The second week of January is coming to a close, and after a brief spell of disconcertingly mild weather, we’re all set for a bit of sleet and snow next week. So back on with the multiple layers of jumpers, out comes the kindle and wood for the fire once again, and no doubt my winter bird feed bill will once again rocket out of control.
I’ve also been battling with a cold of the virus kind. I’m entering my third week of being a snot-ridden, sneezing, haggard mess, and I’m not particularly happy about it. All plans I had about being ultra-organised and back into a routine have gone out the window as I struggle to get a decent night’s sleep, to feel energised or motivated at all. This one’s a stubborn hanger-on, and unfortunately there’s nothing I can do but wait it out. And moan occasionally. As you do.
But it’s not all doom and gloom here at The Smallest Smallholding – I’ve started clearing out the borders of last season’s detritus of dead organic matter, ready for digging over and replanting. Next on the list, after the next bout of cold weather has come and gone, are the veg plots. Still haven’t got the garlic in, but it’s on the To Do List. I managed to get my hands on some Cristo garlic bulbs again this year, and I am already almost salivating with anticipation at the thought of using those gorgeous, aromatic, juicy cloves in the summer.
I’m also slowly accumulating a wish list of wildlife-friendly border plants/seeds to buy and sow in the spring, and so far have added sedum, cotoneaster and salvia to the list, all the while dreaming of longer days, warmer climes and the sight of fresh, green buds. I find the long nights between January and February to be the most laborious and tedious, but it’s always heartening to know that spring will be on its way, and in the meantime I can spend my time scheming and dreaming of all the things I want to achieve in the coming year (without the inevitable disappointment of never quite getting around to those tasks).
This year though, I had a mini epiphany. An stupid epiphany, really, seeing as it’s just blatantly obvious. Whenever I don’t get anything done, I’ve always said “… but I never have time! I’m always so busy!”. Nuh-uh, that’s the wrong attitude. I’ve got to *make* time for my Smallest Smallholding. Otherwise, I’ll never have time to do anything that I want to. I have to think about it as crucial to my sanity and well-being, and it’s something that I *have* to schedule into my diary. Yes, better organisation of my working life and all things adult-y like housework will help to create extra time, but essentially, it comes down to the fact that if I never make time, I will never have enough of it. So there.
The other good news is that the one solid New Year (month) resolution that I set myself is also going well – dairy free for just the month of January. To be honest, it’s going so well that I can see myself extending it for several months… then perhaps indefinitely. Like I said before, I’m not sure if I’ll ever go vegan, but I need to make any commitment in that direction in small steps, to make it sustainable. This is where many people fail, I think, when it comes to going veggie or vegan. So I started with dairy – formerly a big part of my life (particularly mature cheddar cheese sandwiches, and ice cream), and now, not so much. OK, so I haven’t been faced with a situation where the only foodie options are lush, creamy cakes and such, but I’m doing well, with relatively little cravings. My chocolate cravings are fixed with a bit of Oatly chocolate milk (and the surprise package of Booja-Booja vegan raw chocolate truffles from one of my besties Amy), almond milk is gorgeous, and for now, I’m doing OK without cheese! It’s making me plan ahead a bit more, rather than lazily stuffing my face every lunchtime with a big cheese roll. I love pizza, but I’ll work out an alternative, I’m sure, and all the rest is just food that I can’t have, and I accept that. I feel like the whole exercise has had a positive impact on my diet, and I’m happy enough to just go along with it, for now. I would encourage anyone to do the same. A bit of change, a little bit of hardship (to be honest, if you know where to look, it’s really not that hard) and some lateral thinking are good for us all, I think. It also makes sense for me, as a person looking to live a more sustainable lifestyle, to consider dairy. It’s something that I cannot grow or produce myself, so cutting back makes absolute sense. I still think it’s important to support the smaller herds in Britain, and if you’re happy to continue eating dairy (like my other half), then I would implore you to do so. It’s hard to take the control away from the supermarkets, but as consumers we have so much more power than we’re ever led to realise, but we’re far too influenced or hoodwinked by the profit-driven big guns. Don’t ever be afraid to ask questions or make your voice heard.