12 Comments

Loved this piece, Hank. It was a pleasure to have read something, that both acknowledges the depths of winter darkness and still leads us to the longer light and hope for the first bud popping up through the moist surface of spring. Thank you for this piece!

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I have a friend who lives in city limits who quietly and discreetly snares rabbits and squirrels. They are well fed and large. Also, welcome to Minnesota gardening! I've been gardening up here in zone 3b for 14 years. Buy all the seeds, plant fearlessly, and cheer the successes!

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Daffodils popping up here on the Northwest coast after ice and dreaded east winds. The vision warmed my soul. Had 1 surviving artichoke and the elk found it yesterday. sigh* Onward!

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I live in Central Wisconsin, between Appleton & Green Bay, I always start peppers second week of February and first week in March is tomatoes and herbs. Flowers and a few other things, (early zucchini) I start in April. Everything goes into the ground Memorial weekend, (which usually is after any frost). This scheduled has worked out well for us for the past 15-20 years. I hope this info helps.

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It does, thanks!

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So evocative

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February, for being the shortest month, often seems to be the longest...

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I tried to grow Arikira Sunflowers in my yard last summer. I either planted too late or my yard doesn't get enought light for them to thrive. My three sisters also failed, mainly due to squirrels and rabbits, but also lack of light.

Reading about southern midwest archaeology, I see goosefoot and knotweed show up as food items.

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Welcome to Minnesota. Is up south of Walker will soon be starting some seeds indoors and then my Shelter Logic greenhouse before in the ground. My oregano and Dave had done well overwintering in the past. Good luck.

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I hope you're right, and right soon. Looking at overnights in VA of 12,12,12... Perhaps it will help to sketch out my garden while close to the fireplace.

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Hank, out of curiosity — if you could shoot the rabbits, would you process and eat them after? Asking for myself — I love rabbit but I’ve heard mixed messages on eating suburban cottontails.

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Absolutely! Love rabbit.

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