The frost covered thistle rosettes spilled across the lawn like a box of scattered Christmas ornaments, glistening in the pale morning light. They'd popped up from a mother bull thistle on the edge of the chicken run that I'd allowed to seed out the previous fall. Yes, we could have removed it, but the bumblebees love the blossoms so, and the songbirds feast on the seeds before they scatter. And so we share the yard with our wild guests - thistle, bee, and bird alike.

We've endured another week of heavy rain here in northeast Wisconsin, followed by temps dropping below freezing this weekend. Though the yard is squishy and the sump pump has been taxed, we blessedly avoided the truly damaging weather.

Though outside work has been hampered by the rain, inside the garden seedlings are chugging along. The wild ducks visiting the pond have been beautiful, too. This year we've had hooded mergansers, buffleheads, and mallards, and possibly some others. (The pond is some distance from the house, so we have to use binoculars, plus they are sometimes out of site at the far end and we only hear the extra quacking.)

Frog Station (a nearby unincorporated community) was underwater this week, but the frogs in the area are having a banner year. We've heard peepers, chorus frogs, wood frogs, and leopard frogs so far. It makes me happy that even though it's a rough year for some things, it's a bountiful year for others.

Life is like that, too, it ebbs and flows - births and deaths, lack and plenty. It's important to remember that when things seem uncertain and you don't know where your path will lead, sometimes simply moving forward as best as you can will reveal the path you should take.

This Week’s Resilience & Abundance Boost

• Make room for the beneficial. Not everything that looks out of place is a problem — some “weeds” and wild guests bring unexpected gifts.
• Notice what’s thriving. Even in challenging seasons, something is doing well. Let that be a source of encouragement.
• Keep moving forward, gently. When conditions aren’t ideal, take the next small step instead of waiting for perfect timing.
• Work with the season you have. Shift focus between indoor and outdoor tasks as needed — progress doesn’t have to look the same every day.
• Trust the long view. Like the land, life moves in cycles. Today’s uncertainty may be part of a larger, unfolding path.

Resilience grows when we stay present, adapt to what is, and keep tending life one step at a time.

All our best to you and yours,

Laurie (and August IV, August V, and Duncan)

This Week's Featured Articles...

Those thistles in the grass won't be around too long, as we'll probably turn the extras into soup or stir fry. The roots can take a bit of work to access, but they make a decent veggie. I like eating the roots better than de-thorning the leaves. You can read all about thistle uses here.

This next article is something I've wanted to write about for a while, so I took time to pull it together. Read EMF Exposure: What to Know and How to Reduce It.

For those who are a bit ahead of us, this article about how to store asparagus in the refrigerator or long term may be helpful. This simple rhubarb sauce recipe is another way to enjoy the spring bounty. (Duncan and I spotted our plants coming up this morning on our walk, but harvest will be a while yet.)

I've been working on a special project that's taken me longer than expected, but it's finally ready! In answer to some of our most asked gardening questions, I've create a Resilient Gardening Series.

The series consists of three different kits, each targeting specific garden problems. There's a soil kit, a pest kit, and a weed-free garden kit. Together, they make up a system that will help you transform your garden - without toxic chemicals and constant work.

First up, the Fix My Soil Kit!

This kit consists three main guides, plus a quickstart guide, reference chart, and flowchart.

The Fix My Soil guide focuses on addressing common soil issues, like compaction, mineral imbalances, and more.

The Clean Food, Safe Soil guide addresses common soil contaminants and the best way to deal with them in your garden.

Finally, Healing the Soil After Herbicide Drift targets a problem that's become far too common in recent years - herbicide drift from farms, roadsides, and other spraying. It's impossible to avoid it completely in some areas, but you can minimize damage and help your soil and crops recover as quickly as possible.

You can grab your copy of the Fix My Soil Kit here - https://commonsensehome.thrivecart.com/fix-my-soil-kit/​

At checkout, you'll also have the option to grab the entire system or just the Weed-Free Garden Kit at a discount. Thank you for your support, and happy gardening!