Wow. 2020 has flown by – okay not fast enough for most of us and not in really any good way. Now it is December and up here in Scranton, we have snow. We had around a foot of snow. (I couldn’t find my yard stick so I have been measuring in terms of my dog, Eddy – the snow was 1 Eddy high – just to his back so his head could poke above a snow a little.)
Yet… gardening season is not over. There are lots of things that can be done for our gardens. Now you might be thinking, “Oh Gosh, she’s gone crazy. There’s snow outside. How can you grow things?”
Well, yes, the outdoor growing season here in the north is well over. There is snow basically everywhere and only a hope of a little relief on Christmas Eve (50 degrees baby). It is currently 36 degrees Fahrenheit outside. Brrr. I 
see the outline of my garden but not much more. It’s already a few days after the storm and this is my yard. So, I do not plan on spending much time out there. I had placed some cardboard and paper on top of the beds to keep the weeds down (not like they can grow much with that much snow on top), but when it finally thaws, I want to keep the system healthy with this mulch. And you’re right, in the north, like my home here in Throop (just down the hill from Penn State Scranton and far from my people in Schuylkill), it is too cold to grow things outside.
Where could I be gardening? Answer: Anywhere in the house that has an ounce of light coming in. Though it is cold outside, our homes are warm and plants bring us benefits. The convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and are pleasant to look at. If we consider herbs, these plants can bring in other nutrients and also add some needed flavor to our meals.
I actually brought in as many of the pots that I could from the yard. Our house is under renovation, so a big Christmas tree was not going in the window, so it has become a great place for my garden to live. To add some holiday cheer, I even added one of the light sets from my mini tree to the garden.
They are mainly herbs from this summer that surprisingly lasted through several frosts and cold spells. Sage, lemon balm, spearmint, peppermint, parsley, Greek oregano, lemon thyme, lavender, and two pineapple plants are pictured here. I also have my rosemary, Italian oregano, avocado tree, and two lemon trees inside. The avocado and lemon trees were started from seed this year and were part of the food system previously. (Even if they never produce food, they are pretty).
So what can you do? A small pot in a window can be a ray of hope to spring. The seed bank still has lots of seeds to help. You can still email us for some seeds and grow it this winter. You just need to have temperatures in the mid 60s to get started (a little cooler works for some but just takes longer). I have basil starting and also some catnip (as a treat for our cats – who like to hide in the plants but have not eaten them – apparently more fun to pop out and scare the daylights out of me).
If you are considering some plants, make sure you are keeping your animals in mind (if you have them) and let’s keep fur babies safe this season.
Keep a little green in your life this winter. Happy Holidays! Let’s pray for a much better and Blessed New Year! Happy Gardening!