Last week, Steve and I made the drive north a bit to pick up our seeds, plants, and trees at the FEDCO tree sale. Alone, in the car, and shopping for trees for a whole day long - just the two of us. It's a bit of a feat to leave all five babes (not to mention the critters) - but thanks to a fabulous grandmother, one great babysitter and a dear friend, all the kids were more than happy to stay at home. It's turning into a tradition, this date of ours that kicks off planting season. The drive starts out with a refresher on what we ordered ("How many more elderberry bushes did you order, Amanda? Is this a typo?"), as well as strategizing what we might be looking for ("Peaches. I give up on apples, let's add peach trees!" Steve declared on the drive). And then we get to strategizing the season ahead, and dreaming about those that will follow. Making plans for the orchard, the garden, the pastures. Imagining what it will all look like in five years, ten years, twenty.
We arrive home with not just a car full of trees, plants and seeds....but our heads full of plans and ideas. Not to mention all the energy for planting that comes from a long winter such as the one we just had. Once home, those dreams and plans the two of us cooked up get put right into action by a sometimes-reluctant, sometimes-eager, but always willing team of seven. It's planting time.
