It has been a week and a half since I put the first seeds in the ground.  We are 8 days earlier than last year on the calendar date, but it feels like 2 weeks or more considering the warmth of the land and speed of growth.  Last year the peas waited over 2 weeks just to break the surface and a cold spell in late May kept the growth at a stand still.  This year the peas came up in 10 days and the weather for the next week looks stable and warm.  I was amazed at the turnips this year.  Their seed leaves unfurled under the row cover 6 days after planting.  Since the rush of spring is feeling strong we decided to put the first round of green beans in the ground today.  Last year the first round of beans was lost to a June 13th frost.  Warm weather crops are always a gamble here, but it can be worth it if we are able to get an early harvest.  I’ve never grown such long, perfect, crisp green beans as I have here.  The low pest pressure and mild summer temperatures provide great growing conditions.  I expect I will need to pull out the heavy weight row cover again to buffer another chilly night, but it’s these times of decision and action that make farming ever interesting.