Growing food can be a dirty business.With March quickly approaching, there is no end to the list that seems to be growing daily of the things that need to be accomplished.We moved over 2000 onions outside today to the high tunnels to make room under the grow lights for the 2100 new plants that we started today. We need to start at least that many from now until the middle of June. Throughout the house, the floor is littered with dirt, both from the newly planted crops and from being tracked in from outside. To be sure, it will be cleaned up in a day or so, but next weekend will bring its own new dirt that will find a home on our floors.

I still cannot imagine a better way to live. It is timed to the rhythms of the seasons. Just when there is more work to be done, there is enough daylight to get the work done.We are not the only creatures getting out and about this time of year. While outside today, it seemed that the chorus of birds has picked up some new singers lately. While the cardinals spend the winter, the males were staking out new territories. Soon they will be making their spring nests. Also, the blue jays were making a ruckus and the geese were congregating, probably holding some town hall meeting to discuss universal goose health care.

Anyway, it was far from quiet outdoorstoday, and with each new week, new travelers will be arriving. Somewill be disappointed with the snow that is coming tonight, but allwill be engaged in survival. We are part of that rhythm, and nothingcould be more natural.