This week at ABC acres, we have been thoroughly enjoying the continued melting of the snow and ice, and the relatively warmer weather. At this point in the winter, anything on the thermometer above the freezing point feels rather mild and lovely, and promises the first signals of spring in just a few short weeks. Partially due to the way the weather played out, and partially from some of the permaculture design principles we have put into place in the landscape, we are even enjoying some pre-season greenery, which is more than welcome after what felt like endless weeks of snow, ice, and short gray days.
As I was going about my daily livestock care routine this week, I noticed some of our landscaping appearing from out of the receding snow. The particular planting area is just off one of the parking areas adjacent to the circle drive that is the center of the main courtyard of the farm’s infrastructure. Nestled in between two large stones, a thyme plant showed off its green foliage, even as the snow continued to melt around it. I pulled off a small sprig of it, crushing it between my fingers, and then raised it up to my nose, and was quickly rewarded with the rich fragrance of the fresh herb. It was as if the plant never skipped a beat through the weeks of being buried under feet of snow. The thick blanket of snow, however, insulated the thyme from the coldest of winter days and nights. The large stones may very well have further buffered the herb, with their thermal mass somewhat moderating the ground temperature.
The thyme was such an encouraging discovering, making us as farmers and land stewards all the more excited for the flush of green to come. It also speaks to all the abundance to be enjoyed from the land this year, and for year’s to come, as all the work of designing, installing, and caring for these perennial systems over the past few years are beginning to reach the point of growing and thriving on their own, which has always been the goal and intention for us here. With less and less management, there will be more and more abundance as the systems begin to self-express and offer their regenerative yields to all living things that interact with ABC acres, whether living here daily, seasonally, or just for a short visit.
Blessings,
Grant
P.S. This week’s video features the one and only Tim Southwell in all his charisma and personality. Oh yeah, and he offers a good tip on estimating a hog’s weight, too!
