Beware the ides of March

There isn't really anything to beware of down here (or at least there isn't anything specific about March 15th to beware of), but I thought it made a good post title.

And now for your irregularly scheduled update of life in Mississippi:

Last weekend we volunteered with a local organization to clear and clean up a vacant lot that will be the new home of the Starkville Community Market. The Starkville Community Market is our version of a farmer's market and it's where Phil hopes to eventually sell what he grows. We figured it was a good investment in the karma bank to spend the morning digging, shoveling, hoeing, and carting dirt for them. This new structure is courtesy of Gulf States Manufacturers--a steel plant based in Starkville. The economic downturn has hit them hard but instead of laying off their workers they are converting an acre of their land into farm land and having their workers work the land and sell the produce at the community market. The company also decided they would help with the construction of a more permanent shelter for the community market, which is what we worked on (previously they just closed off a section of road just off Main St on Saturday mornings). Pretty nice, huh?

Spring has arrived and Phil's been trying to get the farm up and running:

farm mid march

The house is coming along. We close on March 31st!

house-movin' along