March 4, 2008

It’s a time of transition at Commonweal Garden. Wintertime activities like pruning are coming to a slow close and we are beginning to sow the seeds for the summertime crops. The days are growing ever so slightly longer and the sun is cresting over the ridge earlier each day. We’ve had a lot of good youthful energy on the land with a visit from 30 residential students of the Wilderness Awareness School in WA and 15 high school students from Marin Academy. They helped the farm staff and the RDNA students with various regenerative projects such as pulling scotch broom and pampas grass, as well as weeding and forking garden beds. Preparing ourselves for the upcoming bounty of plant
starts we are prepping beds full tilt. And many hands do make light work!

Not only are human hands helping with the soil preparation, our chickens are also getting in on the fun and took their first ride of the season in the chicken tractor (pictured here). This contraption allows us to get the birds into the garden beds so they can scratch up the soil and snack on the bugs that like to feast on our plants.

The land is literally buzzing with energy as the bees emerge from their winter dormancy. Just like us they
are taking advantage of the beautiful and fragrant flowering plum trees. We think they are as excited as
we are about the upcoming beekeeping workshop in late March. Come out and join us as we celebrate the growth
of light and life!