Winter is the best time to get organized for the Spring. In the Northeast we follow the wisdom of the season by slowing down and reflecting on how the past season’s garden went, and imagining into the coming Summer.
For most of us, Spring is a very busy time and the longer and warmer days encourage us to get in the garden. It is helpful to have a plan, and then modify it as inspiration comes.
Reflect & Dream
- Reflect on last season’s garden: what grew well, what needed more support, what did you need more of, less of?
- If you need ideas, look in your pantry and apothecary. Are you out of dried tulsi but have loads of oregano? Did you run out of elecampane cough syrup by November?
- What do you LOVE to grow and consume? You might aspire for your family to be parsley eaters but if you didn’t harvest your parsley at all last year that might be a clue that the garden space can be freed up for another plant. Or maybe this is your year to make Parsley Pesto
- What is important to grow for resiliency? Storage crops like winter squash and potatoes can last all winter long, and many prepared herbal remedies can remain good for years and are easy to share with others
- Are there 1 or 2 crops that you’ve been dreaming about growing? Perhaps foods or medicines that your ancestors might have relied on?
Inventory & Plan
- Inventory seeds and test your older seeds (visit my blog post on testing seeds)
- Consider what plants are best to grow from seeds directly sown in the garden vs transplanted
- Consider garden layout: what perennials are already growing in your garden and how long will they be there for? Some perennials we harvest the whole plant when digging roots for medicine (like marshmallow root), whereas thyme can last for years while harvesting leaf
- Think about companion planting
- Will you be expanding your garden this season? How will you prep the soil?
- Draw a map of your garden and place your crops within it (you can check out each seedling’s page on our website to see our suggested spacing)
Want bio-regionally adapted varieties? Spring is the time to pre-order seedlings with us!