Winter is a time to restore your garden and yourself

Winter garden tips from Juan Carlos Negrete, chef at Three Blue Ducks, and permaculture designer. 

It seems like this weather has hit us all. Everywhere I look, there are hibernating people trying to recover from colds and sore throats and to stay away from torrential rains and cold nights.

The bees have locked themselves in to keep warmth in the hive, eating away all that rich honey they have produced. Even the luscious garden wants to have a break and hibernate, slow down, nourish itself and gain energy.

This is a great time to try to produce the most we can out of our patches, but also to step back a little and give the soil the best nutrition for the upcoming spring in a couple of months. Compost and plant green manures put nitrogen back into the soil and helps soils to catch rainwater and store it.

Winter is a great time to enjoy in-season leafy greens like rockets, chard, beets, sorrel and spinach that might be growing around you. While you’re spending more time indoors over winter, take time to replenish yourself and your gardening knowledge. Read up on permaculture, learn about your next garden move or community engagement, your favourite fruit, your local weather and how get rid of that cold. Nourish and strengthen your immune system and your gardens too.