It’s amazing that a 20 or 30 degree day seems downright warm. The super cold following Christmas reminded me how winters used to be. A few years ago I put solar panels on the house and have been so happy. I have not paid an electric bill ever since — that is until this month. I needed to run an electric heater in the back room to keep the pipes from freezing. Needless to say, I was quite unhappy to write that check.

The good news, however, is the light is noticeably changing. The greenhouse is heating up nicely on a sunny day. I was so inspired this week that I turned on the propagating mats and seeded some onions, pea shoots and leeks.

I still have about a month’s worth of onions from last year’s planting. Also, there are a couple of beds of leeks under hay in the garden. The other day it was above freezing and I attempted to dig a few for supper. What a joke. I practically dislocated my shoulder trying to get into the ground. I have hope for them if it ever thaws a bit.

I neglected to throw a couple bales of hay on the rows of carrots in early December. I do it every year with great success. This year I enjoyed all those 50 degree days as if they would last forever. I’m sure when I ever do get into the ground they will be mush. Oh well. Take my advice — apparently I didn’t use it.

Lyn Weber rang the beginning of the week. She reported her kale survived because she covered it with blankets, boxes and/or trash barrels right before the big freeze. Good to know.

Last week I mentioned that I took pity on the wild birds and set out a few feeders. Their is an incredible amount of activity around them. A huge flock of robins appeared which proceeded to polish off most of the winter berries.

Last Saturday I purchased beautiful spinach from Rusty at Ghost Island. He grew it in a hoophouse, under remay. I believe he planted in September. Hope I remember to do the same next fall. Mine is about one-half inch tall. I didn’t get it into soil until November. Wonder of wonders, however, it is looking great and should be coming around soon.

I never have good luck planting spinach in the spring. It tends to bolt and go to flower at about three inches.

I am still going through the 20 lessons learned from the Twentieth Century from On Tyranny — mostly because there is so little gardening material right now and I’m fed up with all things Trump.

#9. Be kind to our language. Avoid pronouncing the phrases everyone else does. Think up your own way of speaking, even if only to convey that thing you think everyone is saying. Make an effort to separate yourself from the internet. Read books.

#10. Believe in truth. To abandon facts is to abandon freedom. If nothing is true, then no one can criticize power because there is no basis upon which to do so. If nothing is true, then all is spectacle. The biggest wallet pays for the most blinding lights.

#15. Contribute to good causes. Be active in organizations, political or not, that express your own view of life. Pick a charity or two and set up autopay. Then you will have made a free choice that supports civil society and helps others to do good.

#16. Learn from peers in other countries. Keep up your friendships abroad, or make new friends in other countries. The present difficulties in the United States are an element of a larger trend. No country is going to find a solution by itself. Make sure you and your family have passports.