As winter settles over our community garden and the beds disappear beneath a blanket of snow, the season invites us to rest just as our soil and plants do. In Calgary, the cold arrives early and stays long, but that doesn’t mean gardening stops. It simply shifts indoors and underground.
Now is the perfect time to reflect on the past season. What thrived? What struggled? Were there new pests, or did companion planting make a difference? Winter is when we take notes, share ideas, and plan for the season ahead. Seed catalogues are starting to arrive, and many gardeners mark February on their calendars to begin starting hardy crops indoors, like onions, leeks, and peppers, long before spring thaw.
This is also a good time to care for your tools and compost. Sharpen and oil garden tools, clean seed trays, and check stored bulbs or tubers for signs of rot. If you added leaves or straw to your garden beds in fall, they’re now insulating the soil, protecting beneficial microbes, and feeding the earth for spring.
Stay connected this winter through garden workshops, seed swaps, and planning meetings. Before long, we’ll be turning the soil again and welcoming another growing season together.
Until then, stay cozy, have a fantastic holiday season and we will see you all in the New Year! Happy Holidays!
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