 Photo and article by Donna Iverson March 1 is astrological spring. After an unseasonably warm February, and the same predicted for March, my thoughts are turning to spring greens. A recent walk through my community garden revealed some veggies still showing green leaves. Specifically, members of the Brassica or Cruciferous family have survived our mild winter. In particular, leaves of a broccoli plant and some arugula, or rocket were available for the taking. They may taste a little bitter but are also refreshing and delicious. Dandelions haven’t sprouted yet. But this spring, I plan to harvest a few young leaves and add them to my salads. Other wild spring greens that are edible and nutritious are chickweed, lambs quarters, purslane, wild garlic and mustard. These can be foraged almost anywhere, including urban areas. Usually as April approaches, I prepare my raised bed to plant lettuce. This year, I may do it in March. Fellow community gardeners always warn me that I plant too early. But so far, my lettuce sprouts have survived cold spring temperatures. And I am the first to harvest spring greens for salads. As I prefer the taste of foraged greens, I recently purchased a seed packet of Lettuce Mesclun. My thinking was this garden variety lettuce would most closely resemble its wild cousins. According to Wikipedia, mesclun is a “mix of assorted small young salad greens that originated in France.” The traditional mix includes arugula, leafy lettuces and endive, but might also include baby spinach, collards, chard, and radicchio. My packet of mesclun, which seems to be an American version, includes the following lettuces: Buttercrunch, Red Salad Bowl, Parris Island, Red Sales, and Rouge O’Hiver. These baby lettuces are described as providing a variety of shapes, textures, and colors with a mild flavor. All can be harvested in a few weeks and can be grown indoors as well. Lettuce seeds need light to sprout, so sprinkle them atop some pear pellets or potting soil and place them near a sunny window. They can be transplanted to the yard or garden very soon. As for me, I am eager to get my “hands in the dirt.” It’s been a long winter despite the mild temperatures. But that’s another story.
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 Photo by Lesly De Laat The birds are back in town on Feb. 24, 2024 from 10 a.m. to noon
NEWAYGO, Mich. – The Newaygo Tractor Supply will host a backyard poultry event on Feb. 24, 2024, providing customers with the opportunity to learn how to care for and manage an at-home flock. "The popularity of raising backyard poultry continues to grow year after year," said Mindy Leal, manager of the Newaygo Tractor Supply store. "Many people love the convenience of getting fresh eggs right from their own backyard, but don't know where to start. Our goal is to ensure that anyone who's interested in raising a backyard flock has the resources and information needed to do so." The poultry event, which runs from 10 a.m. until noon, will feature a number of expert event partners to provide customers with guidance. When it comes to raising backyard poultry, Tractor Supply is a one-stop shop, with starter kits, feeders, bedding, heat bulbs and lamps, coops, more. And for the poultry enthusiast, an expanded selection of poultry products is available on TractorSupply.com. This event is open to the public and will take place at 91 W. Pine Lake Dr. For more information, please contact the Newaygo Tractor Supply at 231-652-6030.  Photo from Jeremy Arndt - Heavenly3lues fb site  From the folks at the Center for Hope and Healing Join us for an evening of peaceful relaxing music otherwise know as a “Sound Journey”. Experience deep relaxation amidst an immersive soundscape provided by the soothing resonance of the handpan combined with didgeridoo, gong, guitar, analog synthesizers and more. A Sound Journey is a multi-instrumental experience that will induce physical, mental and emotional relaxation; cultivating a deep sense of calm and inner peace. The musician and composer, Jeremy Arndt from Pentwater, has been fusing the mindfulness based practices of yoga and meditation with his music for over a decade both as a solo artist, and as the co-founder of Settle Into Stillness. Since 2009, he has traveled the globe, with music as his guide, studying different musical traditions and finding a consistent thread of inspiration for his own music. His journeys have taken him to performance stages around the world, in 28 countries and 5 continents. He has shared over 1,000 performances and has collaborated with artists from around the world. His music currently has over 8 million streams on Spotify. The performance will be held March 7, 2024 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm at the Center for Hope and Healing, 601. N. Evergreen, White Cloud. The cost is $35 per person. Please pre-register using the QR code or contact Beth Keloneva, [email protected] Note: Older children are welcome to this experience, but they must respect the environment and be able to lay 90 minutes peacefully. Come celebrate over 12 years of leading Sound Journeys worldwide! |
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