Spring Equinox: Defrost, Compost, and Cultivate
Spring is stirring, and you can feel it — that undeniable shift. The air sharpens, the soil softens, and life hums with possibility. After months of winter’s stillness, nature is moving again — and so are we.
The Spring Equinox is more than just a calendar event; it’s a potent moment of balance and awakening. Light and dark meet as equals, and the energy is ripe for shaking off stagnation, clearing space, and inviting new life to bloom. If winter was the season of stillness and reflection, spring is the season of action — thoughtful, intentional action that sets the stage for growth.
Here’s how you can embrace this fresh energy — in your garden, your home, and your spirit.
In the Garden: What to Plant and Do Now
Early spring is all about waking up the soil and preparing for the season ahead.
🌱 Clear and Compost: Start by removing any debris or old growth from your beds. Compost those dried stalks and frost-bitten leaves — they’ve done their job and can now feed the soil. Just like in life, what’s run its course can become rich fuel for what’s next.
🌱 Plant Cool-Season Crops: This is prime time for sowing hardy vegetables like peas, lettuce, kale, radishes, and carrots. These crops thrive in the cool soil and will be ready to nourish you before summer heat sets in.
🌱 Feed the Earth: Add a layer of compost or organic fertilizer to refresh your soil and support strong spring growth. Think of this as fortifying your foundation — roots need rich soil, just like you need solid grounding to thrive.
🌱 Tend to Perennials: Cut back dead stems and leaves from your perennial plants to encourage new shoots. They’re eager to rise — they just need a little clearing to make room.
Foraging Wild Spring Foods
Spring’s wild offerings are bursting with vitality — the perfect way to nourish your body with the season’s fresh energy.
🌼 Dandelion: Bitter greens that support liver health and digestion. Use the leaves in salads or steep the roots for tea.
🌼 Chickweed: A tender green that thrives in cool weather. Excellent in salads or as a garnish.
🌼Miner’s Lettuce: Spinach-like and shaped like sweet lily pads, this nutrient dense green is everywhere in the Bay Area this time of year!
A Spring Decluttering Ritual
The Spring Equinox is a powerful time to clear out both physical clutter and mental stagnation. Here’s a simple ritual to help you release what’s no longer serving you:
Set Your Intention: Before you begin, pause and ask yourself: What do I want to invite into my life this season?
Declutter with Purpose: As you go through your space, hold each item and ask:
Does this still align with who I’m becoming?
Does this support the life I’m trying to cultivate?
Am I holding onto this out of fear or habit?
and finally…Do I really need this shit anymore?
Compost the Old: For items you’re discarding, imagine them becoming energetic compost — feeding your growth rather than lingering as stagnant energy.
Clear the Air: Open windows, burn some cleansing herbs like rosemary or cedar, and invite fresh energy to flow through your space.
Anchor the New: Place something meaningful — a candle, a small plant, or a piece of art — in your newly cleared space to represent your intention for the season ahead.
Self-Reflection for the Season
As you shake off winter’s stillness and begin to move forward, these questions can help guide your steps:
What do I need to weed out so I can grow?
What seeds — literal or metaphorical — am I planting right now?
What’s been feeling heavy in my life, and how can I lighten my load?
What’s one action I can take this week that aligns with my deeper intentions?
Spring’s energy is here — fresh, buzzing, and full of potential. Now’s the time to compost the old, make space for the new, and step boldly into what’s next.
Trust the process. The seeds you sow now will feed you in the seasons to come.
