Yesterday was also the day that I got to meet my editor, Carleen Madigan, of Storey Publishing, who is visiting Raleigh to meet with me for a few days. Carleen, my daughter Sara and I spent the full day going through my book draft (in its current incomplete state) in great detail, and it was a really enjoyable experience. Everything that I learned yesterday will now be applied so that I can meet the text deadline of end of May....it is within reach (though much work remains). Carleen is wonderful - great ideas, energy, focus, direct and helpful feedback - and I am feeling really positive about how this will all turn out.  Today is another long work day, as we bring in my photographer, Stephen Garrett. It is very likely that my seedling customers may, if we are allowed, be victims of our photography (and get credited and a free book, of course), as we seek good examples of critters, diseases and issues, growing methods and ripe tomatoes.  Much more on that as the season progresses....photography will become a focus between now and seed saving, through mid August, probably.  So today is about confirming, as best we can, which pictures will be shot where and when, with a few 

Now on to the seedlings.....they are growing - slowly, slowly, slowly - as the temperatures continue to drift in and out of favored range for my plants. I will be at the State Farmers Market on Lake Wheeler Road one way or another on Friday and Saturday, at a location I will communicate once I set up on Thursday night. The tomatoes are larger than the peppers, which are larger than the eggplant - but everything has been well-hardened, having lived outside since the transplanting stage a few weeks ago. We just need a string of warm nights!  Today I will be making "the list" - a compilation of all of the many seedling reservation request emails received over the recent weeks, and tomorrow will begin to set the requests aside.....each of you will hear from me soon to confirm pick up either here at our home or at the market on a coming weekend.  Patience!  It is still early, actually - only mid April.

As to my own garden....the greens, beets, and lettuce are very satisfied with the cool weather and are growing quickly. I don't expect to be even thinking about tomato, pepper and eggplant planting in the garden and containers for a few weeks yet. It is going to be an ambitious garden, tomato-wise, due to the need to focus on pictures for the book. Peppers and eggplant must take a back seat this year - very significant, just less in number.

That should get everyone up to date......happy gardening and see you soon!