Swap Those Winter Blues for Greens!

Swap Those Winter Blues for Greens!

One of the things we love to do most in Atlantic Canada is complain about the weather. I have to say that I am among the people who believe that I was not made for northern winters, and have found myself impacted by Seasonal Affective Disorder for the past several years.


Last winter, one of the ways I was able to foster hope during this season was by participating in an online course about permaculture and food forests led by Andrew Mathis from Oasis Farmery in Fredericton. Since then, I've started a small food forest in an old rock quarry near where I live (more details on that forthcoming, I'm sure). Make no mistake: I am *not* a farmer, and do not grow plants for survival. However, I'd like to do more of that in the future and I have to say that this course was both hugely inspiring and practical, so that someone like me with a billion ideas in her head all the time could take the steps needed to actually get it started. And it makes me excited for the coming growing season.

 


This fall, I built a cold frame as an experiment. A cold frame is essentially a tiny greenhouse that keeps your vegetables from freezing in the winter. Learn more about them here: https://www.almanac.com/how-build-cold-frame I've included pictures of mine. Now I know we still have a few months of winter left, and we've certainly had some mild days so far, but picking fresh arugula in the snow has been an amazing feeling this winter. I've included some photos of my simple cold frame. I planted arugula, cilantro, spinach, Claytonia lettuce and endives. Next year I'll start earlier and probably build a bigger cold frame since it seems to be working!

 


So how about you? How can you "extend the season" of your connection to the earth into the winter months?

If things feel a bit overwhelming in the winter, consider taking this time to simply dream, journal, sketch, or whatever method you use for self-expression. If you want to start your own garden in the spring or join a community garden, articulate what you want to achieve with this for yourself or anyone else in your life. Then perhaps as the days grow longer you'll feel inspired to take some more concrete steps toward making your new dream a reality.


Here are some local resources you can consider for inspiration:

 


Wishing you all moments of real hope and fulfillment in the months ahead,
Miriam

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