Gardeners may be as diverse as the plants we grow, but we all share at least one common personality trait: optimism. You may find us pessimistic on the surface, often griping about the weather of the day or the latest critter to ravage our shrubbery, but complain though we may, deep down burns an optimistic fire. It may be barely smoldering at times like this, but it never goes out. How else, in the midst of such a relentless drought, could someone like our own Marianne of Onion Creek Farm bring herself to buy yet another 50 pounds of seed potatoes? Quite simply, hope springs eternal.  We hope that the rains will come; we hope that the grasshoppers and the deer will stay at bay; we hope that all of our hard work pays off. 

And it doesn’t take much to get our hopes up. With close to an inch of long-awaited rain we can once again believe that it won’t always be this dry. So, filled with visions of blooms, butterflies, and juicy tomatoes we grab our shovels, don our gloves, and get dirty. For you veggie gardeners out there — or those that aspire to be — it’s time to get your beds in shape. Assuming you already have a fence and soil (there’s not much point in attempting edibles without these two things), you need to replenish the nutrients used up by last year’s crops. This can be done quickly with compost, or some form of granular fertilizer like Ladybug Brand Lawn and Garden Fertilizer, 8-2-4. Fresh manure should not be used unless you plan to let it decompose in the beds for a season or more. And extra caution should be used when using manure from animals who consume hay. Hay is occasionally sprayed with a chemical herbicide called Grazon which does not break down even when composted. It will act as an herbicide in your garden and your veggies will not be happy. Check with your hay supplier to learn if this has been used.