WINTER INTERESTS

I know that the winter season is fast approaching.  The days and nights are getting colder and Thanksgiving is upon us.  However, I am already longing for the opportunity to get my hands back into the soil.  Spring will not come soon enough.

There are still opportunities for remaining active and keeping the garden tools in operation.  We just have to be a little more creative.  For example,  I picked up some basil plants in the food store this past weekend.  I have some unused pots in the garage that were looking for something to do and quickly filled two containers with lush basil plants.  I had also taken coleus cuttings a few weeks back.  I let them sit in a glass of water for a month to develop new roots.   They were ready to be planted in pots this past weekend, also.

So, be creative.  Look around in stores for plants that need a good home.  Some food stores have small herbs that need a good home.  And garden centers have plants that you can adopt into your family.  Look for ones that can produce addition plants for the next growing season, such as herbs and annuals.  Your window sill or sunlit tables will do nicely.  It is a way to keep our interests and passions alive during the winter months and a way to get plants started for next year.  Hopefully, spring will be here soon!

Read more

SUNLIGHT

We have just turned the clocks back and gained an extra hour.  (Where does that extra hour go?)  However, the day light is less and less every day.  And it is darker earlier in the evenings now.  This can mean that our bodies are not getting  as much of the light that we need.  WE may be spending more time inside, also because it is getting colder and we do not get to spend as much time outside.  So, what do we do.

Well, we need to make the extra effort to still spend time outside in the sunlight.  Take a walk at lunch or make a few extra trips to the mail box.  Park farther away from the entrance to the store so you will have to walk a little longer.  Find a friend who will encourage you to walk on a regular basis.  Listen to some tunes or pod casts on your MP3 player. (Car Talk always makes the walk more fun.)  And – there are always things to do in the garden – fill the bird feeders, pick up branches, rake leaves, etc.

The lack of sunlight can lead to depression, fatigue, anxiety, insomnia and weight gain.  One of the best ways to combat this is to go outside and do it often to fight off the ‘winter blues’.  Do not take for granted that we can spend time outside tomorrow.  Do it today!  Get out and balance those circadian rythmns.  Enjoy!

Read more