December 21st 2021, at ten pm the Winter Solstice is celebrated here at Oliver Creek Farm with a large bonfire, weather permitting. Take a look at this web page where you see a breathing earth and a solargraph!
All you need to know: 2021’s December solstice
Today, November 25th we are four weeks away from the Winter Solstice. It is the darkest time for the garden as it continues to lose light each day, earlier and earlier. Then swinging to gain light after December 21st. It is time to reflect and plan for the new year.
My grandparents did not have greenhouses, instead on windowsills they would seed small cans of tomato, eggplant, pepper, watermelon, and cantaloupe seed in February. With care they transplanted the seedlings into larger containers. Once the snow melted along the edge of the house or barn they dug the hotbeds. And prepared them for transplanting and further seeding.
In April we had lettuce, spinach and peas ready in our garden beds that were made with goat manure and hay. By doing this layering the manure and hay heated the cool spring soil and encouraged the plants to grow. Cucumbers were ready to eat in school sandwiches in May!
Warmth is important! Plan now for your own cucumbers and lettuces next spring!
May the spark within you warm your days while the Earth experiences these darker days.
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