Winter Farm Chores - Setting the Scene for the Spring Ahead

Reflections on Life, Art, and the Beauty of Preparation

December is one of my favorite months on the farm. Everything feels quieter, slower, as though the earth itself is catching its breath. This is when the magic happens—not the showy, obvious kind of magic like a blooming field of sunflowers, but the quieter, almost secretive kind that whispers, “The best is yet to come. We are conjuring something new and beautiful!"

This is the time for preparation, dreaming, and the sort of quiet labor that doesn’t always make it to Instagram but holds everything together. It’s also when the parallels between farming and art practice hit me the hardest. Whether I’m mending the fences the ponies kick down, or organizing paints and art supplies, both processes involve a kind of faith: the belief that the work I’m doing now will blossom into something beautiful later.

Oh, and there’s exciting news ahead, too—because this year, Flower Moon Farm is gearing up to host a series of in-person art workshops in the flower fields! We’re calling them Vibe Like Vincent, and they’re all about Authentic Impressionism and mindfulness. Imagine painting sunflowers, guided by meditation, while surrounded by their golden glow. But more on that later—let’s get to the winter chores.

Regrouping and Assessing for the Upcoming Year

Before we can grow anything or paint a single stroke, we need to make sure the tools of the trade are in good shape. December is when we haul out the shovels, rakes, pruners, and that one wheelbarrow with the wheel that is perpetually loose - that drives me mad! Cleaning, repairing and sharpening tools is oddly satisfying—it’s like prepping your brushes and paint before starting a fresh canvas. All the possibilities lie at our feet (literally) and the ground is a fresh canvas.

And speaking of canvases, this is also the time for inventory. I check seed stocks (a bit like checking paint tubes—who knew there were so many shades of green?) and start mapping out the garden. I've been ordering a few new things - wildly wonderful snapdragons and exotic nigella just to name a few. This year, I’ve been sketching not just garden beds but also workshop zones. Think soft, grassy patches where artists can set up easels and paint the fields of cosmos or lavender that we’ll plant with their experience front of mind. I'm so excited about the farm, because it gives me a chance to create and imagine a space that I would want - that I would enjoy painting. It's all a work in progress, but good things come from tiny ideas.

In the studio, it’s the same story: tidying up, finishing a commission, organizing materials, and maybe even rediscovering that one forgotten sketch that sparks something new. This kind of planning—whether for farming or painting—requires imagination and awareness. It’s like dreaming on paper, and it never fails to make me smile. One must be open to anything - anything to set us on a path of artistic discovery and new growth in the flower fields

 Preparing the Soil

Now let’s talk dirt—literally. Winter is when we clear out last season’s debris, toss it into the compost, and let it transform into the rich, black gold that will feed next year’s flowers. There’s something deeply satisfying about turning a compost pile. It’s messy, sure, but it feels like alchemy. What once looked like chaos becomes nourishment. We've left a lot of plants in the fields - I love the look of them in the snow. It will make for a busy spring cleanup, but sometimes you have to sacrifice practicality for beauty.

Preparing the soil reminds me of the layering process in oil painting. Just as soil needs balancing—greens and browns, acids and alkalines—art thrives on layers. A compost pile and an underpainting both start rough and messy, but given time and attention, they evolve into something magical and are SO important to the whole foundational process.

This year, when we test the soil and dig in required amendments, I’m imagining rows of blooming flowers—future muses for the Vibe Like Vincent workshops. Healthy soil grows beautiful flowers, and beautiful flowers inspire meaningful art. We have amazing soil here at the farm. I have to pinch myself sometimes, as I feel it is as productive as the black earth of Holland Marsh in Ontario. It’s all connected. 

Taking Care of the Animals

Our beloved animals at Flower Moon Farm are a lively bunch, even in winter. They bring so much life to the landscape. The horses, of course, are regal as always, standing against the frost with a certain grace that only they can muster. "Where is my supper?", they say. But the mischievous ponies? Let’s just say they’ve been testing the integrity of every fence post we’ve put up and are like little imps at play in their paddock.

One surprise at the farm over the past year have been the KuneKune pigs, (Wheeler, Betty and Poppy) waddling around like little ambassadors of joy, their snouts always busy searching for treasures beneath the snow when it's warm enough...and flopping back into their steamy warm shelter to sleep most of the day. We lost Pansy this fall (to the freezer) after she had an injury that left her unable to walk. It was a very sad day.  Kunekune are a pleasure to keep, intelligent, joyful and ultimately provide for us. They remind us to look for small joys, even in the coldest seasons. I'm crossing my fingers that Wheeler gets busy and we have little piglets this spring and summer.

We can't forget about our lovely dogs, who are perhaps the most enthusiastic members of the winter farm crew. They follow us everywhere, turning even the simplest tasks into a team effort. I swear they think they’re chore supervisors, keeping me in line as we feed or check on the water troughs. As rough collies, they're not only beautiful, but they are great at sounding off when the horses are not in the right place (a.k.a. - the wrong side of the fence). They are wonderful herders and bark enough to keep the coyotes away. The rest of the time, they certainly keep us company in the house. Attractive couch potatos, I say.

Tending to the animals always reminds me of tending to my own creative spirit. Just as the horses and pigs need warmth, good feed and care to thrive, creativity needs nurturing, especially during the long winter months. Some days, it’s about sketching or writing while sipping a hot tea by the wood stove (Do I have to get up?...ohhh that warm heat gets right into my bones). Other days, it’s about embracing the pause—because sometimes, rest is the most productive thing you can do. 

Maintenance Tasks Around the Farm

If you’ve ever spent a December afternoon fixing an electric fence in a cold wind, you know it builds more than character—it builds stories. Those imp ponies have figured out how to get through 4000 volts! What? How is that even possible? We still haven't figured out Finnegan's tricks. They don't really get along with their larger counterparts so there is always a fence going down and someone chasing someone around the big field. The east fence went down the whole way in the cold snap. It took Kevin and I a few hours in the dark, freezing fingers on the little metal clamps. Frostbite is no fun! We might have been a little bit grumpy as well at the end of our day, but the fence did get fixed...and Finnegan is still working his magic "Look, I'm on the OTHER side of the fence" trick.

Winter is also when we winterize irrigation systems, build up insulating straw 'walls' overtop of our well and add additional straw mulch to the beds when it feels like a -40 snap is on it's way. These chores, while not the most glamourous, are deeply grounding. They’re about protecting what’s fragile, and thinking ahead.

As I work, I keep considering the spaces we’re preparing for the workshops. Where are the good vantage points? Which angle catches the light just right? How can I make these flower fields not just a feast for the eyes but also a sanctuary for the soul?

Reflecting and Dreaming

December isn’t all work—there’s plenty of dreaming, too. I take stock - What worked this year (and what didn’t), what did I really like about the flower field and what do I want to move, have more or less of? I sketch ideas for new art series, and imagine the happiness we will share when art students come here and  connect with nature and creativity during our Vibe Like Vincent workshops.

These sessions will be more than painting—they’ll be about presence. Imagine standing in the rows of fairy-like cosmos, brush in hand, guided through a meditation that helps you feel the breeze, smell the flowers, and see colour in ways you never have before. It’s art, it’s mindfulness, and it’s pure joy. 

Looking Ahead

Winter on the farm is a quiet, steady kind of magic. The chores we do now—the organizing, the clearing, the dreaming—lay the foundation for all the beauty to come.

Whether you’re a gardener, an artist, or someone who just loves to dream big, I hope this glimpse behind the scenes at Flower Moon Farm inspires you. And if it does, I’d love for you to join us in the summer or fall for a Vibe Like Vincent workshop. The fields will be blooming, the easels will be ready, and the space will be waiting for you.

Until then, stay cozy, stay creative, and remember: the best is always yet to come.

 

Warmly,
Janice, Kevin and Family