Homesteading Middles: Drought in the Autumn = Scant Greens in Greenhouse

This past autumn was very dry. Super super super dry.

Per years past we planted seedlings in the greenhouse in October. We coddled the new plants for a few days. Then the holidays rolled around and we ignored them.

From years past we knew that nothing happened during the dark times of December and January. Instead we looked at the snowdrifts against the greenhouse and snuggled by the fire.

We trusted the ground moisture would seep into the baby roots and feed the growing plants - claytonia, spinach, bok choy. We knew this to be a safer choice for water than potentially freezing the cells of the plants with too much water from a can.

Come February we visited, expecting as in years past a return on our planting songs - a field of greens.

A blanket of verdant glory.

A feast for the tastebuds and the soul.

Instead, blerg.

Barely a third of the seedlings we had so carefully placed had turned into edible glory. Weeds? Thriving.

The ground was rock hard.

It was very disheartening.

So as our scant winter greens enter the time of blooming and bolting we brought in the chickens.

At least they could feast on the doings.

Sigh.

Weather weirding.