01 — WHERE OUR TIME WENT
This week didn’t feel scattered, but it was full.
We moved between systems constantly—greenhouse to beds, beds to orchard, orchard back to soil mixes, then into conversations, documents, and planning. There was a steady pull between physical work and trying to organize what we’re building into something coherent—documents, education pieces, outreach, website structure.
A lot of time went into preparation. Preparing mixes. Preparing for the Master Gardeners workshop. Preparing future relationships. Preparing systems that aren’t fully visible yet but are starting to take shape.
We spent hours with our hands in the soil—thinning strawberries, replanting crowns, building mixes—but just as much time thinking about how to explain what we’re doing and why it matters.
There was also a noticeable shift toward outward movement—more conversations, more coordination, more awareness that what we’re doing is starting to intersect with other people and systems.
At the same time, we kept returning to restraint.
Not rushing outreach.
Not forcing decisions.
Letting things develop.
02 — WHAT THE LAND SHOWED US
The week started cold—down near 15°F—and ended in the 80s.
Everything held.
- Greenhouse plants survived under cover and heat. No major damage observed.
- Strawberries came through winter clean, with no visible leaf burn. Beds are dense—fully matted with runners. Hundreds of viable crowns per bed.
- Soil in those beds remains highly active, with strong growth response.
- Grass across the property is noticeably ahead—greener and more vigorous than surrounding areas.
- Sheep behavior shifted. They began moving more aggressively toward fresh growth, requiring faster rotation. Grazing preference is for the tops; movement needed every 1–2 days to prevent overgrazing.
- Johnson-Su compost shows visible biological progression—protozoa now present in multiple fields of view.
- Saprophytic fungi visible in potting mix—active decomposition still occurring.
- Fruit trees at ERC pruned and treated. Compost and leaf litter applied as top dressing.
- Glyphosate application observed in proximity to treated trees.
- PNSB samples collected from ponds and raceways for culture.
- Trichoderma culture incoming.
- Temperatures rising rapidly. Growth accelerating across all systems.
03 — WHAT WE THINK IT MIGHT MEAN
The rapid temperature swing appears to have triggered a biological acceleration.
We’re seeing signs that systems are transitioning out of dormancy—compost activity, plant growth, grazing behavior, microbial presence. But it’s still early, and it’s unclear how stable that transition is.
The density of the strawberry beds raises questions. High biological activity and strong fungal presence may be supporting that level of growth, but it’s unclear whether current density will limit fruit production or support it.
The appearance of protozoa in the Johnson-Su suggests the system is moving into a more complete biological cycle—but timing and consistency of that progression are still uncertain.
Sheep movement patterns suggest that animal behavior may be a more reliable indicator of pasture readiness than visual assessment alone.
The glyphosate event introduces uncertainty. It’s unclear how much impact it has had or will have on the biological work already done.
There’s also a growing sense that biological systems are not just responding to inputs—they’re responding to timing. Feeding, inoculation, and intervention may matter less than when they occur relative to system activation.
04 — THE TENSION WE SAT WITH
The tension this week was between building life and watching it get disrupted.
We are investing time, attention, and care into developing biological systems—and at the same time, those systems can be impacted instantly by actions outside our control.
There’s also tension between doing more and holding back.
We could push harder—more outreach, more planting, more structure—but there’s a sense that forcing timing may work against the system.
And underneath that, a quieter tension:
Are we actually influencing these systems… or are we just learning how to follow them?
05 — WHAT WE’RE MOVING TOWARD
We’re moving toward activation.
Spring protocols are beginning to take shape—biological sprays, inoculants, feeding strategies—but they are still being refined.
We’re watching for:
- Continued biological activity under the microscope
- Plant response to early sprays
- Strawberry production under current density
- Orchard response to compost and biology
- Stability of compost systems post-winter
We’re also moving toward:
- First full production of a living soil inoculant
- Scaling potting mix production for community use
- Expanding relationships locally (nurseries, farms, partners)
- Structuring education into something transferable
No clear endpoints yet—just direction.
06 — SIGNAL SNAPSHOT
- Temperature swing: ~15°F → low 80s within days
- Greenhouse survival: no visible damage
- Strawberry beds: extremely dense, high survival rate
- Pasture: early growth, strong animal-driven movement
- Grazing rotation: increased frequency (1–2 days)
- Johnson-Su: protozoa present, increased activity
- Potting mix: visible fungal decomposition
- Orchard: compost + leaf litter applied
- External input: glyphosate application observed
- PNSB cultures initiated
- Trichoderma culture inbound
- Fuel prices rising significantly
