Wow! Today really felt like spring. It got up to 54 degrees and everything is melting so fast that the farm is sloppy and the valleys are flooding. I drove to Cashton to pick up organic potting soil and there was water over the roads in parts of La Farge. There was an ice jam in Ontario and 9 roads in Vernon county were closed. People have not even finished rebuilding from the August 2018 flooding and everyone looks nervous. As I ran errands to the farm supply store, hardware store, grocery store, and gas station, the community was buzzing with apprehension. The cashier at the Viola gas station wouldn’t even crack a smile. They only recently opened back up since August and don’t even has siding on the building yet. I think these flooding valleys will continue to worsen with climate change, and as I drive home, I peek over the edges of bridges at rising rushing water and wonder how many more times this community can rebuild. I don’t know, but I’m grateful to be on the ridge.

~Joy