Spring 2026 cannot get here soon enough. Just a small cold snap in January had me itching to plan out our vegetable garden for the season. Our oldest daughter is a senior in high school and will graduate in May, she has a case of senioritis. I am busy trying to make plans on the farm, preparing to host our family for a long weekend after her ceremony and keep her focused on her graduation goals.
I am not the only one antsy for the spring season. One of my dearest friends in Elm Springs has two mares bred. We have been anxiously awaiting news of foaling season from her house. She told me she has been checking the mare closest to her foaling date nightly. We were surprised this weekend with a video of her brand-new buckskin filly. We love babies!
When we had a streak of warm weather in early February, I took advantage and started cleaning out all the raised beds we use for the garden. Some of the “rings” we use needed some repairs. These are the rings that make up a silo. When you unscrew the rings, they make lovely, raised garden barrels. Amid making some repairs and replacing some of them, we had a water leak that still needed to be found and fixed out by the garden. While the mini excavator was at work, we got the bright idea to run a longer line and put water all the way to our round pen and the chicken coop.
What started out as something small has grown into big trenches through the front yard and a couple of trips to the hardware store. It will be nice when everything is thriving and in bloom through the spring and summer months.
I have had the chance to get a couple varieties of potatoes and onions in the ground. I love to experiment with new varieties of leafy lettuces and have sowed those as well. I am hoping spring is on its way. Sugar snap peas are up next! We had planted garlic bulbs several years ago and did not have any success. The soil stayed too wet, and I never saw anything become of our plantings. This year, I opted to put bulbs into a well-drained barrel and am hoping for a large bounty. I have started to enjoy using more fresh ingredients and herbs when I cook.
Our hens are starting to lay eggs again. It is this time of year that I contemplate raising some baby chicks. The last time I raised babies was in 2020 and I still have two of those girls left. I have since opted to get adult hens from a guy in Fayetteville. They are pretty but they lay beautiful brown eggs. Our daffodils have already begun to bloom. I looked at the weekend temperatures and slipped down the driveway to pick a bouquet before the frost ruined their beauty.
Now that we have a houseful of busy teenagers, there are a few nights a week where my husband and I find ourselves home alone. We will enjoy a dinner of leftovers or go out to eat since it has been too long since I have cooked for only two people. There are still many nights (and mornings) when we have a few extra kids at our house. For that I am always thankful for meat in the freezer, fresh eggs and a kitchen ripe for home cooking. Knowing our nest is not empty quite yet, the 2026 garden should be another big one. I hope your spring and summer are full of blooms too, neighbor.
Jody Harris is a freelance communications specialist, gardener, ranch wife and mother of four. She and her family raise Angus beef cattle and other critters on their northwest Arkansas ranch. She is a graduate of Missouri State University. To contact Jody, go to ozarksfn.com and click on ‘Contact Us.’
