Crow blackbirds have arrived on Island. They run and hop around the yard and fields holding their head and keel-shaped tails high. In the right light the feathers on their heads and necks are an iridescent purple-blue and their backs bronzy. I am used to these common grackles arriving around St. Patrick’s Day or the Ides of March. The grackles have a different idea.

I finally sat down and perused a few seed catalogues. I went ahead and ordered peas from Pinetree Gardens out of New Gloucester, Maine. It is my favorite for several reasons. It has simple, non-glossy paper. They don’t give too many seeds. The prices are reasonable and the package arrives within two days. I like to grow all three types of peas — English, snow and sugar snap. This year I stayed with one variety of each type. I have a sturdy fence so all the varieties are five feet tall. At my age I like less bending over. For years I grew the dwarf varieties because I knew I wouldn’t get fencing together. For several years I cut random brush and used it as supports. Beech twigs are particularly attractive and hold up well.

Rick Bausman, the well-known Island musician, will not be the only one diligently drumming this spring. His penchant for percussion is shared by other creatures that have their own rhyme and reasons for rhythm.

While Rick drums for fun, wildlife drums for food. Woodpeckers may be the first bird to spring to mind as tapping tricksters, yet there are other animals that drum the dirt rather than the trees for their treat. Pounding the ground causes vibrations that bring earthworms to the surface.

Body Talk

Good for your body and your soul — that’s the theme this month at Curves of Vineyard Haven, where a donation to the food pantry not only helps out the community, but also could save you money.

The exercise center will waive the joining fee for new members who bring in a bag of nonperishable food or donate $30 to a local food bank from March 12 to 25.

The promotion is part of a month-long national Curves food drive. For more information about Curves of Vineyard Haven and the food collection campaign call 508-696-3030.

Dan Waters set the scene with a medley of Brazilian songs, Valci Carvalho shared stories of adapting to Vineyard life and Bruno Oliveira provided a visual tour of Brazil from Rio to Sao Paulo at the cultural luncheon sponsored by the Martha’s Vineyard Center for Living at the Grill on Main on March 3. But it was members of Martha’s Vineyard Capoeira who stole the show when they demonstrated the famous Brazilian martial art.

Herbal Tea Talk

Some think green beer for St. Patrick’s day. Others go for a spot of tea.

If you’re in the latter camp, head to the Bunch of Grapes Bookstore on Main street in Vineyard Haven to sip tea with Island herbalist Holly Bellebuono, who will be discussing her new book The Essential Herbal for Natural Health: How to Transform Easy-To-Find Herbs Into Healing Remedies for the Whole Family.

Afterwards, perhaps you can use the herbs to help an ailing St. Patrick’s Day reveler.

Boston Flower Show

This year there was not much winter to speak of and already some flowers and blossoms are popping up around the Island. But the landscape is still drab and could use a bit of color. But why wait until the height of spring to reconnect with the bounty of nature’s palette? This Thursday, March 15, the Boston Flower and Garden Show begins and although that is off-Island the Tisbury Travel Club is making it easy to get there.

Contemplative Retreat

On Saturday, March 10, Grace Episcopal Church in Vineyard Haven is holding mini-retreat on contemplative living and meditative prayer led by Ethel Fraga.

Build a Book

Teenagers have all the fun. It’s not enough that the young adult book genre has become the go-to read for adults (Harry Potter, The Hunger Games anyone) now teens have the chance to actually make the physical book too. Who said print was dead.

On Wednesday, March 14 and again on Wednesday, March 21 Emma Young leads a two-part book-making workshop for teens. To get a more precise idea of what this means, Ms. Young has the floor.

Civil War Poetry

On March 14 at 7 p.m., the Vineyard Haven Public Library hosts the Martha’s Vineyard Poetry Society’s presentation of Civil War Poetry.

Walt Whitman, Herman Melville and many others, including some bards of Martha’s Vineyard, penned odes to express their views on America’s Civil War.

Bringing the poetry of that decisive era to life will be Lee McCormack, Fan Ogilvie, Ellie Bates, Jill Jupen, Susan Puciul, and William Waterway.