
Are you feeling a bit eager? Has the darkness of winter weakened your bones? Are you ready for some vitamin D? Oh ya!! Spring is around the corner. Let’s jump into a checklist.
#1 Make plans for the garden~
Perhaps you are still stuck inside because of the inclement and wintry weather. In my area, the days are showing the sun more and more. Yay! On a good day, go outside, find some dirt and clear a space, free from weeds and grass which you will start your compost with and put your cold weather seeds in the ground.
Don’t forget to throw some wildflower seeds onto the ground too.
Lettuce, with so many varieties, spinach, kale, broccolli, all are a go for your springtime cleanse come April. Get the seeds into the ground now.
#2 Start your warm weather seeds in small cups indoors~
Tomatoes, peppers and my favorite warm weather crop… basil. I start lots of it indoors and replant it outside in May when night temperatures won’t go below 40 degrees (F). Replant your basil in a nice sunny place in the ground or if you have a patio in the sun, basil loves to be replanted in pots.
I love, love, love harvesting big batches of basil to make my own pesto to freeze to last me through the winter. Stay tuned for a delicious pesto recipe. (First things first…plant the basil!)
#3 Put a house for the birds in your yard~
Birds start scouting for nesting boxes in February. Now is the time to make sure your backyard birds have a clean house to make their home. This is a good activity to do with children. Nothing is more entertaining than observing nature in action with the changing season. Keep your feathered friends well fed and watered and you will be rewarded with song and dance come spring. Activity: Find a pinecone, spread peanut butter on the outside, roll in wild bird food and hang from a tree.
#4 Revive and Freshen you day hike pack~
When the days become longer, experience at least one solid hike a week. Take advantage of your city or town’s trail system by doing an internet search for a map of trails in the surrounding area.
Join a hiking group.
Buy a new water bottle to get you excited.
Top-off your band-aid supply.
Shore-up your sunscreen.
Re-tool your multi-use tool.
Investigate a new energy bar.
Darn your happy socks.
Oh, the places you’ll go!!!
#5 Tune up your bike~
Speaking of the places you’ll go…go there on a bike. Get to know the major components of your bike. The brake system, the chain, the tires, the gears. Bring it into a local bike shop for a tune up and hang out there. Ask questions about your bike and the places you can ride. What joy can be found in the bicycle as a vehicle…a human propelled vehicle. Imagine that.
I have a tee shirt that explains why I ride.
I Ride
To fly. To breathe. To touch. To feel beautiful. To laugh. To SOAR. To Relax. To Belong. To feel strong. To overcome. To heal. To prove them wrong. To feel free. To Live.
And when I fall, I get right back on!!!
It is true that we are products of the sun so why wouldn’t you like to be outside as much as possible come spring? Yes, we should be diligent in protecting our skin from the powerful sun, but let’s be healthy about it. Being in the sunlight can produce a plethora of positive health impacts. Both physically and mentally.
Oh, The Places You’ll Go
Here are some of my favorite things.
RXBAR Whole Food Protein Bar, Chocolate Sea Salt, 1.83 Ounce (Pack of 12)
CamelBak Podium Big Chill Insulated Water Bottle
Mountainsmith Drift Lumbar Pack, Heritage Black
Happy Socks Men’s Unisex Combed Cotton Crew-Multi Soda Pop (Pack of 1), Md Combo, 10-13