April 2026 - on the Mountain

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Spring has sprung early on the Mountain. The ground is bare and snow-free; making April the time to take advantage of the early thaw to get some things done. Man, was it busy. My fingers are already rough and calloused, and Curt got himself a sunburn. I’m wildly optimistic for the months to come, albeit a bit nervous too.

There’s been a noticeable increase in sunlight, and the battery bank has been tiptop. It’s a welcome change; I’ve even been using my electric coffee maker! Though I love taking my time with a pourover, with so much to do, having my pot brewed and ready when I wake up is also pretty amazing.

A new problem presents itself, but a great problem to have. I’m accustomed to hanging laundry on the line, and cooking over fire or propane, but what should I do with this surplus power? What will be the next step in this sustainable solar-powered journey?

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When I winterized the hive in the fall, I kept my expectations low since it’s my first year with honeybees. I used fabric batting and a heavy blanket with air holes for ventilation. To my surprise, they’ve been coming out on warm days en masse! I’ve provided them with sugar water so that they have food before flowers begin to bloom.

Did you know bees poop? I didn’t know to expect a mess of bug poop on the side of my barn when they emerged the first time. Though it looks sticky, it cleans off easily with a wipe. (thank goodness)

We finally installed proper gutters for rain catchment - just in time to catch the only rainfall of the month before things became quite dry. Having water set aside has been a blessing since other usual water sources are already becoming scarce.

The seasonal upper spring, which usually starts to run this time of year, has already stopped flowing. This is a problem because the lower spring isn’t running very much either. It seems like it’ll be a very dry season on the mountain, which is concerning and brings back memories of the beast in Fort McMurray. It’s time to plan for the worst, just in case.

Part of the fire prevention plan is to put gravel around buildings, but bringing gravel up here isn’t easy. The road is too treacherous for a large delivery truck, and the Tacomas can’t carry much. Curt found someone willing to bring gravel in a 1-ton truck, 2 yards at a time. Now, Curt’s working to spread gravel and landscape as I write.

Future mud seasons should be less treacherous, and the change to the yard will hopefully mean fewer ticks in the house.

In addition to gravel, we’ve begun setting aside rocks to use as garden edging. Though probably pretty boring to read about, seeing the yard looking more beautifully manicured is a really nice change. The edging isn’t just pretty; the mass of rocks also helps keep plants warmer overnight. Once I’ve built my herb spiral taller, I’ll plant perennial herbs in it.

With his girlfriend spending her days keeping a clutch of eggs warm, Screech the rooster is a lonely boy. He’s been moping and lying around most of the days. Sometimes he walks up to me, as if to say, “I’m bored”. I pick him up, tell him he’s a good rooster. Hopefully, in a couple of weeks, Chickchick will hatch some babies, and Screech will have his buddy back.

Curt bought some chicks from the auction. It’s hard to tell much about them until they get some feathers, but I noticed something unique as we put them under the brooder. A couple of them appear to be frizzles, a funny type of chicken with crazy backward feathers. What they’ll look like as adults is a mystery.

I tried to give them to ChickChick, hoping she’d nurture them when she went broody, but no luck - she’s determined to hatch her own brood.

To protect things from frost, I decided to try building a “cold frame” garden bed. Intended for lettuces, I built it in front of the house and seeded right away. Typically, I don’t start planting outdoors until June 1st, and even then things aren’t safe from late frost and hail. To my surprise, little lettuces are already coming up inside it and aren’t being killed by sub-zero evening temperatures. I suspect this successful experiment is going to be a game-changer for gardening on the mountain.

They grow up so fast- The baby bunnies born April first are hopping, eating hard food, and their mum looks ready for some time to herself. It’s amazing how quickly things change on the mountain. I’m in disbelief that April is already over, until I look around at all of the work we’ve done.

It’s a strange kind of spring this year. The wild plants didn’t pop up through the snow, impatient like me for sunny days. Instead, they’re beginning to sprout, and everything seems to be happening all at once. My nettles are almost big enough to start sampling, and I’ve begun keeping an eye out for wild mushrooms.

I’m excited for the season, and what it might bring, the surplus of solar power and the head start, but nervous about how dry it is. For now, I’m hoping for some rain, or even a little snow.