It was so sunny and warm on Monday I had to go on a search for a sun hat. It was under the seat of my truck and not in the best shape. Although I use sunglasses while driving, I never wear them gardening as they tend to distort colors for me.

I spent some time gleaning food in my vegetable garden. It’s amazing what is still available, especially since I never cleaned it up last fall.

For the first time in years I harvested some wintered-over leeks which were still firm. In the past I’ve found them to get mushy mid-winter. The bunnies finally stopped munching on their tops.

It’s in the nick of time as I just used the last of my stored onions. I have perhaps two more meals of last year’s potatoes. I kept up with removing sprouts over the last several months which keeps them firm. I replanted the small ones under a thick layer of hay and expect them to come up any day now.

As far as greens, I’m in pretty good shape. My greenhouse plantings of lettuce and spinach are pickable. A sizable salad can be made along with some pea shoots and alfalfa sprouts.

I started thinning and eating radishes about a month ago. The root was no bigger than a knitting needle but the greens are good. Once the radish gets up to size the tops are too fuzzy for my taste. Tons of kale reseeded in the main garden. I’ve been cutting it for weeks. Now it has developed stalks and flowers. No matter. I cut them to the quick and chopped them into half-inch pieces. Sautéed with some garlic (flowers and all) they are wonderful plain or with pasta.

Speaking of garlic, my stored garlic has seen better days. As luck would have it, I did not manage to pull some last summer after it completed its bulbing. That neglected bulb produces tons of little garlics not much larger than scallions. They can be cooked with the aforementioned kale flower stalks. They are mild and fresh. Life is grand.

It almost goes without mention the amount of daffodils in bloom. For years, folks have had the foresight to plant them everywhere. They are especially nice along the roadsides for all to enjoy.

I saw the dreaded white cabbage moth on Tuesday hovering above my wintered-over collards. Then, very soon after, a painted lady moth flew by. It was so pretty. It’s funny how similar species evoke such diverse feelings in humans.

For another example, I love seeing deer anywhere except my garden. They are such majestic yet delicate creatures. Then, overnight my hostas are eaten to the quick and how quickly I detest them.

The Wednesday, April 3 food section of the New York Times had a great article about steps being taken world-wide to reduce the use of plastic wrap on produce. Several European countries and Canada are taking aggressive action. Eleven of our states have already restricted its use and the Biden Administration is calling for new ways to package food that is climate friendly.

All of this, it seems, is a bit of a two-edged sword as plastic wrap is efficient in food preservation. Now we’ve opened the door to another environmental hazard: food waste. Decay of fruits and vegetables in landfills accounts for 60 per cent of its methane emissions.

How can this and all the world’s environmental problems begin to be addressed? I guess the only answer lies with each of us. I have to go back to my oft-quoted saying from the Depression era: Use it up. Wear it out. Make it do. Or do without!