night, the thirteenth of april
dark furrow
old knowledge preserved
early spring
the soil warms. the light returns longer each day.
what was sleeping is not sleeping anymore.
late spring begins in 3 days.
still cold enough to frost. the season is not settled yet.
the moon is waning crescent, 17% lit.
the world is turned away from the sun.
12h 50m of daylight today. +2.2 minutes from yesterday.
cold mud on my handsthe first row planted beforethe sparrows arrive
leo the lion climbs high, the bright star regulus at his heart ❧ arcturus was the star the old plowmen followed. its name means "bear watcher" in greek, because it follows ursa major across the sky. but to the farmers it simply meant warmth is returning. when it rises at sunset, the soil is ready. ❧ the worm moon is coming or just passed. some called this the crow moon, for the sound that breaks the silence at the end of winter. the sap moon, because the maples are running. the ground is unlocking. ❧ the moon is in its last quarter. pull weeds, turn compost, cultivate the soil. this is a killing time, good for destroying what you do not want. the weeds will not come back as fast.
go to bed. tomorrow there will be something new. ❧ spring remedies are about waking up. the body has been indoors too long. bitter greens and sharp roots shake the dust off. ❧ moths are pollinating the flowers you thought were sleeping. ❧ nettle tea, if you can find young nettles. iron-rich, good for the blood. wear gloves picking.
wind in early spring is different from winter wind. it is warmer and wetter and it smells like mud. the old word for it was simply "the thaw wind."