New York pt. 1

Sowing

Today I sowed some cool-weather crops, so I hope that it stays mild for a bit longer. I planted beets, carrots, lettuce, kale, and mustard. We've had passing thunderstorms recently and again today-- I hope the rain is feeding the seeds and not washing them away!

all this squatting is good exercise!


I'm proud

Here are a few images of my lovely house. I can't take credit for any of the interior design, that is all the work of my housemate Sarah. She has a distinctive sensibility about color and materials and especially likes old objects that have the texture of age. I really enjoy this window full of glass objects, which is constantly but subtly changing.

Mom and Dad-- can you spot the Magic Tree? My one contribution!




The dining room looking towards the kitchen and back yard

First garden!

This past week I began my very first proper vegetable garden. It is very exciting-- I can't wait to put seeds in the ground and look out for the first sprouts. This week I built a compost bin(more like a corral, actually), dug two beds, and today I added lime, fertilizer and compost. This week, I am ready to get some cold-hardy seeds in the ground. I already feel more in tune with the world outdoors, which is waking up to spring-- I hear woodpeckers and chickadees every day, saw the first leaves emerging on our tuliptrees, and felt some raindrops today. I am also thinking more about our household ecology-- how our food scraps will soon nourish the soil, and how we might be able to harvest rainwater.

Garden season

Yesterday I lent a hand to help build a new garden at the Hereford residential college at UVA. This project grew out of my friend Lily's master's thesis work on Jefferson's unrealized plans for a botanic garden at UVA. Lily and her cohort are reviving this intention and beginning with a demonstration garden this spring. We had a productive afternoon under cool skies, and dug 3 1/2 new beds. I hope that the torrential rains today don't wash away all our work!

As the weather warms I look forward to sketching outside again. My new house is near a forested hill, this evening I watched the sun setting and casting golden light on these tulip trees.