Greetings, Rural Sprout readers, It’s here, the end of Daylight Savings time. With it come the darker days of the year. I know many of us get frustrated by the lack of sun, but I’ve begun to cherish this time of year. The dark evenings remind me to rest. And boy, do I need it. (This
year has been a doozy for me.) So, as I set my clock back an hour, I’m also entering hibernation season. This past week was Samhain for those of the pagan tradition. Samhain is the end of the harvest season and the beginning of the new year and winter. It signals a time for rest and reflection during the shortest days of the year. I’ve always thought this
was a lovely practice, and the timing of the pagan’s new year made more sense than our Gregorian calendars. The pagans had the right of it with a calendar that followed the seasons. At least for those of us who lived in similar climates. I’ll certainly ring in the New Year with everyone else in January, but I’m treating November 1st as the start of my new year. As a gardener, ending my year with the end of the harvest and growing
season seems sensible. Now to adopt the rest and reflection portion of this ancient tradition. To do that, I’m taking a cue from my neighbors, and by my neighbors I mean the many four-legged critters who wander in and out of my yard all spring and summer. I’ve canceled my Netflix subscription and my HBOMax subscription. I’ve reined in my social
calendar. I’ve made a stack of books to read this winter and picked out a couple of knitting projects. I’ve bought a kitten-proof cover for my puzzle table. I’m ready to spend these dark evenings resting and enjoying quieter activities. My hope is that when the spring and the light return, I will be refreshed for a new growing season. I wonder, my friends if we all could do with a rest this winter and a change of pace. As the daylight dwindles, I invite you to join me in your own way in celebrating this season of hibernation and a new
year. Â
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We all need a little color to chase the winter blues away. Here are ten, easy-care houseplants that…
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Let's be honest, tomatoes are kind of a pain. We put in months of work for a few short weeks of…
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Ready, set, wait. Just because you are ready to close your garden down for winter doesn't mean that…
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If you've passed up "weird" looking winter squash at the farmers' market before because you didn't…
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Get a look into land regeneration with this interview with Kristen Krash, who moved to Ecuador with…
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Make no mistake, a survival garden is not just any kind of beautiful backyard garden. A survival…
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We tackle 13 of the most common Christmas cactus plant problems, and show you how to diagnose and…
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Now it's the start of the holiday season. If you're like me and millions of other folks, part of…
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Did you miss a newsletter or want to read a few for inspiration? Find past newsletters here. Don't forget to check out our Facebook page for daily updates. That's all for this week, Rural Sprout Readers. |
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