The glory of dirty hands

The weather here was great last week, so I got out in the garden to begin prepping for spring. I've had the SFG covered in clear plastic for 2 weeks to begin warming the MM for early planting, so I pulled the plastic back, picked out the old fallen leaves and pulled the few leftover plants that made it through the winter (mostly arugula which I found I didn't care for). I then decided to turn over the MM to better blend the compost I'd added during the winter. After 2 weeks under the plastic, the surface of the MM was nice and warm. When I plunged my hands into it, the warmth penetrated for about 3-4 inches below the garden surface. I decided to turn all the MM with my bare hands! The pleasure of the warm soil on my skin as I anticipated early spring planting was too great for words! Turned the whole garden over by hand (4x12), bringing the cooler MM to the surface to warm, and then recovered it all with the plastic. Hopefully I'll begin early planting in the next week after our rain stops, but it was sure glorious to get my bare hands dirty once again!

Thank you for this post.... I always look forward to getting dirt under my fingernails, your hands sound better than my nails for some reason!

Sounds great. I think everyone should do this

Sustainable Seed Co had this link to share recently I liked it.
How to Get High on Soil
http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/01/how-to-get-high-on-soil/251935/

LOL - Ha-v-v - Just posted a similar article...didn't realize you'd put this one in here...isn't it interesting though?

Ha-v-v wrote:Sustainable Seed Co had this link to share recently I liked it.
How to Get High on Soil
[url=http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/01/how-to-get-high-on-soil/251935/

http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2012/01/how-to-get-high-on-soil/251935/[/quote[/url]] Interesting but one wonders how one can tell the mice were happier. If you can't tell not a big fan of animal testing.

Yea I glossed over the fact of mice being tested.. dont think it was for the article though, it was from previous studies.

When I'm planting seeds or transplants, I always fail to put on my gloves. I just love the feel of the soil in my fingers which often means a good cleaning with a brush afterwards since I forget to scrape my fingernails over a bar of soap to fill in under the nails and keep the dirt out. I don't care!

UnderTheBlackWalnut wrote:LOL - Ha-v-v - Just posted a similar article...didn't realize you'd put this one in here...isn't it interesting though?

Really ? I will look for it. I know I just automatically touch the soil in my boxes. It is just habit. I love all of it

Ha-v-v

quiltbea wrote:When I'm planting seeds or transplants, I always fail to put on my gloves. I just love the feel of the soil in my fingers which often means a good cleaning with a brush afterwards since I forget to scrape my fingernails over a bar of soap to fill in under the nails and keep the dirt out. I don't care!

I know the feeling, but I just found out about the soap trick !! I will buy soap the next time I can from a local gal for just that purpose to keep in the garden shed or hoop house.

:-D
Ha-v-v

Ha-v-v wrote:

quiltbea wrote:When I'm planting seeds or transplants, I always fail to put on my gloves. I just love the feel of the soil in my fingers which often means a good cleaning with a brush afterwards since I forget to scrape my fingernails over a bar of soap to fill in under the nails and keep the dirt out. I don't care!

I know the feeling, but I just found out about the soap trick !! I will buy soap the next time I can from a local gal for just that purpose to keep in the garden shed or hoop house.

:-D
Ha-v-v

What a great tip. I keep my nails short now but I will try the bar of soap as they still get dirty of course. so cool.