In the Planning Stage

Even though winter is a time that most people can sit back and take a break from outside work, many gardeners and farmers are in the planning stage for this up-coming spring’s planting season.

There are a few steps that I know I have to take before I can get started this spring.

1. Remove any expectations. In my experience, having expectations on how things should go is a dangerous game, it can cause depression and anxiety when things don’t go as you want them to, so I don’t want to have any expectations.
2. Research. Researching what I want to do and how other people have done it helps me to build a list of ideas on how I want to carry out the changes I will be undertaking.
3. Set certain goals. It’s always nice for us to set goals, but keep in mind that they need to be attainable goals. For example, I know we need a new roof this next year so I may not have as much money to spend when it comes to all the changes I would like to make. Bearing that in mind, I need to make sure my goals are attainable with the funds that I expect to have. You don’t have to get too technical here, no one’s expecting you to sit up all night with a calculator budgeting out your money, just knowing that you can’t make any huge changes will keep your mind focused on all the small, more inexpensive changes you can make.
4. Make a list. I have to point out that you shouldn’t make this list a list of expectations on how you want things to turn out, this should be a list of what I want to get done or a reminder of the steps I want to take to get to my goal. Many people have lists when it comes to their home repairs or finances, lists can help us organize and keep all the information we need in one place that is easy to find.
5. Get started. Once you have set your goals and made your lists all you have to do is start. Once I get everything planned the first thing I have to do is order my seeds and plants for the spring growing season. I have never grown any of my plants from seeds, maybe this is the year to try it?

This list I gave can be used for anything you want to do, it’s good to have a clear picture in your head of what you want to do no matter what it is.

If for some reason you don’t like what you planned, or it’s just not working out, change it, it’s that simple. Nature is so flexible and forgiving, it allows you to make mistakes and it will keep coming back, so don’t worry.

Over the next few months I will be sharing my own ideas and drawings of what I want to achieve this up-coming year.