A Gardener’s Guide To Winter

This gardener’s guide to winter will help give you some ideas to pass the time while your plants are dormant and resting. Spoiler Alert: You should be resting, too.

Winter In The Garden

In the dark, cold, windy depths of winter, my garden is a much less inviting place for me. Here in the PNW it is soggy, muddy, and grey. I feel much less called to be out there. I still crave gardening—I just don’t usually stay out there as long in the winter. 

Many gardeners struggle in winter, because we love our gardens so much, and it hurts to not be out there. While we can still find little chores and harvests here and there, it’s not the same. And we find ourselves thinking, “How do we pass this time?” 

While the garden can be less inviting in winter, there are also still a lot of chores and things that can be done: weeding, mulching, pruning, harvesting, cleaning up, planting bulbs….but this article isn’t about that.

What You Should Actually Be Doing In The Winter

This is about how to take a break from your outdoor garden. When I first started gardening, December and January made me crazy! I couldn’t wait to get back out there and put my ideas into action. Age has taught me a bit of patience now, though. And it’s also taught me the value of rest. 

Just like our plants need time to go inward and recharge, so do we. So here are some things (gardening related and not) you might do to fill your winter days.

Warm & Cozy Gardening 

I call this gardening from the inside! Winter is an excellent time for planning. From the warm comfort of your home with a hot mug of tea, you can start making your future dreams come true. 

This can include designing your space, rethinking things that didn’t work as well last year, or ordering and organizing seeds. Honestly in my opinion, this is the best use of a gardener’s time in winter. It helps you hit the ground running in spring. 

If you’re in the beginning stages of gardening, these articles are awesome resources for planning your space.

• Ten Essential Things To Do Before You Plan Your Garden
• The Biggest Game Changer in my Garden’s Success
• Gardening in Small Spaces

If you are looking to create your garden space for the first time, this is a fabulous resource for designing, preparing your area, getting soil ready, and making a watering plan. The Beginning Gardener’s Toolbox. (Now including a limited time bonus workshop!)

If you’re new to gardening, and using your harvests, this is a nice little free guide to get you started. The Beginner’s Guide To Urban Homesteading

Planning

If your garden is already established, make a plan for it. What are your goals for this year’s garden? You may even want to write them down. For example, last year I had a goal to grow enough tomatoes to store for my family for the whole year. This took some planning, since I grow in a small space. I had to plan what I wouldn’t grow this year to create enough space for them. I also had to redesign my beds to grow vertically. Because of taking the time to plan this out in the winter, I now have gorgeous rows of amazingly delicious tomatoes in my pantry.

Pests & Disease

Did you have any pests and disease problems last year? If so, they will most likely be waiting around for you this year, too. Start researching the problem and finding organic solutions for them. You may even want to purchase tools or natural sprays now, so they’re ready when the problem strikes.  Check out the Friend of Foe bonus in The Beginning Gardener’s Toolbox for more details about pests.

Goals

What are your goals for this year’s garden? Will you be growing mostly fresh flowers? How about herbs? Vegetables or fruits? Take the time to think about what you truly want to grow this year, and focus around that. It’s easy to get distracted by growing things that you don’t truly love. This is tricky if you’re in a small space, too, because it takes up valuable real estate that you may need for other things. Take the time to decide what you really want.

Check out, this post, New Year, New Backyard Vegetable Garden for alllllllllll things garden planning, including some great planner tools and resources. Or our at your own pace course, Homestead in the City for support with planning, prepping, planting, growing, harvesting, cooking, and preserving your urban homestead.

New Year, New Backyard Vegetable Garden

Preserving

Do you wish to preserve anything this year? If so, take the time to research what varieties are best for storing. This is especially true for squash, potatoes, onions, and garlic. Find the kinds that last the longest!

Are you going to be canning? Now is a great time to make sure you have all of the equipment needed. Do a little research to find everything you might need. If you do have what you need already, make sure it’s all organized and in working order. 

This is also true if you plan on freezing or dehydrating. Take the time now in winter, while you have more time to get things shipshape. Your future self will thank you in the busy moments of spring, summer, and fall. Here’s a helpful article on drying herbs. This is my favorite food dehydrator, if you’re going that route! https://amzn.to/3h4Mppy As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Take this quiet time in winter to think about what you really want, and put a plan together to make it come true!

Prepare

Winter can also be a time to gather tools and supplies you will need for the upcoming garden season. Check out my amazon shop for top picks!

Let Go Of What No Longer Serves You

Gardening is always such a metaphor for life. Winter is a great time to cut dead things back, remove what’s no longer serving you, and rethink how to make things better for next year.

Get Out Of The Garden Entirely 

Like I said before, winter is a quiet place to recharge so we can emerge stronger in spring. Part of that is stepping away from the garden completely. 

Use this time to do other things that make you happy. These are some of my favorite winter activities. Maybe they will bring joy to you, too.

Fun Winter Activities That Aren’t In The Garden

• Go to the pub with your friends
• Take some trips
• Spend time with your family
• Write
• Read books
• Go to the library
• Pick up a new hobby
• Go stay in a cozy cabin at the beach or in the mountains 
• Go to Trivia Night
• Have a Game Night
• Watch football
• Watch movies
• Cook
• Bake
• Go to winter brewfests and laugh at all the hilarious Santa’s
• Go to concerts and shows
• Try new recipes or find comfort from old ones
• Use your harvests from last year
• Go on cold weather hikes
• Listen to music
• Celebrate holidays
• Take a nap
• Sleep in
• Donate your time or money to a need in your community
• Listen to records
• Have a dance party in your living room
• Go ice skating
• Watch a tree lighting
• Make your house cozy with winter decorations
• Go to a hockey game
• Go to the gym
• Do yoga and meditation
• Have a bonfire

Things I Should Do That Aren’t As Fun

• Clean
• Go through the closet
• Clean
• Clean
• Did I mention clean? I’m bad at cleaning. 😂
• Work on your house and complete those nagging inside projects
• Paint a room
• Rearrange things

Doing these things prepares you, your family, and your home to have a more successful gardening season. Taking the time to care for yourself now, makes you stronger and happier in spring. Taking the time to research will make your garden itself stronger. And taking the time now to do all those tasks and chores will free up some much needed time during the growing season. 

This winter…Rest. Relax. Recharge. Rejuvenate. Go do you, boo boo.

A Winter Essay

If you’d like to read more about winter, and how while it can be hard, it is also very good for us, check out this essay I wrote for Purpose Fairy.

Wishing you all a warm, cozy, restful, fun, productive winter season!

Are You Ready?

If you’re ready to start your own thriving urban homestead, click here. Homestead in the City is a robust self paced course filled with videos, journals, guide books, and bonuses to take you from a totally beginner to an urban homesteader in one growing season!

Other Posts You May Enjoy

• How Can You Heal Yourself? My Journey To Wellness
• New Year, New Backyard Vegetable Garden
• Gardening In A Small Space
• Health Benefits Of Growing Lemon Balm
• Raspberry Leaf Tea
• How To Harvest & Dry Your Own Herbs

Just getting started?

Grab our free guide, The Beginner’s Guide To Urban Homesteading

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