Week of January 5, 2025 – January 11, 2025
by Catherine McLaughlin, Environmental Educator
The new year has already arrived? What happened? I feel like we just ended summer camp not long ago. But here we are, new day, new month, and a new year, and I have been planning my garden since… October for this year.
Why do I start planning ahead so early though? I often find myself following the cycles of the seasons in what I do. In winter time I do far more reading, and planning for the future seasons. In summer, I’m far more active outside with the warmer weather and the sun being out longer.
Winter is a time of rest. Nature slows down with the cold, and I do too. Many people take January as a time to reset and create goals and resolutions for themselves. During this time of year is when I am able to settle down and plan out my garden for the next year. I reflect on what happened with the garden and what I might need to change. I start drawing out the plots and going through seed catalogs to see what I might want to try this season.
Even though I am far less active outside in the winter, taking this time to exercise my brain when I am avoiding the cold helps for the future months when I want to be outside. I work with the seasons, doing what feels natural. Do you find yourself doing the same? Do you do different activities with the seasons?
You don’t need to endure the cold to start to connect with nature- but a nice short hike outside is great for your health, even if it’s just to examine your garden plot as you begin to think of what to do in spring.