It’s February, the last full calendar month of winter. The time of year when we get to see those glimmers of Spring coming. You will likely notice that the days are finally feeling longer. As Hozier says “the sun hesitates more with each evenings darkening”.
Just a few days ago we celebrated Imbolc (also known as St. Brigid’s Day) which marks the half way point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. In the Gaelic tradition, this is a festival that marks the beginning of Spring. Here in New England, I fear Spring still feels quite far off.
February has never been my favorite month. Even as someone who embraces Winter, by this point I am ready to stop having to wear quite so many layers. So it feels especially important this time of year that I sit down and make a simple seasonal living list for February. My intention is to try and shift my perspective and to seek out the pockets of joy and natural magic unfolding outside.
Seek out snowdrops
They may look fragile and delicate but they are built to survive these cold months. February is often when I start to see them pop up along my parents driveway. Last spring we planted some in our own yard and I’m so excited for these harbingers of spring to poke their cute little blooms out of the earth.
Eat warming soup and fresh bread
This is the time of year when our “squash closet” really shines. It’s just a coat closet turned pantry but was dubbed the squash closet back in 2020 when we grew an astronomical amount of winter squash and needed a place to store it for the winter. This particular closet is near our drafty front door and stays significantly cooler than the rest of the house. It was and continues to be the best place to store squash, onions, and potatoes through the winter months. We already ran out of garlic but our onions are holding up great, as are the last few butternut and spaghetti squashes. This is the time of year when we rest on the labors of last summer and dinner comes together with a few simple ingredients.
Lean into a cozy drink habit
We are still deep in Hygge season. It’s a time to make the coffee slowly. Break out the french press and make it a ritual. Take the extra minute to froth the milk. Become a teapot person. Learn more about Cacao. Pick a warm drink and make it your new hobby.
Deep organize
We aren’t quite in deep cleaning territory yet. But it’s the perfect time of year to pull everything out and take stock. Have a chest freezer you haven’t seen the bottom of in awhile? Now’s a great time to pull it all out, reorganize, and remember what you were putting away all those months ago. Same goes for going through your clothes, your linen closet, your pantry. Any place where things tend to get forgotten.
Start seeds
Even at this midpoint of Winter, there are things that can be started indoors. It will vary depending on where you live but here in New England, I’m looking at starting onions, broccoli, brussels sprouts, lettuce, and spinach. Herbs are also an easy thing to grow indoors. I can’t tell you how exciting it can be to see things sprouting anew.
Animal, Vegetable, Miracle
This one is pretty specific to me but feel free to adopt it. Every February I re-read Animal Vegetable Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. Some years I swear it’s the only reason I garden at all. I find it really lights a fire under me for supporting and contributing to my local food scene.
I leave you with this quote from Herbal Rituals by Judith Berger:
Come February, the blushing light of dawn insinuates itself more boldly across the landscape of the day, and as our eyes absorb the increasing brightness of the sun, subtle tremors rise from with in us to meet its broadening glow. Though the air still contains winter’s crisp bite, all creatures begin to shiver, and our trembling is caused not purely by the cold but by an excitement that begins to blossom down deep in the gut, an instinctive knowing response to the coming renewal heralded by the expanding light.
As always, thank you for reading.
Be good to yourself.
