Two weeks ago, as I walked across the fallow ground of our El Norte plot, I heard a familiar cry overhead — “kill-dee, kill-dee.” The killdeer had returned.
Two days later, as the sun crept over the horizon, I stepped outside and heard another welcome sound: a bright trill of birdsong from the top of a fence post, winding over the rolling pasture hills.
The meadowlarks were back.
The calendar and weather forecasts can say whatever they like, but for me these two birds mark the true beginning of spring. Soon come the first shoots of green pushing through leaf litter, followed by budding trees and early blossoms. This time of year is such a riot of life and delight.
Speaking of delight…
Over the past six months I’ve been practicing a small habit introduced to me by a friend. Whenever I notice something special — anything at all — I stop what I’m doing, raise my pointer finger in the air, and say out loud:
“DELIGHT!”
Then I pause for a moment to appreciate whatever it is. A butterfly. The first meadowlark. The first ripe tomato of summer.
Often it makes me laugh out loud because I’m so delighted.
This simple practice has increased my joy in the big and small things around me and reminds me to keep looking for delights — because they really are everywhere.
Give it a try. You won’t be sorry.
The other unmistakable sign that spring has arrived is the rapid increase in farm activity.
Over the past month we’ve cleared spent crops from the high tunnels and begun sowing and transplanting spring crops. Fields have been composted, and we’ve started tilling, cultivating, and planting the earliest seeds.
Just this past week we sowed the first plantings of arugula, beets, carrots, choi, peas, salad mix, and turnips.
We’re a little ahead of our usual planting schedule for these crops, but the unusually dry conditions gave us a window and we decided to take advantage of it. Now we’re hoping the forecast rains arrive soon to give those seeds the moisture they need to begin growing.
Meanwhile, the sunroom is packed with baby transplants.
In fact, it’s so full that the hardiest seedlings have already moved out to the small high tunnel to start learning how to be “big plants” and to make room for more tiny seedlings inside.
This is the time of year when the rush truly begins.
Because of our limited indoor space, we grow seedlings on shelves, which means every flat gets moved several times a day for watering and light. Plants are constantly moving in and out — tucked in on cold nights and set free again when daytime temperatures rise.
Tunnels open in the morning and close again in the evening like putting the farm to bed.
It’s a bit manic. There are certainly smarter systems out there, but for now this is the rhythm we know and the spring dance is on!
As I mentioned earlier, the dry conditions this spring are concerning. Our area is already classified as being in Moderate Drought, which is not how we like to begin a growing season.
After last year’s excessive rains, though, the drought somehow feels a little less daunting.
Still, we had a sharp reminder last weekend of just how dry things are. A prescribed burn on a neighboring property got out of control during an unseasonably hot and windy day. Flames spread quickly through winter-dry grasses and timber.
It was a long and frightening day and night.
Thankfully, after hours of effort from family, neighbors, friends, and especially two local fire departments, the fire was brought under control before threatening buildings or livestock.
It was a sobering reminder to always respect changing weather conditions.
There are just a few days left before we close sign-ups on April 5th for our 2026 Bounty Box membership.
If you’re familiar with CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) or farm memberships, you know the basics: members sign up before the season begins and then receive a weekly box of fresh produce throughout the growing season.
But what you may not realize is what happens on the farm the moment someone clicks that “Submit” button on the order form.
That single action tells us something important: another household is counting on us.
It shapes our planting plans, our harvest schedules, and the scale of what we grow.
We thought it might be fun to give you a little peek behind the scenes…
Our 2026 BLOOMS bouquet subscriptions are also open.
From June through August, subscribers receive six (or twelve) abundant bouquets timed with Saturday VegEmail pickups — making it easy to bring fresh, local beauty into your home all summer long.
VegEmail continues every other Wednesday through the end of April (4–6pm in Des Moines and Knoxville).
Then, starting May 2, we return to our weekly Saturday deliveries from 10am–noon.
If you’d like easy access to farm-fresh food without the crowds or guesswork, be sure to join our email list so you receive the weekly order forms.
April 3 – Bounty Box sign-ups close
April 30 – Bounty Box balance payments due
April 30 – BLOOMS sign-ups close
May 2 – Saturday VegEmail deliveries begin
May 30 – BLOOMS payments due
June 2 – Bounty Box deliveries begin
The season is picking up speed now. Seeds are going in the ground, seedlings are stretching toward the light, and the meadowlarks are keeping watch from the fence posts.
There is plenty of work ahead — and plenty of delight to be found along the way.
That’s about it for now. If you have any questions or comments, be sure to let us know.
Best from the farm,
Jill & Sean (and the whole BGF crew)
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