June, you are the first person I have heard refer to brown water and tending the water filter/softener. I grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska and was 14 before I knew water wasn't brown. Went to California to visit relatives and the water in the tub was blue!
We joked that Dad drilled the 14' well through the A-- end of a dinosaur. All fixtures were brown unless cleaned with polyzag a strong acid which eventually ate away the enamel.
I plated Spinach and lettuce inside, although not much. I want to try sowing outside as everyone says they are hardy. I want to plant in succession also to have continual fresh lettuce, broccoli, etc. I put the poly covers over the three raised beds to hurry along the thaw. They are pretty much snow/ice free but solid bricks of frozen earth. Also trying to decide how to amend them. I just added compost last year but not sure if that is enough. Read to avoid steer manure in favor of horse or chicken. I know that different vegies want different things so maybe other than compost and manure I will wait to before seeding and add what they particularly like in their section like bone meal or blood meal.
