We have been experiencing an unusually dry spring. At Slip Away Farm, we do not normally turn on our irrigation systems until mid-May, relying instead on consistent April showers to water in our early crops. Many spring days are spent in rain gear, cold, trying to plant the onions, potatoes, peas and fighting against the wind. If the end of the season was as wet as the beginning, I think we would be less motivated to work on the blustery days, but spring has a certain urgency and, after the long winter months, we are usually eager to move our bodies once again.

This spring is like no other. It has been less windy than usual and very sunny. My brother-in-law says his solar panel system has tracked more sunny days than he has ever seen this time of year. The daytime temperatures have climbed into the 50s, but then we have had a few crashing evening’s dipping below freezing again. And rain has been very infrequent.

We seeded a third of our growing fields to an oats and peas cover crop two weeks ago, but with only one solid rainfall since then, the crop is not germinating. The longer it takes to sprout and become established, the more damage is done by the pesky geese who frequent our field and pull up seeds to eat. Rain is in the forecast for later this week; our fingers are crossed.

The past few days have felt more springlike, a bit on the cold side and requiring warm sweaters and wool hats. In our house, we are still lighting our woodstove in the evenings, but I am eager for the days when we can once again open our windows wide.

On a few of the warmer days, the chorus of pinkletinks (peepers for the off-Islanders) have been heard on Chappy. This time of year, as I pass between Jerry’s and the farm, I always like to slow down with the car windows open to see if I can catch their song. I have heard them once or twice, but it seems they are waiting for things to warm a little further before making their full spring appearance.

My family and I popped into Mytoi last Sunday. I have not visited in some time, since the completion of the pond project. I love the arch of the new pilings that form the edge of the pond, and I am eager to see what plantings will go into the new ground there. We kept our eyes out for any turtles, but it seems they have not yet returned. We did catch sight of some very tiny (perhaps newly released?) fish. The first of the azalea are blooming, one pink and one purple, and the magnolia, a favorite of ours to visit every April, is heavy with white blossoms. Some of the daffodils in the garden are out, with others coming along behind them.

If you live on Chappaquiddick either seasonally or year-round, I urge you to educate yourself on the Chappaquiddick Wampanoag tribe. The tribe, whose ancestral homeland is Chappy, has a website, chappaquiddickwampanoag.org, and an instagram account @chappaquiddickwampanoag. Both are updated with historic and current information regarding the tribe and its members. If you would like to support their work and reparation efforts, consider donating on their website.

Have a wonderful week, everybody.