Let Your Garden Grow

Sustainably Sadie

Let Your Garden Grow

Sure there’s still snow on the ground, but we can all feel the rumblings of Spring under the frost.  It’s no joke that 40 degrees Farenheit is T-shirt weather for us Montanans and whether we are deep cleaning, airing out the place, or sharpening the garden tools, we are getting ready for Spring! 

Seed catalogs arrive to inspire “Aahhh” and “Oohhh” and “Can I grow blueberries?”  All stores have seed packet displays front and center- ready to cash in on the deep desire for warmer, fruit-producing weather.  My Sustainable Tip for these late-Winter temptations—Give in!  Try planting something indoors on the windowsill (South-facing).  Buy a seed packet from a local source, day dream as you flip through a gardening magazine, and start mapping out your 2013 garden. 

We are 13 weeks away from Memorial Day, which could potentially mark the end of freezing night temps-- Here in SW Montana, we could have frost well into June.  So if you want to start something indoors that you will sow into your garden, you probably want to hold off for a few weeks before seriously starting plants indoors.  But you can start planning.  Start your Garden Journal now and you might actually get some entries jotted down—come summer, you’ll be too busy enjoying the warm weather to sit and write down details in your Gardening Journal. 

I wouldn’t spend the bulk of your Gardening Budget just yet, but with $10 or less, I know that you could do some small-scale gardening that will satisfy the craving to toil in the soil.  I believe you could start Kale indoors that you could plant into raised beds in May.  Kale is a hardy green with an anise-like bite.  I like to sauté Kale with garlic.  It is also great in salad, wraps and soup with sausage and potatoes. 

Start some herbs on the kitchen window sill.  Basil, Rosemary, Parsley, Oregano, Thyme, try something new.  Start Greens or Sprouts—there are many articles out there right about sprouts and you can grow them easily in the kitchen. 

Or have fun creating fake flowers.  Perhaps paint bright, colorful wooden flowers that you can stick in your flowerbeds.  Make flowers that you can use for decorations come Easter.  Do some drawing with the kids; give a tissue paper bouquet to someone special.  Playfully anticipate the coming Spring.  Share your ideas at www.facebook.com/SustainablySadie or at the blog, www.sustainablysadie.blogspot.com.  Thanks for reading!

Twin Bits

Weds. Feb 27: Mark Matthews will teach History of Social Dance and

dances at TBHS in the morning and SHS in the afternoon. Community Barn

Dance 5-8 pm. in the Square Building of the Fairgrounds. Please bring

a dish to share at a potluck supper before the dance! Music by Broken

Strings Band of Bozeman, with local fiddler Savanna Stewart sitting

in. Courtesy of your English and History Departments.

 

Thurs. March 7: Juniors Heritage Fair at Parent/Teacher Conferences,

Sheridan Schools Elementary lunchroom and gym from 4-7 pm.

The next TBCA meeting will be Friday, March 8, 8:30 am at The Old Hotel in Twin Bridges.  

From TBS Calendar:

Wed Feb 27:  Spring Picture Day; Madison County Spelling Bee @ Alder Community Center

Feb 28- March 2:  State Girls’ Basketball Tournament @ Belgrade

Sat March 2:  Little Guy Wrestling Tourney @ Main Gym

Wed March 6:  Booster Club Mtb @ MT Room, 6 pm

Thurs March 7:  Butte Science Fair, Grades 5-8; Ramblin’ Rose Group Practice (Sherrie High) @ MP Gym, 7 pm

March 7- March 9:  State Boys’ Basketball Tournament @ Bozeman 

I am here to promote activities and events in the Ruby Valley.  Please contact me at sustainablysadie@hotmail.com, call me at 684-5222 or snail mail: P.O. Box 491, 59754.