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| The Garden Resting Under a Blanket of Snow |
Here at Simple Gifts Farm the changing of the seasons brings a corresponding change in our activities. After a busy summer of growing, cultivating, and harvesting our crops and bringing them to our friendly customers at the farmer's markets; the final rush of autumn to get the garden cleaned up, the garlic planted and what feels like a million other projects wrapped up before snow; comes the quieter, slower season of winter. For us this season is a much needed time of rest and refreshment. The days are shorter now, the days are colder now. We spend more time indoors by a cozy fire with a warm cup of tea. As we settle into the rhythm of winter we reflect on the busy season that has just past and plan for the year ahead. Winter is an important time to discuss ideas and goals for the coming year, to layout the garden on paper, study seed catalogs and decide on varieties and quantities, and make our seed order. It is also the time to work on indoor projects like updating our website, designing new brochures, repairing market tablecloths, or organizing supplies. Even though winter is slower there are many things to fill our time. We do more reading in the winter. There are so many great books and resources that can expand our knowledge, there is always more to learn. We also read more to our children, teaching them, and helping them become excited about learning, too. We get our creative side going while making soap, lip balm, and other body care products. This has developed into a small side business that helps supplement our income. More opportunities for gathering and fellowship with family and friends is another highlight of this season. We usually try to make a trip to visit my family in California sometime during the winter. It is fun to explore the Farmers Markets; which run year round down there; and talk to the farmers during our stay.
It is good to take this season to
remember and be grateful for the many blessings we enjoy; our
families, our friends, customers who support us, a wonderful
community, a gorgeous place to live, a warm home, food in the pantry,
work that we love, babies in our arms. As winter slowly slips by we
will soon begin to feel a restless stirring, a longing to get our
hands back in the soil, to see that first bit of green, growing life.
In late winter we will start our seeds in trays and the anticipation
of spring and the opening of the Farmers Market grows strong again.
And the cycle of the seasons continues.
This article was published in the months edition of the North Columbian Monthly.
