This is the tail end of the season to sow cover crops.  I planted the mandala garden in a mixed cover crop at the beginning of November, and a last ditch second crop on top of my hugelkultur bed last weekend.

On top of all the reasons to grow cover crops, I have a secret extra reason, and that is I like to see things growing for as many months and weeks as possible, and these cover crops help me do that.

I go out there every day and watch the seeds swell.

Then the little radicles break free of the seed coat and poke out seeking a place to root.

Next, and my favorite, little bits of green start to appear and shoot straight up.  Straight, straight up.  Excellent posture those green shoots.

It gives me something to water and watch.

And chase the cats off of.

Hey!  Stop that!

Mr.McGregor in a skirt, all grumpy and ridiculous.

The cover crop I planted came from Peaceful Valley.  I actually got three different mixes, one an edible mix.  The directions were a little different from most sowing instructions, and included mixing a rhizobium inoculant with the seeds, along with a mixture of milk and molasses.  The milk and molasses were optional, but I never pass up a chance to do something weird to my seeds.

I mixed the seed mixtures together in a bowl.

Then I poured in the milk and molasses.  The six year old in me who used to sit in the tub and stir together all the different shampoos loves this stuff.

Stirred it all up.

Next the inoculant.

Half a bag.

Why do I enjoy this so much?

How is stirring goop together related to human survival?  Because I have a primal need to do it.

Looks nice and gross.

I took it out to the mandala garden and, with the spoon, broadcast the seeds over the soil  like I was sprinkling parmesan cheese over my pasta.

I tamped it down and covered it with a little topsoil, watered, and three weeks later:

Parmesan cheese never did this.

I’m liking this gardening thing.