Greetings, Rural Sprout readers, I was making dinner in the kitchen tonight and noticed a Christmas decoration that I forgot to pack up. I’m not big on decorating for holidays throughout the year. I don’t do anything for Valentine’s Day, Easter or Independence Day. Christmas is really
the only holiday I decorate for, and I go big. I used to be the kind of person who would keep their Christmas decorations up until February. There was one year when I finally took my tree down the first week of April. I love the cheeriness of Christmas, and having the decorations up helped me slog through some of the longest days of winter. Although the days are lengthening again, here in Pennsylvania, we’ve still got quite a bit of cold, winter weather ahead of us. These are the days of cabin fever and the doldrums. Having the Christmas decorations up always seemed to help. But a few years ago, I began to feel a shift. Christmas has its place. I didn’t want Christmas stuff everywhere for weeks on end. I wanted my home back, and the space recovered from the Christmas tree. But as the weather was still cold and most activities were still indoors, going back to my usual
décor felt too drastic and stark. Somewhere along the line, I picked up three blue votive candle holders with snowflakes on them. Now, I have a very small collection of blue candle holders and evergreens that come out after Christmas to adorn my living room. Just the living room. In the evenings, which are still quite dark and lengthy, the blue and green mixed with the flickering
candlelight is a peaceful reminder that the holidays are over and soon enough spring and the light will return - is returning already. If you find yourself struggling this time of year, I hope you find a peaceful reminder of your own that the light is returning and spring will be here soon enough.
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On your next dry, frost-free day in January or February, grab your pruning shears and start pruning these plants.
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Some seeds take a little longer to germinate, here's a list of herbs, flowers and vegetables that aren't in a big hurry to get started.
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If you want to get a jump on spring and add more plants to your garden for free, start by propagating any of these plants in January.
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Starting seeds indoors before the growing season is important for some vegetables, but these 5 should never be started indoors.
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No matter what hardiness zone you're in, there are a number of vegetables you should sow in January and February.
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Mix up a batch of this all-natural deer repellent. It only requires four ingredients, and you likely have most of them in your kitchen.
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Drip saucers are ineffective and can leave marks on your furniture, use this handy trick to keep your houseplants tidy instead.
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How much would you be willing to pay for a single snowdrop bulb? Would you believe that a single bulb of a new snowdrop hybrid went for £1850 (about $2300) at auction a couple of
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Choosing chicks for your first flock? Here are nine beginner-friendly chicken breeds and a few you should avoid until you're more experienced.
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I set up nine Vego Garden modular raised beds this spring. Here's what I learned and what I would do differently.
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There's something uniquely special about trees. Trees give us cool shade in summertime and spectacular color in fall. They help take the dullness out of the winter landscape and are among the first plants to
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If you are just getting started with companion planting, you'll likely have more than a few questions. Can I plant tomatoes next to potatoes? What can you not plant with kale? Why can't I plant
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Heirloom, organic, open-pollinated - there's a lot to consider when buying garden seeds. Here's everything you need to know and 11 best places to source seeds.
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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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