What if the secret to a happy life is to live seasonally? Living seasonally isn’t just about eating fresh produce (but, yes, that’s delicious). It’s about noticing nature’s rhythms, then adjusting depending on the season and celebrating those small shifts that define the passage of time.

And with the Spring Equinox here, which is a time of renewal and balance, it’s the perfect moment to talk about how we can welcome the season with intention. I’m joined by a dear friend Bailey Van Tassel—a mom, gardener, author of Kitchen Garden Living, and someone who’s  really committed to living a more seasonal lifestyle.

 

In this episode, we learn:

• [00:00] What is the secret to living seasonally?
• [03:15] What is Bailey’s journey into seasonal living?
• [07:00] How Bailey reconnected with nature
• [09:08] What really matters in gardening
• [12:26] The science behind gardening
• [13:50] How does biophilia explain our connection to plants?
• [15:00] Find a moment of calm and soothe your spirit with Wind River Chimes!
• [16:41] Nourish your plants and your soul this spring with Espoma Organic’s all-natural products!
• [18:43] Why permaculture is useful in living seasonally
• [20:09] How did Bailey’s garden evolve?
• [25:55] Personal growth through gardening
• [27:50] How gardening helps with anxiety and depression
• [28:52] What does it mean to truly live seasonally?
• [31:06] Winter vs spring in terms of energy and rhythm
• [33:48] What practices can you do to honor the Spring Equinox?
• [36:59] Why is it important to involve children in gardening?
• [42:19] Where can you find Bailey and her book ‘Kitchen Garden Living’ on social media?

 

 

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Evolution to Seasonal Living

Bailey grew up in Northern California in a cowboy/ag family, surrounded by people who honored the solstices and equinoxes. But like so many of us, she kinda drifted away from that lifestyle and chased after the Devil Wears Prada dream, with gucci bags, high heels, and climbing the corporate ladder.

Until burnout hit.

Then, she had kids. And suddenly, the fast-paced, material-driven lifestyle didn’t fit anymore. She craved the slower, more intentional way of living she had once known.

Eventually, she built two raised beds on a dead patch of lawn outside her townhouse. She had to drag a hose through her house to water them, but those little garden beds changed her life. She started sharing veggies with neighbors and connecting with people in unexpected ways.

 

 

What Does Living Seasonally Mean?

Spring is about waking up. Moving out of winter’s slow, inward state and into the energy of growth.

In winter, we store energy. We hibernate. We’re in holding on mode. But spring is the exhale. It’s hope. It’s light. It’s time to start again.

Living with the seasons is about small choices:

• Noticing what’s growing/blooming around you
• Eating what’s in season (instead of forcing summer’s flavors in winter)
• Honoring the shifts in daylight, temperature, and energy
• Finding ways to celebrate each season’s unique gifts

Bailey put it nicely: “Be where your feet are.”

Spring is a season of renewal and fresh starts. This is the time of year when nature literally wakes up. There’s a reason our ancestors saw this as the true new year.

 

 

Simple Ways to Honor the Spring Equinox

Here are some easy ways to start:

1. Plant something –  start some seeds or pot up some flowers in or outside of your home.
2. Cook with seasonal ingredients – for example, making a spring quiche with chive flowers, or sprinkling edible flowers on cakes.
3. Go outside and touch some plants – seriously, walk around, breathe, notice what’s blooming.
4. Create a seasonal shrine – you can gather flowers/twigs/leaves and make a little altar for the season
5. Spend time in the dirt – did you know that soil microbes increases serotonin?

 

 

Bringing Kids Into the Garden

One of my favorites about Bailey’s book is how she always includes ways to get kids involved. If you have little ones, you can bring them into seasonal living in fun ways:

1. Make nature bracelets: You can make a seasonal bracelet with your kids where you go around and pick plants that are in season
2. Scavenger hunt: Look at the first signs of spring like buds, flowers, or birds
3. Let them garden: Kids are very capable! You can give them their own pot, some seeds, and watch them learn and grow.

 

 

Spring Equinox: A Fresh Start

Seasonal living isn’t about doing it perfectly. It’s not about following strict rules or growing all your own food. It’s about noticing. It’s about embracing.

If you do one thing this spring equinox, just step outside. Touch a plant. Look at the sky. Breathe it in.

Or plant something. Take a deep breath. And let this season work its magic. It’s up to you how you honor the spring equinox.

 

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Brie the Plant Lady
• Kitchen Garden Living by Bailey Van Tassel

 

 

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Bring the gift of peace, serenity, and magic with chimes! Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for an amazing gift that can help you or your loved ones grow joy and find a moment of peace, a Wind River chime is the perfect option. Plus, you can engrave the wind sail on the wind chime with meaningful dates, names, or phrases!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Espoma Organic

As we welcome the season of growing and gardening, make sure you're using nontoxic products in the garden! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar-powered plant, zero waste manufacturing, and eco-friendly packaging.

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

 

 

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