“All through the long winter, I dream of my garden. On the first day of spring, I dig my fingers deep into the soft earth. I can feel its energy, and my spirits soar.”
                                                                                                                    Helen Hayes

Hello Fellow Gardeners,

Although the winter weather here in Western Pennsylvania might be described as gray and gloomy, every season has its benefits; every season has its beauty. I've been thinking about the importance of maintaining our physical, emotional and spiritual health during these challenging winter months. So I decided to dedicate this week's segment to some suggestions in that regard. Afterall, we want to be in peak health when spring arrives and it's time to dig our fingers into the earth.

One of the biggest concerns these days is the possibility of contracting H1N1 or some other strain of flu. Whether you believe in vaccinations or not, the best way to avoid getting a winter cold, the flu, bronchitis, pneumonia or any of the other common winter ailments, is to strengthen your immune system. And the best way to do that is to eat a healthy diet. What does that mean? It means eating fresh, locally and seasonally. By eating seasonally we not only derive the maximum nutritional benefits, but ease the environmental strain of shipping out-of- season foods. (See attached article for a more comprehensive article on eating locally).

In our growing zones (5-7) winter vegetables are limited to those that can either be grown, or store well, in the winter. These include carrots, parsnips, beets, turnips, rutabagas, some greens and some kinds of potatoes. If you don’t have homegrown vegetables to keep you supplied, your best bet is to buy locally grown produce. Eating seasonally and locally is more important in the winter months than any other time of the year. Light, juicy fruits and vegetables grow in warm climates to accommodate the body’s needs in hot weather. So if you’re buying melons, cucumbers and tomatoes in the winter months you will not only be eating inappropriately for the season but you can be pretty certain that this food has traveled a long way. Next fall/winter we will be storing and eating our own locally grown vegetables but, for now, try to find a source of locally grown root vegetables and greens (kale, bok choy, spinach, chard). Ask your local co-op where their root vegetables and winter greens come from.

For some people, along with the problems of dry, cracked skin and stiff, creaky joints, maintaining mental/emotional health during the winter months can be a real challenge. The shorter days, longer nights and bleak winter weather can bring on a state of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Eating seasonally correct foods can help to alleviate all of these conditions

Since the body is working to preserve its heat, the digestive “fire” becomes stronger, allowing us to metabolize heavier foods. Lots of milk and cheese (for those who are not lactose intolerant) are recommended by Ayurvedic* practitioners. Rice, especially brown rice, is more easily digested in the winter and can be eaten more often. Barley and wheat dishes are also good choices. Oily dishes help to lubricate the body and warm drinks, particularly lots of warm water, help to retain both moisture and heat. For those of us who love salads, winter “salads” can be made with roasted vegetables tossed with a little olive or walnut oil and a bit of good vinegar and served over crisp winter greens like spinach, raddichio or arugula and topped with some toasted walnuts or croutons. A warm bean salad served over those same greens is another nice winter dish and beans are generally easier to tolerate when the digestive fire is turned up. Heavier vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, parsnips and turnips make good warming dishes by themselves or in the form of stews, creamy soups and casseroles. Nature is a beautifully integrated system and those vegetables that we most need, in addition to appealing to our appetites, are the ones that store well during the winter months.

Don’t be overly concerned if you put on a little bit of weight during the cold weather months. One of the messages our bodies are giving us is, “Hey, I need a little insulation here.” As long as it doesn’t get excessive, you will just naturally take those pounds off when the weather turns warmer again, your digestive fire decreases and your food preferences turn towards the cooling foods. One way I've found to chase away the winter blahs is to sing my favorite songs while cooking up a sumptuous casserole or a pot of soup. Fortunately, most of my singing is done in solitude, or just in the company of the Angels. 

Reflection:

We sing with gladness unto the Holy Law,
Which is the Heavenly Order,
To the days and to the nights,
To the years and to the seasons
We worship the Angels of the Day,
And the Angels of the Month,
Those of the Years, and those of the Seasons,
All the good, the heroic,
The ever blessing immortal Angels
Who maintain and preserve the Heavenly order.
We desire to approach the mighty Angels,
All the Angels of the Heavenly Order,
Because of the Holy Law,
Which is the best of all good.
We do present these thoughts well thought,
These words well spoken,
These deeds well done,
To the bountiful, immortal Angels,
Those who exercise their right rule.
We do present these offerings
To the Angels of the Day,
And the Angels of the Night,
The ever-living, the ever-helpful,
Who dwell eternally with the Divine Mind.
May the good and heroic and bountiful
Angels of the Heavenly Father
And the Earthly Mother
Walk with their holy feet
In the Garden of the Brotherhood,
And may they go hand in hand with us
With the healing virtues of their blessed gifts,
As wide-spread as the earth,
As far-spread as the rivers,
As high-reaching as the sun,
For the furtherance of the betterment of man,
And for abundant growth.
It is they, the Holy Angels,
Who shall restore the World!

                                                                       Essene Gospel of Peace  Book 3, pages 80-81

 

We honor the gift of the Angel of Life by taking care of our health because only when we are in good health can we do our work well and work done well is our expression of gratitude for the gift of life.

 

Until next week,

Peace be with you,

Rose Mirabai Lord

 

*Ayurveda:  India's traditional, natural system of medicine that has been practiced for more than 
  5000 years. ...

In case you missed any of the previous lessons, go to www.makegardensnotwar.com, click onto Angels in My Garden in the left side bar and scroll down to the bottom.