There have been some tests of human endurance of late. Folks have been complaining about their dwindling wood supplies. Getting from here to there in the yard has been a challenge. After the thaw last weekend and then the serious deep freeze, walking is downright hazardous. Every three or so steps on top of the ice break through to knee deep depths. The anxiety is a bit overwhelming.

I have found Yaktrax to be dangerous in some situations. It is difficult to gain purchase on solid sheets of ice. The little metal coils act like ice skates. Then there is the surprise when trying to walk into a store or home. Forget trying to drive a stick shift while wearing them.

A huge flock of eastern mountain bluebirds has been devouring all the berries on my privet hedge. They are so beautiful with their rosy breasts and dark blue wings.

I order bare-rooted perennials from a company in Michigan. They arrive in April. I plant them in rows at the garden. Then after they grow on, I sell to my garden customers.

I always make my orders by phone to a real human being. We always chat about the weather. We have it worse than they do.

I ordered several cultivars of heuchera aka coral bells this year. Heuchera is an excellent foliage choice for both sun and shade. The tiny bell-shaped flowers, while lovely, are not the best feature. The year-round and colorful leaves make a statement. I use them in pots and as border plants. I went crazy and ordered a variety: caramel, Christa, citronelle, blackberry ice, lime marmalade and pear crisp. I wish I had a job naming plant types or paint.

I transplanted kale, tatsoi, spinach and leeks into larger containers in the greenhouse. I am still not able to get into the hoop house where several varieties of kale and lettuce are actually holding their own. They will be available in a few weeks, hopefully.

Meanwhile, I have a nice attached greenhouse to my house thanks to my sons. It has no alternative heat but the sun really heats it up during the day. I have some small spinach and kale to be picked now and several flats of field pea shoots.

The snow is piled up along the sides at least four feet. I think it is acting as insulation. It was 40 degrees in there the other morning and 6 degrees outside. I do have enormous pickle barrels full of water that seem to hold the heat from the midday sun.

In one of my first columns in 2007, I got all steamed about GMOs. I had just heard about the Terminator. Monsanto company had developed a gene which, in effect, terminates the ability of a plant to reproduce. This is, of course, for their own greedy purposes . . . people would be unable to save seed for the next year and would need to purchase from them.

Later in that month I was in a lather about the gene, which is its own pesticide. It kills the Colorado potato beetle as it feeds on the genetically altered potato. Sure makes that potato sound appetizing to me?

Don’t forget, one of Monsanto’s most widely used products . . . the Roundup Ready gene. This allows massive doses of the herbicide to be used and it will not kill the plant. Roundup is, in fact, Agent Orange. Remember how well that worked out for our returning Viet Nam War veterans?

What little we do know about GMOs is troubling at best. The root problem is that giant multinational agribusinesses have now dominated many areas of agriculture.

I must confess this subject makes me a crazy person. Hence, my tendency to wax political at the end of every column. I do get some criticism about this aspect of my writing. Sorry, but it tends to egg me on. I live by the “Rebellion Dogs My Every Step” philosophy.

At least I have the courage to put my name on my opinions.