I wonder if perhaps I was a farmer in my past life? I wonder if I had to stay inside my dark, cold wooden house through the long New England winters, waiting for the first approach of spring, when I could start the long season of growing once again.
Maybe in a past life I was settler in the wilderness of the New World, trying to find fertile soil to start a plot of corn and beans for my family. Can’t you just picture me, in a mob cap and homespun dress, using a wooden pitchfork to turn the soil on the first warm day of late winter?
Well, I can.
I’m sure that I was totally in tune with the earth in a past life. I’m positive that I was able to turn plain old rocky soil into something so rich and fertile that it fed my growing family throughout the winter.
How do I know this? Huh. Easy!
Because I swear to God, I love the smell of dirt in February and March! I love it. It’s like the best combination of aphrodisiac and power drink. I stand outside on days when the snow has receded enough to uncover clumps of semi-frozen mud. I tip my head back toward the barely warm sun and I breathe in so deep……!! My lungs expand, my oxygen level increases, my brain wakes up from its winter hibernation. I come alive again.
This morning is one of those mornings. It is very, very warm outside; almost 40 degrees! Paul and I walked the dogs, and I only had on a sweatshirt. The snow is nearly gone. Only little piles of filthy ice pellets remain. There is a thin layer of mud everywhere. I squished my way through it, loving the thick gooey feel of it under my boots. I could smell that rich, heavy earthy smell with every step. Dirt! Good old New England dirt! If I poked it with a stick (which of course I did), I could feel that the earth is still frozen solid. Even so, there was a layer of thawed muck on top of the frozen ground, and that was full of promise. The dead grass is even turning slightly green in some spots.
I know that the trees are still completely bare and that there isn’t a butterfly or a bee in sight. Still, the tips of the daffodils are visible. I can see shoots of daylillies and iris pushing their way through the dead leaves in my garden. If I squint my eyes just right, I can see little swelling buds on the tips of the lilac branches.
And I can smell dirt. Soil. Earth.
My pioneer farmer Colonial past self recognizes the smell and rejoices. “Huzzah!”, she shouts. “Tis nearly Spring!”
Empty Nest, Full Life 
Tis definitely spring here — we have magnolias, plum trees, and daphne (that incredible scent!) in full bloom. My lilac has buds, and my roses have leaves.
I’m with you on the smell of dirt. Perhaps we were farmers in the same New England spot…
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Of course we were! And we were no doubt embattled….if not by the Redcoats, then certainly by the New England rains and the rocky soil. I love, love, love the slow, step by step march toward warmth every spring!
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I’m more an instant gratification kind of girl. I like that things start blooming here the first week of February — I always think it’s in honor of my birthday on the 4th!
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Well, happy belated birthday!!!! I’m usually about instant gratification too, but that’s more about chocolate than flowers……
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I’m 65. Medicare is wonderful. Medicare for All!
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I love it when you can tell spring is finally on its way…..
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“finally” being the operative word!
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I love the smell of dirt too! Here I thought I was the only one. We’ve had some mild weather here and it’s really getting me anxious for spring. I should be able to start planting seedlings inside in the next couple weeks and then peas outside in about a month, so it’s definitely almost spring.
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I keep tromping around outside, but I know its way too early to think about planting! I can do peas in late April or early May. Where are you?
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Michigan. I planted peas outside last year the first of April and my root garden two weeks later.
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Michigan!? Wow…..I’m in North Central Massachusetts, but I’m in zone 4. No tender plants in the ground until June 1; hardy plants May 1st. sigh. I am almost out of last year’s beans, carrots and tomato sauce……..
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I know exactly what you are saying! It reminds me that life is in that soil. I also love to see my bulbs bursting through the soil and displacing the mulch. Spring is on its way!
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Soon, soon, soon!
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