✏️ December '24
Tension and Growth
When I think of December I think of Advent. It is our family’s act of resisting the tide that constantly pulls us away from the present. We intentionally make room in our lives for a family gathering each night. A serious occasion that includes reading, candles, songs, and prayer. It orders life a bit during the full and hectic Christmas season.
December is a tough month for me. It requires me to live in tension. Creation is slowing down and going to sleep. It is the season of simmering, bread, and reflection. Of lit fireplaces, family, and long, dark nights. It is also a season of bright lights, festivities, and lively occassions that vie for my time, space, and mind.
I wrote recently in my journal that I want to experience contentedness. Deep contentedness. This season in particular, is calling me there. It is also loudly beckoning me away. Tension.
Growth doesn’t happen without tension. It happens inside of tension.
🥦 In the Garden
Carrots, spinach, and kale all taste better in December than in any other month. Just trust me. After a hard frost, you’ve never tasted a sweeter carrot. The spinach, fresh off overnight lows around 25°F elicits a physical response from my body. You can taste the healing. And the Lacinato Kale, plucked after the frost has melted away tastes like the sun if it were green.
And these plants just hang out in the garden. They don’t need much; just some minimal protection on the coldest (<19°F) of nights. Weeds are gone. Pests are gone. (Except deer, but you can also harvest deer in December. They too, taste best after a good freezing night.) The winter garden is truly a delight.
Garden To-Dos:
✔️ Cover any outdoor compost piles to prevent leaching during the winter rains.
✔️ Stay prepared throughout winter for cold and freezing nights. A fall garden can last through spring if proper care and protection are 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!
✏️ Journaling
I have… Three journals. Four, actually. The fourth isn’t a real journal, it is the external portion of my brain comprised of “to-dos”. It would make sense to keep my gardening to-dos in this notebook. I’m going to do that in 2025; just made that decision. I’ve never consistently kept a garden journal, even though I encourage people to do it here. Perfectionism gets in my way. But, it will be a treasure. Maybe I should start a new journal for it…
Of my other journals, one is for my kids after I am no longer here. I write on all topics there. How I am feeling. Stories about them. Stories about me. The other journal follows the “morning notes” style. I will likely retire it soon. I’m not consistent enough. Lastly, I have a journal for devotions and prayers.
I’m adding a nature journal for 2025. It will combine things I notice in nature around our property. I will be sharing those observations here, in a monthly letter.
Lastly, I think this year, I am writing an annual review and reflection. I’ve never done that before. I think it will be a worthy exercise.
Anyway, December is a great time for writing. For looking back and for looking ahead. Tis the season indeed!
🍊 Eating in Season
Local winter markets are much more rare than spring and summer markets. However, they definitely exist in some larger towns and cities. If you live in an area with active local markets, definitely support those farmers. Greens, root vegetables, and citrus are all in season and delightful this time of the year!
Back when Morgan and I were growing commercially, we met a few old-timers that took off in the summer instead of the winter. This has its downsides, but also many positives including less competition, less heat, and less bugs.
In south Alabama, the Satsumas are pouring in! However, the cold snaps we’ve had in the past couple winters have really taken a toll on these orchards.
🌠 December = Geminids
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.
🌕 Lunar Calendar
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 15th of December.
❄️Winter Solstice
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 occurences 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 (Saw my first one on December 4th!)
First sighting of wintering waterfowl: Northern Pintails, Buffleheads, Hooded Mergansers, etc.
Before you go!
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🎧 Morgan and I do a podcast. Listen here: A Common Life Podcast