Spring is coming!

So the signs are here.  Everything is beginning to wake, as we launch head long towards Ostara and the Spring Equinox.  The birds are singing, the creatures are awakening, as are the weeds and my beautiful blue bells.  We took advantage of the lighter evening and stayed out quite late tackling a job we have been putting off, the veg plot.  This year we're not starting our veg from seed and have decided to buy our plants in from a company called Rocket gardens.  We're expecting our first delivery in May so we have to get the beds ready.

 They needed some serious digging so of course we got Youngling involved.  Some of the best parts of life as a home ed family is the chance to learn hands on skills.

 Our compost heap had lots of learning potential.  We found, giant spiders, woodlice, centipedes and a million worms of all shapes.

 Youngling tried out the Hoe and enjoyed smashing up all the big lumps.

 Here she is with a fat juicy worm.

Next she used the Secateurs to cut down some rasberry canes.  We allow both our children to use tools, but always teach safety.
  So looking forward to this year.  Ostara always brings joy to me.  Its a time of new starts (My birthday is at this time), the dead dark earth is springing to life at a furious pace, we even saw our first butterfly today.  Its the promise of warmer days, sunshine and bountiful goodies from the garden.  Our favourites are the many fruits we grow.  We have rasberries, grapes,  strawberries, goosies, currents, rhubarb, apples, and are hoping for our first crops of plums and sloes this year too!  I always feel lighter and happier in general around this time and i can't wait for the fun we'll have in our lovely garden this year.