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| Bear Trap Canyon, Madison River |
Two weeks ago Carl and I took the dogs to Bear Trap Canyon. Luna and I jogged over rock falls and past rapids while he and Bubba hiked, then we met back up to swim the pooches and hike out. It was warm enough that we were both sweating in our T-shirts, and the dogs were happy to paddle around in snow-melt water. This morning we woke up to half an inch of snow on the ground and the world wintry still. You've got to love spring in Montana.
Luckily most of my job to date takes place in the sheltered environs of one of two greenhouses, although the fickle spring weather makes it tricky to regulate the temperature in there. If the sun is out, and it often is here, the production greenhouse will be 90 degrees at 10:00 in the morning regardless of the temperature outside. It's a game of propping doors open, rolling up plastic sides, and constantly checking the thermometer to make sure nothing's either boiling or freezing.
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| The production greenhouse, getting greener all the time |
So far I seem to be having some success at this large-scale gardening thing. Last week we sent a batch of spinach and lettuce over to the school, and on Friday we harvested a slew of produce to sell at an impromptu market: radishes, spinach, beet greens, beautiful bunches of kale and chard, and a salad mix of lettuce, baby kale and chard, beet greens, and crisp tasty pea shoots. It was extremely satisfying to hand over these bags and bunches of lush greens knowing that I'd grown them, with plenty of help and technical support. Bubba and Luna helpfully milled around underfoot and greeted our buyers.
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| Baby zucchini |
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| The dogs investigating the hot spring |
The best part about the job is that I get to take the dogs to work. Most of the time they lay outside and watch the world go by, alerting me to visitors and making sure the perimeter is secure. Every so often they'll come in to make sure I'm still there, and then wander back outside to where the action is. They're the best gardening buddies ever.
