There it is: a fresh layer of purchased compost rich in humus, alive with beneficial fungi and bacteria or at least ready to serve as their buffet when they move in from the surrounding dirt and atmosphere. Kept moist and thick, protected from evaporation and wind erosion by some mulching, this should serve as a healthy bed for young plant life. I’ve raked it into the entire garden, lightly, to avoid disturbing the seeds I’ve already sown. Here’s hoping this improvisation isn’t coming too late as the days get hotter and hotter this April.