It appears that Mother Nature was sick of California whining about the drought, because we have been getting more rain that we could have imagined. While the drought isn’t officially over and we’ll need a lot more rain to recover, this is an incredible start towards feeling less guilty turning on the spiget. On rare dry moments I’ve snuck out into the garden to see what’s going on in the new raised beds. It’s so exciting to see things grow! We have most of the beds covered with agribond, thanks to the birds. Walking out there to see raised beds covered with white blankets isn’t really the way one hopes their garden to look. But it’s a matter of fact around these parts that in order to survive against the birds one must cover their beds. Luckily I’m in good company with other country gardening friends.

When you peek underneath though, it’s amazing how well things are growing.

Radishes and garlic

Breadseed Poppies

Sweet peas standing like soldiers

Kale, spinach and onions
Almost a month ago the kids and I ransacked the tomato bed and ripped them out in a mad dash and threw a bunch of fava beans out before a rainstorm. We lightly raked them into the soil and hoped for the best. A month later this little field is flourishing in favas.
Further out into the fields artichokes and onions are peeping out along with those rows and rows of narcissus bulbs I thinned and replanted:

The walk out to the chicken coop is a wet one with a little pond having surfaced right at their entrance, thanks to the rats who love to tunnel there.

Of course, we are in essence starting from scratch in our new raised beds so everything is little and just starting out. To see what a late autumn garden in Sonoma County can produce in full swing can produce, go check out Melissa’s recent post.

How are things looking in your garden? Soggy? Snowy?