March Weather Report

Danilo & his brother beat the bean shells with sticks.

As March progressed a clear trend in the weather became apparent -- drier, warmer, and less windy. Total rainfall came to 3.7 inches, down from 6.1 in February. Two thirds of the rain fell on just two days: March 1st and 26th. At the beginning of the month daily highs ranged in the mid-70s; later in the month it was around 80, with the hottest temperature recorded so far this year -- 85 degrees, on March 27. And, as the old saying goes, "March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb." Gusts reached 22 mph on the 1st, and by the end of the month had died down to light breezes.

Separating the shells from the beans

Our neighbor across the road harvested his black beans this month. He had planted them in December, when it was still raining heavily. March is the best month to harvest beans, due to the dry weather. The beans are knocked out of their shells the traditional way, by beating them with sticks. He got a good crop.

The finished product, before winnowing

The weatherman says the rainy season should begin early this year -- in mid-April. Time to begin planting.

Happy gardening!