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Last week was mild and dry here in Central Missouri. Then came Friday with nasty cold temps, gusting winds, and blowing snow. I had hopes of moving dirt over the weekend but Mother Nature said Not Happening!

Saturday was too nasty outside to do much so I spent some more time cleaning and organizing my workshop. Sunday was nice so Mrs. Augie and I started a bit of spring cleaning on the yard. I chopped a silk tree down last fall and have since gotten tired of tripping over the stump so we built a bonfire on that Sunday morning and got it mostly burned out over the past two days.

I got the new to us little Kubota tractor out Sunday afternoon and commenced to cleaning out the horse stalls in the barn. I was about half done when it blew a hydraulic hose to the front end loader so I put that one away and finished up the job with Nanner and a manure fork. I replaced the blown hose and topped off the hydro fluid yesterday, so the Kubota is ready when it’s next needed.

That was the first time I’d used the Kubota for any real work since we bought it and I was fairly well pleased with the performance. It’s a much more capable machine than the Massey Ferguson that it replaced.

It’s supposed to stay dry for the next couple days so I may have an opportunity to get some dirt moved after work. Good chance of rain on Thursday, then they’re guessing another week of unseasonably warm temps and dry weather. I’m hoping they’re guessing right because I really would like to finish moving dirt so I can get to building my new raised beds.

Augie; You are just about straight east of me in the middle of the state. It has been unusually warm, but its a good chance to start getting things ready for spring. I'll take it! The surviving low tunnel broccoli is about ready to pick. Will try to get a picture later.

Of course we all know that mild winter weather like this is followed by cold weather in March. In spite of that I direct sowed radishes, turnip, some chinese cabbage, and for fun, a couple of Baker Creek really large cabbages. I have some of the nylon insect barrier that I will eventually put over them, white butterfly cabbage loopers make growing them impossible otherwise.

Hope you get your spring prep done and get your raised beds in. (Good to have access to stable litter for your field and compost even if you have to clean the barn (ausmisten) by hand!