Friends Who Are Green

This time of year I start to get giddy about my seedlings. I usually start oodles of tomato seeds on our enclosed front porch - at first next to a space heater on the floor, then on the wide window sills once the seeds sprout. I get one rush when the sprouts push their tiny heads above the surface of the dirt on translucent trunks, and another rush when the first two opposing leaves form. Their bright green salute signals the start of Spring, for me.

Yesterday, at school, I started some Jalapeños for the school garden. (Most of my tomato babies at home are also intended for the TJMS Community Garden.) At school we have the use of a superfluous light table, though aside from tomatoes and peppers we prefer to sow seeds directly into the garden soil. Tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squashes and melons were plentiful last year. We also grow strawberries, herbs and leafy greens. This year we’d like more peppers. We’re also going to work with the fourth graders next door at Fleet to start several mounds of Three Sisters: corn, beans and squash companion planting like the Iroquois.

While I would still welcome a good blizzard and a half foot of snow (with ensuing snow days), I’m equally anxious for warm sunny days that I can spend outside in the garden.