FRESH FOOD IN SEASON

In the hedgerows

Learning to forage is a fun thing to do as it puts you in touch with both the culinary and medicinal benefits of different wild plants, fruits, fungi, berries and herbs that you can find and collect locally for nutritional health and healing. Remember to always follow the Foraging Code (WildFoodUK), respect the land, animals, birds and other creatures who depend on wild food to survive.

I have written about the benefits of foraging and where to start in The Wonders of Wild Food and Foraging for Nature's Bounty.

Food to Forage

Chickweed, Hairy Bittercress, Dandelion Leaves, Sow Thistle and WIld Wintercress

At the local market or farm shop

Vegetables - Purple Sprouting Broccoli, Carrots, Brussels Sprouts, Turnips, Beetroot, Spinach, Jerusalem Artichoke, Kale, Chard, Lettuce, Chicory, Endive, Cauliflower, Cabbages, Celeriac, Swede, Leeks, Forced Rhubarb, Potatoes, Sweet Potatoes

Herbs - Winter Savory, Parsley, Chervil, Thyme, Coriander, Rosemary, Bay, Sage

THINGS TO DO IN THE GARDEN

There is always something to do in the garden at any time of year. Use this quiet time to go outside into the fresh air and daylight, tidying and pottering in preparation for the Spring season ahead.

Seeds - collect, dry and germinate your own seeds from organic plants, fruits and vegetables

Planting - pot newly sprouted seeds indoors or in a greenhouse, cover to begin with if stored in a cold room

Gardening - leave old growth where it is for now to provide shelter for many creatures hunkering down for Winter

Tidying - clean pots, dig, spread manure, compost, repair, and adjust or replace plant ties and wires

Feeding - keep feeders clean and filled with wild bird food and fat balls with a fresh bowl of filtered water nearby

Planning - take time to take stock and think about things to grow in the new Spring season

Vegetables - only the hardiest of vegetables can be planted outside but plenty can be sown indoors this month

THINGS TO DO IN NATURE

Feed the birds

One of the most important things we can do is put out plenty of wild food suitable for birds through January. Don't forget to leave fresh filtered water and make sure to clear away any ice so that they can drink freely from bird baths and bowls. With natural food stocks so low, this can be a life-saver for our feathered friends during the colder months.

Birds require high-energy (high quality fat) foods during cold weather to maintain their fat reserves. They need this to survive the frosty nights so make sure you use authentic natural wild bird food without any additives and leave out only high quality bird-friendly food and scraps.

Remove any unwanted food regularly and keep your feeders, water bowls and bird baths clean. Top up bowls and bird baths with fresh filtered water. Remember to break the ice on frosty mornings.

Find further information about what and when to feed your garden birds on the RSPB website - When to Feed Garden Birds.

Go for a leisurely walk

Some of my favourite places for long leisurely walks in Devon include national forests, ancient woodlands, coastal paths, moorland tors, healthland and rivers. At this time of year, pathways are cushioned and coloured with fallen leaves and bright green moss, mature ferns and holly tree branches with bright red berries. Mother Nature's palette is rich and to be experienced as Nature sparkles in the cool air, especially after the rain. 

Many of these areas are deserted during the Winter months so you can experience the feeling of being far from the maddening crowds to enjoy an invigorating walk exposed to the elements surrounded by the beauty of the surrounding landscape. Walking is a wonderful way to release tension, tune into the natural rhythm of Nature and feel gratitude for the natural world that sustains us all through the year.

Take in some daylight

To keep our spirits up and allow our body to make Vitimin D naturally during the coldest months of the year, it is important to take in daylight during the day so that our eyes can absorb essential light from the low-lying Sun.

The quality of the light in January is different from any other month of the year, especially on a misty morning. With low lying clouds glowing as the dawn rises with dew on the grass glistening with frost, it is a pleasure to behold. Everything is fresh, cool, clean and bright, the light glows red to white and it's a beautiful way to start the day.

Natural light is essential for eye health. It helps the human body to produce Vitamin D required to regulate calcium absorption, contributing to the development and maintenance of healthy eyesight. We are often deficient in Vitimin D at this time of year so getting enough daylight everyday is important. 

All in all, Natural light plays an important role in slowing down the aging process and improving our vision, especially as we admire a far-away landscape, gaze up at the clouds or watch a bird flying high in the sky.

I hope you enjoy making the most of Nature through January for your good health, happiness and wellbeing, and look forward to seeing you here for the next Almanac on 1 February 2025.

Sue Cartwright

Spiral Leaf

Buy a book!

Books with seasonal information presented for each month of the year are available from the Spiral Leaf bookshop using the links below. Spiral Leaf may earn a small commission on books sold only by independent book sellers with no extra cost to you!

The Almanac - A Seasonal Guide to 2025 by Lia Leendertz

The Leaping Hare Nature Almanac by Raluca Spatacean

The Forager's Calendar: A Seasonal Guide to Nature’s Wild Harvests by John Wright

Wild Hares and Hummingbirds by Stephen Moss

The Running Hare by John Lewis-Stempel

The Leaping Hare by George Ewart Evans and David Thomson

Meadowland - The Private Life of an English Field by John Lewis-Stempel