🌠 December '23 Garden and Seasonal Guide
Geminid's Celestial Display; Garden Reflection and Dreams; Fruitcake?
The last few years, our family has made a point to clear our evenings as much as possible during December. Before putting the kids down to bed, we light some candles, follow along in an advent calendar, and listen to a song from an advent playlist. It is one of my favorite family traditions. In order for us to make this happen, we had to really plan for this time and guard it. December went from being a very fast, chaotic month, to one that is much slower and much more special.
This shift was really impactful on me. I’ve typed and retyped what the impact was/is exactly, and it’s nothing profound really. And yet, to me the experience of saying no to a full calendar and yes to a nightly rhythm with my kids, was indeed profound.
Use this guide to find a couple ideas for slowing down and savoring the season.
Inside
👨🌾 Garden To-Dos for November
✔️ Timely Tips
✍️ Seasonal Living
🍊 What to Look for at Market
🌕 Lunar Calendar and the Night Sky
📅 Important Dates to Remember
🥇 Calendar of Firsts
👨🌾 Garden To-Dos for November
✔️ Cover any outdoor compost piles to prevent leaching during the winter rains.
✔️ Stay prepared throughout winter for cold and freezing nights. A fall planted garden can last through spring if proper care and protection is given
✔️ Continue to harvest greens and root vegetables throughout winter
✔️ Replenish mulch in your garden with fallen leaves
✔️ If you haven’t already, order seed books and then order your seeds! We will be starting seeds (broccoli, kale, cabbage, head lettuce, celery, and Kohlrabi) in January!
✍️ Seasonal Living
Journaling about the previous year's successes/lessons: Take time to reflect on the previous year's garden, noting the successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Use this opportunity to document your observations, celebrate accomplishments, and identify areas for improvement, providing valuable insights for future gardening endeavors.
Season of Dreaming - Winter, a season of introspection, provides a perfect backdrop for dreaming. As nature rests, we can reflect, envision, and set intentions for the future. In the stillness, our creativity flourishes, and we can explore new ideas and aspirations. Embrace the winter's tranquility and let yourself dream a little as you await the arrival of spring.
Comforting Roasted Vegetables - Roasting winter vegetables like Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and root vegetables brings out their natural sweetness and enhances their flavors. Toss them with olive oil, herbs, and spices, and roast them to caramelized perfection.
🍊 What to Look for at Market
Local winter markets are much more rare than spring and summer markets. However, they definitely exist in some larger towns and cities. And if you are shopping in local grocery stores that carry local produce, its helpful to know what is in season and may be growing in your area.
Generally speaking, what I wrote in last months guide still applies. Broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, collards, kohlrabi, and cauliflower is still being harvested. If you are lucky enough to find some that were grown locally, you might notice a sweeter, more mild taste in these crops. Similarly, salad greens are being grown right now and will be full of flavor and crunch. Carrots, winter radishes, and turnips are in. And in Florida and the deep south, citrus is coming in!
🌕 Lunar Calendar and the Night Sky
Mercury will be visible, low in the western sky just after sunset. Look for it on December 4th. On this date it will be at its highest point above the horizon.
The Geminids Meteor Shower reigns as the supreme spectacle among meteor showers. Widely regarded as the most magnificent display in the celestial realm, it produces up to 120 multicolored meteors per hour during its peak. This stunning phenomenon is caused by remnants from the asteroid 3200 Phaethon, first observed in 1982. The shower occurs annually from December 7 to 17. This year, the best night for viewing the Geminids Meteor Shower will be on the night of the 13th after midnight. It should be an excellent year for viewing because moonlight will be minimal.
The Cold Moon, as it was called by early Native American tribes, marks the arrival of cold winter air and the lengthening of dark nights. It is also referred to as the Long Nights Moon and the Moon Before Yule, representing the approaching winter solstice. This year, look for the full Cold Moon on the 27th of December.
📅 Important Dates to Remember
Winter Solstice on December 22nd- The winter solstice, also known as the hibernal solstice, is a celestial event that takes place around December 21st or 22nd in the northern hemisphere. It signifies the shortest day and longest night of the year as the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky. During the winter solstice, there is a sense of profound transition as we bid farewell to the diminishing daylight and welcome the onset of winter. It holds cultural and spiritual significance across the world and it offers a time for reflection, intention-setting, and embracing the stillness of winter - inviting individuals to find solace in the quietude and draw inward for renewal and contemplation.
🥇 Calendar of Firsts
A calendar of firsts serves as a meaningful tool to celebrate and connect with the ever-changing rhythms of nature throughout the year. Its purpose is to document and acknowledge the first occurrences of various events and natural phenomena that mark the transition of seasons. By recording the first blooming flowers, migrating birds, or changing foliage, individuals deepen their awareness of the subtle shifts that unfold in the natural world. This heightened observation cultivates a sense of awe and appreciation for the beauty and diversity of our environment. Moreover, a calendar of firsts invites us to engage in a deeper relationship with the natural world, fostering a sense of connection, mindfulness, and gratitude. It allows us to truly immerse ourselves in the present moment and develop a greater understanding of the intricate cycles that shape our lives and the world around us.
December First’s to be Looking For:
Remember these are general examples for zone 7 in the southeast US. Specific occurances will depend on your regional climate and conditions. Keeping a personal calendar or journal will allow you to capture the unique experiences and observations of each month in your region.
First full viewing of Orion in the winter sky
First ice or frost flower
First sighting of wintering waterfowl: Northern Pintails, Buffleheads, hooded merganzers, etc
First bite of fruitcake! :)
We should have our first frost tonight (11/28) and I am not happy about it...
Taylor, I love hearing about your family rhythms and traditions. Will you share the advent playlist that you like to play each night?