It’s been one of those weeks.
Cold mornings, wind that cuts straight through you, and not quite the conditions you’d choose for getting stuck into the garden.
So I’m not rushing it.
I’m doing a little each day, working around the weather, and focusing on what I can do rather than what I think I should be doing.
🌱 Starting Seeds (The Slow Way)
This week I’ve been saving toilet roll holders and planting two snow peas in each.
It’s simple, but it works.
They’ll grow just enough to get started, and when they’re ready, I can plant the whole thing straight into the garden without disturbing the roots.
Some are ready now — but with the wind and cold still hanging around, I’m holding off just a little longer.
🌿 Letting Seedlings Get Stronger
Normally I’d move things along a bit quicker.
But this time I’m letting seedlings grow slightly bigger in the greenhouse before planting out.
Just to give them a better chance.
With the frost still biting in the mornings, anything too small just struggles.
A bit of patience now usually pays off later.
🔍 Checking the Seedling Stations
It’s been about a week since I set up the seed trays, so today I’ll go and check on everything properly.
See what’s come up, what hasn’t, and what needs adjusting.
This is one of those quiet jobs that doesn’t look like much — but it tells you a lot about how things are tracking.
🌬 Working Around the Weather
The biggest factor right now isn’t timing — it’s conditions.
Cold, wind, and frost all slow things down.
So instead of pushing ahead, I’m:
- waiting until the middle of the day
- holding off planting where needed
- focusing on preparation instead
🍞 A Bit of Kitchen Rhythm Too
While the garden ticks along slowly, the kitchen is doing its thing.
I’ll feed my sourdough starters today and start baking later this afternoon.
I’ve split my starter into two, so I can make a couple at a time and build up to about six loaves by Sunday.
The new beeswax-lined bread bags have been a bit of a game changer — the bread stays fresh longer, which means I’m not baking constantly during the week.
A bit of effort upfront, and it gives me some breathing space.
🌿 Using What’s Already There (Herbs & Pantry)
This week I’m also finally getting around to something that’s been sitting on the list for a while.
All the herbs I dried earlier in the season are ready to be jarred.
They’ve had a few months in the pantry and are well and truly dried — and to be honest, the oregano sitting loose in there has started to make everything smell a bit like herbal coffee in the mornings.
So it’s time.
I’ll go through, jar everything properly, and start using them again in cooking rather than just letting them sit.
✂️ Starting the Next Batch
At the same time, I’ll cut back some of the woody herbs — oregano, rosemary, thyme — and start another round of drying.
It’s one of those quiet jobs that doesn’t feel urgent, but keeps everything ticking along.
A little now means you’ve always got something ready later.
💡 Mrs E Tip
Dry herbs when you’ve got plenty, not when you’ve run out.
🌿 What This Week Really Looks Like
It’s not big planting days or perfect rows.
It’s:
- starting seeds
- waiting a bit longer
- checking what’s working
- adjusting where needed
And letting things move at the pace the season allows.
💡 Mrs E Tip
If it’s cold, windy, and not ideal — don’t force it.
Start small, let things grow stronger, and plant when conditions are on your side.
Final Thoughts
The garden doesn’t need to be perfect this time of year.
It just needs to keep moving.
A few seeds started.
A few things checked.
A bit of patience.
That’s enough.