For Love Birds (And Those That Love Birds)

You are loved. Never doubt how much you mean to those around you.

— Heebeejeebies and Sonya Soto-Layor, who have been friends since they were itty bitty chickies 7 years ago.

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Here’s What’s Happening At Good Spirits Farm

There’s something about spring’s arrival that makes me feel like I’ve been sleepwalking for the past few months—like I’m fully sentient for the first time in a long time. The birds are singing! The grass is turning from brown to green seemingly overnight! Our footless friends return!

Early warm days have also brought out the crocuses and daffodils. Farm Baby is obsessed with flowers, wanting to gently touch each blossom while tottering through the front yard.

The bees are waking up, too. I think it’s safe to say I’ve had a 30 percent loss rate over the winter, which is disappointing. The industry standard is 50 percent, but I’ve been proud that my rate has hovered around 20 percent. I’ll have to review my fall management strategies to figure out how to improve next year. For now, I’m leaving the sugar snacks in the tops of each hive for a few more weeks, until nectar starts flowing.

But: The coozies are off, and inspections last week showed new brood being raised in every single hive. We’ll rebuild this summer!

Most importantly, though: Thanks to a string of 70 degree days, everyone has a little extra pep in their step.

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Here’s What I Loved This Week

Daylight! Somewhere in the past 10 days we tipped over the threshold for enough daylight to encourage even my old gals to get back to laying. We’d been getting 3-4 eggs a day. Then, on a random Tuesday, I walked out to find 14 eggs just begging to be made into a quiche. Look at these beauties!