The winter solstice is a special time for me as Blue Borage - June 2018 was when I took off on a wintery road trip, to get a fresh perspective and ponder what my ideal business would look like - compost education was the result, with a strong intention to bring greater awareness of biodynamic methods into mainstream gardening.
Each year I ponder how I’m going with that.
Each year there are new wins, new highlights, and new challenges. And oh so many distractions.
Is
a distraction?I don’t think so — it feels like we’re creating a lighthouse beckoning the ‘biodynamic curious’ to come closer, to study the six plants used in biodynamic compost preparations, and to make use of them in compost following Maye Bruce’s method. For some this work will be enough, and for others it will be a stepping stone towards more traditional biodynamics.
Whatever the case, I’m thrilled to be helping gardeners all over the world get to know yarrow, chamomile, stinging nettle, oak, dandelion and valerian.
There’s a small solstice task in today’s voice note, whether you are in a summer solstice mood or winter solstice (I recommend doing this once a month or so)
look around your garden and make notes of what each of the six plants is doing right now.
repeat this every month or so, and you’ll build up a calendar of seasonality of your specific garden with these specific plants.
as you add in other herbs and flowers, add their growing cycle into your notes, so you have a clear idea of what you’re picking and when.
For me in wintery Whangarata:
yarrow is still flowering (slowly) - feels like a good time to dig up and divide by the roots.
valerian leaves are still visible (just) - feels like a good time to dig up and divide by the roots.
no chamomile - will need to start from seeds in spring.
dandelions have slowed down, but are still present
oak trees have dropped their leaves
the stinging nettle seems to have had its leaves munched by something (perhaps yellow admiral caterpillars?), it feels a good time to dig up and divide by the roots.
Note: tonight is the weekly compost coaching on Zoom (it’s a UK friendly time this week), if you want my eyes on your composting and the chance to dive deeper into this work, consider the paid subscription option.
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