Bring on the Spring

Midwesterners earn a special grace when the springtime comes around. We work hard for the spring weather, and we get a special joy after the winter chill subsides. This year, spring may look a little different, as we are a bit limited in what we can do because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s more complicated to run out and engage in all the social events that typically define this beautiful season.

So how do we embrace the spring when our mobility is limited? Consider these tips for honoring this beautiful season while still staying safe and healthy.

Plant a Victory Garden

“Victory gardens emerged during World Wars I and II as a way to minimize demand on an overburdened public food system” explains gardening writer Erin Huffstetler. While in the past, we may have considered our veggie gardens to be an ornamental supplement, this year presents an opportunity to look at our gardens differently. With the right plan and the right care, we can make even a small garden a meaningful part of a healthy diet.

Plan this year’s garden thinking about what you’re most likely to eat throughout the summer and what’s likely to preserve well to use this winter. Cherry tomatoes, for example, are delicious and easy to grow. They are plentiful and fun to pick. The plants are also good re-seeders, making them likely to come back next year. Cherry tomatoes are also easy to freeze, so you can keep using them in sauces and chilis all winter long.

Likewise, consider trying lettuce, spinach or basil this year. All can be used as a good salad or sandwich base; they tend to harvest plentifully, and you can freeze your extras. Also consider growing herbs, bell peppers, and beans in your victory garden. While gardening can be a lot of work, it’s also relaxing, rejuvenating and fun.

If you feel like it may be too much to take on, consider hiring a neighbor, grandchild or a young person from your church to assist. With all the camps and activities on hold for this spring and summer, there will be plenty of young people in need of a good spring and summer job. As long as they wear their masks and respect social distancing, paying for their help can prove a safe and affordable alternative to buying your produce.

Star Gaze

Being less socially available and less mobile is challenging. It can make us feel isolated and sad, but it also gives us opportunities to focus on the beauty that is always with us. Oscar Wilde once reflected: “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.”

Make this your year to learn the secrets of the sky. Watch the sun set. Watch it come up. Learn about what’s happening in the night sky in your area. You can see a lot with just binoculars, or with a simple telescope. There is so much beauty to behold, especially in the springtime.

Savor

What special foods mean spring to you? Is it your sister’s macaroni salad? Your dad’s corn bread? Your mom’s lemon squares? Think about those savory treats, and track down the recipes. Make some phone calls, go through all those recipe books and books. Convene a search to hunt down that prized family formula.

Add the ingredients you need to your Visiting Angels Caregiver’s weekly shopping list so that you can recreate some of those old favorites. Nothing brings back memories like scents and flavors. Invite those into your home and your experience this spring.

Connect

Spring is a great time to reach out to friends and family across the country. While the pandemic has been difficult, it has also given us a great excuse to learn a new skill. Make it your excuse to learn social media basics through the Visiting Angels Social Care Program. Getting connected is fun, and the young people in your family will be impressed with your savvy. Plus, you can learn some internet fundamentals like shopping and searching.

There are also plenty of fun games to play online like Word with Friends, which is similar to Scrabble; if card games are more your speed, you can find plenty of (non-gambling) card games like euchre, pinochle or spades. It may not be as fun as meeting up with your friends to play, but it’s a good stand in until things go back to normal.

Spring may be a bit different this year, but there are still plenty of great ways to embrace it! Happy spring!