Winter poses anxiety; it's a time for reflection, hibernation, and growth. Gardening teaches patience and the balance between action and resting. Dormancy is vital for renewal. Embrace quiet moments. Each season brings unique lessons: spring's optimism, summer's abundance, autumn's reflection, and winter's planning. Nature's rhythms show life thrives on ebb and flow. Winter, despite challenges, offers potential for rest and preparation for future growth.
Sow, Grow, Harvest: My Year in Reflection Winter has always been a tough season for my anxiety—it’s a time when we’re compelled to slow down, stay indoors, and sit with ourselves. Wed, 18 Dec 2024 18:41:23 GMT https://carmeninthegarden.substack.com/p/sow-grow-harvest-my-year-in-reflection Winter has always been a tough season for my anxiety—it’s a time when we’re compelled to slow down, stay indoors, and sit with ourselves. We reflect on the year behind us and try to map out goals for the one ahead. It’s a season of hibernation, tucking ourselves away with the hopeful promise of emerging renewed in the spring. Gardening, for me, has been a quiet teacher in this process. It has a way of showing us that not everything can be controlled or rushed—plants grow at their own pace, much like we do. Before we jump in to today’s newsletter:
I’m hosting a LIVE garden planning workshop next Monday 12/23 (replay will be available after). You can sign up here .
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The Rhythm of Growth One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned from the garden is the balance between action and patience. There have been times when my eagerness to do something —whether it was overwatering, over-pruning, or planting too soon—ended up doing more harm than good. And yet, in moments when I stepped back, let the soil breathe, or trusted the plants to do their thing, they flourished. I’ve grown artichokes nearly every year of my gardening journey. And, somehow, every year I get the anxiety that they won’t come back. Artichokes are perennials and they crop up in the springtime when the mornings are dewy and the afternoons are warm. Each year I am surprised with how vigorously they reemerge. Gardening mirrors life in this way. Sometimes we overwork, overthink, and try to control every detail, when what we really need is to step back, trust the process, and let growth happen naturally.
In the garden, dormancy is a gift. The soil gets to rest, perennials store their energy, and the landscape slows down in preparation for what’s next. Rest isn’t a sign of failure—it’s a vital part of the cycle. The same is true for us. Creativity, energy, and growth all need moments of quiet to recharge. This winter, I’m trying to embrace dormancy in my own life. I’m letting myself sit with ideas rather than forcing them, pausing instead of pushing forward. The garden reminds me that rest is a necessary part of renewal.
Take a moment to reflect: where in your life might you be "over-tending"? Is there a project, goal, or relationship where stepping back could allow things to thrive on their own?
2024 Seasonal Shifts Each season brought something unique to the garden this year—both challenges and gifts. And just like the garden, our lives shift and adapt to these cycles.
Spring Optimism
Spring always carries a sense of renewal, a season brimming with hope and fresh beginnings. This year, planting the first seeds felt especially symbolic, as I envisioned what I wanted to nurture—not just in my garden, but in my life.
Among the biggest growth spurts? I launched the fourth vintage of My Fruit Trees wine and had the joy of meeting so many of you in person to celebrate its debut. We also opened Cellar Hand , our dream restaurant in San Diego, where we proudly source directly from local farmers, fishermen, and ranchers—a labor of love that brings the farm-to-table philosophy to life.
In the garden, there were literal triumphs, too. I finally had a successful beet season (after so many attempts!) and celebrated my first true asparagus harvest—three years in the making! To top it off, I hosted an herb wreath-making party for my mother-in-law's friends.
What seeds were you planting back then—literal or figurative? What dreams or goals did you start nurturing?
Summer Intensity
By summer, the garden was bursting with life. Some plants exceeded all expectations, thriving in the heat, while others struggled or fell prey to pests. It was the season of classic harvests—the kind we work all year to enjoy. Tomatoes, corn, beans, eggplants, and sunflowers poured from the garden, their abundance a testament to the effort invested. The days stretched long, and the garden reached its peak. But summer also reminded me of the ecosystem’s fragility. When a coyote attacked two of my chickens, I was forced to reevaluate and adapt my setup to protect them better. It was a harsh, unexpected lesson in the delicate balance of stewardship.
This summer also took me far beyond the garden. We celebrated our wedding anniversary in Ojai, attended weddings in Santa Cruz and Denver, and ventured overseas to Copenhagen, Norway, and London. Each trip gave me a fresh perspective, filling me with renewed energy and inspiration to bring back to my little corner of cultivated earth.
It was a season of growth, both in the garden and in life—a time of adjustments, leaning into the unexpected, and finding beauty in the unplanned.
What about you? Did this summer bring surprises, abundance, or even challenges that pushed you to grow in new ways?
Autumn Reflection
Autumn felt like a deep exhale—a season to pause, gather the fruits of hard work, and reflect on what went right while letting go of what didn’t. This year, I harvested my first pomegranates, a milestone that felt especially rewarding, and the final big yields of sweet potatoes, beans, and herbs. With less to do in the garden, I turned my energy toward crafting, diving into painting and weaving. Keeping my hands busy has always been my favorite way to unwind, and when the garden slows down, creativity finds new outlets.
Outside the garden, I had the privilege of speaking on a Forbes panel about my journey as a content creator—a chance to share my story and connect with others navigating similar paths.
What were your fall “harvests”—the moments you were most proud of this year?
Winter Rest
Now, as we move into winter, the garden sleeps. This is a time for quiet observation, for planning what’s to come, and for dreaming about the possibilities of a new year.
What seasonal shifts did you experience in 2024? Take a moment to reflect on your own rhythms—what worked, what didn’t, and what you want to carry into 2025.
As I reflect on the lessons of this year’s garden, I’m reminded of how much we can learn from nature’s rhythms. Life isn’t meant to be a constant push forward. It’s meant to ebb and flow, to grow and rest, to bloom and recharge. Winter may be a tough season for anxiety, but it’s also a season of potential. A chance to hibernate with hope, to reflect and rest, and to prepare for the new growth that’s just around the corner.
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