I live in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is mid-November and feeling like early summer. The birds don’t seem to have migrated south. And although leaves have fallen from the trees, we have an abundance of weeds for our salads.

Should I be concerned? Um, yeah. But as the adage goes, Make hay while the sun shines.

Because today, I can’t make it rain. Today, I can’t make it snow, or make the temperature drop to normal. I can take advantage of the harvest, and obtain the nutrients available from those plants, and enjoy the flavours.

And I can continue my efforts to reduce my negative impact on the Earth. I’m recycling much more than I ever did. I’m reusing so much more. I’m buying fewer items with waste packaging. And I started an indoor garden and vermiculture, for when the snow does start to fly. Having a blast!

My garden will consist of herbs, celery (seen below,) and some medicinal plants.

(Yes, that is snow on the deck, but it was normal weather for 2 days in the middle of an unusually warm 2 weeks!) The garden will be nourished by the castings from my worms, who currently have their accommodations on a table nearby.

Vermiculture is quite easy to set up, and is a great way to control your food waste in the winter. A small Rubbermaid tote like the one above, soil and sand (for grit,) and starter, which may include coco bricks or shredded newspaper. I love my “verms” and talk to them often. Because I only have a small bunch of 150, I can’t feed them too much. But, they are already starting to divide! I saw one worm in the process of forming into two worms. It was fascinating!

So, whatever your interests, you can do so much to help the world, even if you have a small place. I will post updates on my adventures as things unfold.