New · A seasonal rhythm
This Month at the Academy
A simple monthly rhythm for a self-reliant, God-honoring home. Each month shows what to sow, what to preserve, one practical skill to grow in, and a scripture to carry with you.
Winter
January
Rest, plan, and dream the year ahead.
January is a season of quiet and preparation. The garden sleeps under frost, so this is the month to plan your beds, order seed, tend your tools, and start the earliest, slowest crops on a bright windowsill.
What to sow
Start onions, leeks, chillies and sweet peppers indoors. Outdoors, focus on planning and warming a bed under cloches for next month.
See the full January sowing guideWhat to preserve & store
- Check stored roots, apples and squash, and remove any that are spoiling.
- Take stock of your pantry and rotate older jars and tins to the front.
- Forced rhubarb can be started indoors for an early treat.
A skill to practise
Plan your year and tend your tools
Sketch this year’s garden and pantry goals, then clean, sharpen and oil your hand tools so they are ready when the work begins.
A scripture to carry
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.”
Begin the year unhurried. Rest is not idleness but trust, that the God who set the seasons in motion will provide in His time.