Greenhavens Network

NOVEMBER ‘TIME TO REST’

As the crisp mornings are upon us, November is a time to rest and reflect, and gather energy for when the light returns in spring. As autumn let’s go and leaves turn to a gorgeous array of yellows, oranges and reds November is a time to allow yourself to rest and enjoy the harvest many gardens have provided. It’s a time when the earth rests and retreats before the cycle of life begins again. It’s time to slow down and do the final jobs in the garden before snuggling down as December and Christmas approaches, a time to holistically look after yourself.

The deciduous trees have become dormant, saving their energy for spring, but instead of sweeping up these leaves and taking them as waste, they are an excellent source to condition your soil. By piling them up in a corner and letting them slowly decompose for spring you are generating a great additive to soil that stops a valuable resource from reaching landfill. It also allows a home for our much-depleted insect population.

It is also a great time to chop and drop – most green leaf (apart from bindweed) can simply be chopped where it is and left around your plant as mulch. Mulching your trees and plants is also crucial in looking after them throughout the winter and preventing unwanted growth come springtime. It ends up enriching the soil, provides a protective covering, prevents evaporation and erosion of our precious soils. Mulch can be straw, hay, forage chopped from your garden, wood shavings and shredded hardwood.

Just as we make time for our earth and plants to rest, then it is also important to make time for ourselves to rest. Autumn with its harvest follows busy summer months collecting and storing the fruits of our labours. Just as the earth rests in winter then so should we. For centuries winter was the time of deep rest – hundreds of years ago time spent with community sharing stories around the fire, weaving tales whilst making traditional crafts. In our modern day and with the pressures of everyday living increasing then we must look to community and family to nest with, eat food with and share stories, dreams and ambitions. With our current government doing little to ensure our needs are met, it’s time to look to community and within ourselves to find warmth, food and understanding. Locally we are blessed with amazing community groups, all providing food and a space in which we can grow. Find a local group/place that will help you during the dark nights and cold days, where you can go and be heard and feel warmth in your heart. Join a group, get involved, it’s good for the soul when we give, as we always receive far more than we have given. And the winter evenings don’t seem so long when we have been occupied in the day.

It’s a time to nourish our souls and bodies with community, relaxation and reflection. Time to make plans for the new year, what do we want to grow, in ourselves, our community and our garden. Winter is a time for rest and renewal, much like natures cycles and patterns. We seem to think we must be productive all the time, our culture thrives on the need to work hard at all costs, yet this is exhausting and counterproductive. In looking to nature, we see this period of hibernation essential for productivity come spring. So get out and enjoy the light in the day to boost your mental wellbeing and curl up and look after yourself in the dark evenings and rest. It’s time to take responsibility for our own wellbeing, look to nature and rest with her.

Miriam Thundercliffe