In the Garden: January

Happy New Year! The winter solstice has come and gone, as have the traditional fall holidays. The blustery dark days of winter are here, with rain and frost and occasional snow: the days of we-wonder-how-cold-it-will-get temperatures that seem to grow colder each year.

Our summer gardens are long gone, and spring feels far away. The familiar cycle of death and rebirth is in full play along the roadside, in the forest and in our own yards, a gentle reminder that there is a time for all things to begin and end. Animals have their winter coats and look harder for food and shelter. Magic goes on beneath the soil, as plants build strength for another year.

In these quieter months, we reflect on the old year and plan for the new. We dress in cuddly layers of warm winter clothing and keep our raincoats and boots next to the door. We put sweaters on our dogs, hats on our heads, and scarves and mittens on our children and our grandkids when we venture outside.

We crave our favorite comfort foods –chicken and dumplings, casseroles, and soups made with home-grown veggies stored in our freezer. We cook more and we eat more, and we usually gain a few pounds, which goes away when we’re back outdoors in the spring. 

We notice that we want and need more rest, more downtime. We honor our natural rhythm and our internal clock, the way our ancestors did for thousands of years. We settle into winter and move slowly through it, sometimes counting the days and hours. And steadily, every day, the sun remains above the horizon a few minutes longer.

As a gardener, I look forward to winter. There is much to be done during the quieter months, but the pace is different. I gather my seeds and finally reorganize them and file them away. I review my garden notes and decide on next year’s herbs and veggies. I make rough sketches of new growing beds to be built for flowers, decide where they’ll go and what will grow in them. I fine-tune my schedule for starting seeds indoors, to be certain of space beneath the grow lights.

I do these things at my dining room table, where I can observe winter in all its glory. Birds and squirrels sun themselves on the fence until the cat chases them away. Silent snowflakes whirl past the window, and raindrops make a lovely sound bouncing off the greenhouse roof. I delight in the romance of winter in my snug and cozy cottage in the woods, and in the gentle ways I live my life in this season. I am snug in my own winter cocoon.

The Danish have a word to describe the feeling I seek in winter: hygge (pronounced “hoo-gah”). Hygge is both a noun and a verb, that loosely translates to “cozy.” Hygge is best described as “a feeling of comfortable conviviality in a warm atmosphere that promotes wellbeing,” whether alone or with others. Hygge feels like being wrapped in a warm hug. Hygge is about slowing down, savoring our surroundings, and being present in the moment. Hygge is also about community and sharing ourselves with others.

In our fast-paced American lives, we often rush from one task to the next, one season to another. We miss out on today by thinking about tomorrow. We take down our winter holiday decorations as soon as the holiday is over, removing those special items we eagerly look forward to each year. Why do we put them away so quickly if they bring us joy? Hygge suggests slowing down and savoring the things we enjoy, including the sparkling lights and festive linens, the scented greenery and candles.

If winter makes you feel cold and bleak, make a little hygge of your own. Add soft pillows and warm throw blankets to the sofa, to cuddle under while reading. Have coffee, tea, and cocoa supplies at the ready, along with some tasty treats. Fill bowls with apples and oranges, pears and nuts. Use your favorite dishes. Hang extra lights in your windows and add brighter bulbs to your lamps. Simmer cinnamon and orange peels in a pot of hot water or in the crockpot. Have cookies for breakfast.

Community and personal relationships are important, whatever the time of year. Invite friends for dessert and coffee, to watch a movie, or to take a walk. Drive to the beach for sunrise or sunset and watch for eagles and whales. Come to lunch at the community center on Wednesdays and Fridays, where all ages are welcome. Get together with friends at the library or the community center to work on crafts, do a puzzle, play cards or a game. If you can, offer a ride to someone who has no way to get to these places on their own. Smile at strangers and sing in the shower. Happy New Year!