Embracing Winter

Winter has begun. Though it has felt like winter since the end of November. A few feet of snow on the ground and below freezing temperatures. Winter began a bit early for me though I am happy I got most of the garden tucked in for winter. I added a horse manure/shavings mix to work into the soil this winter. The soil, as I planted this year, was barren of worms so I added some goodness to bring the soil back to life.

Here is the North Woods, the active garden season is from May-October. Maybe a month on either side if the weather cooperates. So what is a gardener to do the other six months of the year?

1. Grow plants inside. I planted some herbs in pots and brought them inside. I am currently growing thyme, sage, oregano, and rosemary. Not very successfully, but they haven’t died. I have enough sage and rosemary to use in recipes but the oregano and thyme need some filling in. I added the light I use when starting seeds to see if that helps. I may need to water them more, even though there are mediterranean plants since the air in the house is quite dry. I’m at an age where I want to see ‘what will happen if’ rather than looking at things as a success or failure.
2. Watch the life around the bird feeders. We get chickadees, goldfinches, bluejays, tufted titmouse, and white-breasted nuthatches. We also get turkey, squirrels, deer, and rabbits. Deer and rabbits can decimate my gardens, so a garden resolution is to be more consistent with deer and rabbit repellent and continue to search out plants they won’t eat.
3. Keep fit. I enjoy time hiking and snowshoeing outside as well as getting on the stationary bike and practicing yoga. I want to smoothly move into my gardening without stiffness and tiredness. I can no longer spend a day, or even half a day, in the garden, working. A good two hours is what I can comfortably do. I look at that time as a continuation of my yoga practice.
4. Read. I’ve been reading ‘Great Books’. I finished Ancient to Medieval. It was a tough go and I felt like I ‘got’ a small part of all that packed into these works but these works are referred to, reflected, and embedded in many other works of literature that I am glad I have a very basic knowledge. Now it is on to Renaissance, starting with Don Quixote. I am also reading books for my book club and I love mysteries.

This is a season of hibernation for me. I spend more time inside loving on my house, knitting, rug hooking, cooking and baking. As an introvert, I love the quiet winter brings. The forest, outside my window, is still rooted in place, still alive and strong, but quiet. A good teacher, this forest.