local market. Now granted, the food is arranged in a pleasing fashion and there is certainly a large variety of choices. I can’t stand the fact that it is all shipped here from across the country or around the world. I think about the scene in East of Eden when the boxcars of rotting lettuce further alienated James Dean from his father!