February flew by in a flash and here we are at the end of March. I always have the highest hopes of keeping this space up to date but life always seems to get in the way.

February was a busy one from the start. At the beginning of the month, I found myself in Orlando, FL captivating audiences of the American Society for Horticultural Sciences. My professor and I each presented results from the research we have conducted in the last year. It wasn’t all work and no fun, though. On our free day at the conference, we headed out to Epcot to wander Disney’s International Village, cavort with a cast of curious characters and enjoy a few light rides. I was pleased to learn about a behind-the-scenes tour of the Disney greenhouses, where all the mouse-shaped delectables are grown. Their system of greenhouses, large enough to house a boat ride through the middle, include both temperate and tropical climates, allowing for a range in produce from strawberries and lettuce to coffee and bananas. The crops are grown hydroponically and aeroponically, and even include aquaponic systems that combine plants and fish. I found the experience rather exciting as I had never experienced this level of production in a protected space before. However, my curiosity was also peeked at some of the claims Disney makes regarding the sustainability of their greenhouses. Greenhouses, and hydroponics especially, are notorious for requiring excess amounts of energy and using excess amounts of synthetic inputs. Though mouse-shaped, there certainly is no organic vegetable to be found inside.

In the middle of the month, I was lucky to catch The Punch Brothers, featuring none other than Chris Thile, at the Diana Wortham Theatre. Our seats were just above the stage, and the view so good I could actually discern the expressions on the musicians’ faces. As a big fan of Nickel Creek, I must confess that, prior to this concert, I had only heard the Punch Bros. on the radio and maybe only one song at that. The experience which I would have was, at the beginning of the evening, a complete unknown to me. Of course, I was blown away by the sheer talent of each band member. It is obvious that Mr. Thile has assembled a troupe of youngsters able to keep up with his dexterous fingers and musical prowess while still allowing himself to be the focal point. His four counterparts stood rather stoically embracing their instruments, singing, tapping their feet, while Chris, at the center, writhed and spasmed like a fish out of water – like Forrest Gump dancing to Elvis Presley. It occurred to me that, perhaps when his fingers move so quickly along the neck of his impossibly small mandolin, the rest of his brain ceases to function, leaving him floundering around trying to remain upright without heaving into a fit of convulsions. The way his mouth gapes open and his toes tilt inward hint that I may be correct. Regardless, the consensus seems to be that he falls nothing short of a genius, and as his brain child, The Punch Brother are nothing short of mind blowing.

And now March. In March, I must confess, I have worked more than I have played. Maxwell and I have taken several pleasant hikes, enjoying the warming weather and longer daylight hours. But, for the most part, March has been writing, organizing, planning. There are plants in the greenhouse to nurse and, on top of my own work load I have been left with the task of planning and installing a new sustainable, handicap-accessible kitchen garden demonstration at the university botanic gardens. I have had to start from the ground up and finally, in the next weeks, the spring crops will be planted. Out at the farm, the spring crops are long in the ground for the market garden and the fall crops have come out of the high tunnels in preparation for the beginning of tomato season. The thought of tomato season makes me cringe in fright. Perhaps this summer, as I hastily write tedious page after page in a never-ending thesis, the thought of tomato season will provide me with solace and comfort and help make my cubicle a happier place to be. And on the bright side, I will still get to start the day by watering the plants in my kitchen garden.