Potager Field Notes: February

February arrives with deep snow and lingering winter frosts, but beneath the surface, the subtle promise of spring begins to stir. The beginning of the month marks Imbolc, an ancient Celtic festival to mark the earliest of spring. As the days grow incrementally longer, energy returns to the studio. February is a month of preparing our first indoor seed-starting trays under the soft glow of grow lights.

IN THE POTAGER 
Late winter is the signal to begin early indoor sowing. Under grow lights in the studio, we sow our first delicate seeds of perennial herbs, lavender, and early spring flowers. Outside, we gently brush heavy snow off evergreen boughs and check on dormant fruit trees, taking care not to disturb wintering birds and small wildlife nesting in the shelter of the brush.

IN THE STUDIO 
The studio is alive with the invigorating scents of citrus, sweet florals, and warm herbal blends as we begin test-pouring our upcoming spring candle lines. February is also the season when we focus on crafting small-batch cold-processed soaps enriched with dried herbs and botanical oils harvested during the previous summer.

CRAFTSMANSHIP 
Every batch of handcrafted soap and soy wax candles produced in our studio follows a 12-month seasonal cycle. Ingredients harvested and dried in late summer are carefully integrated into winter formulations, turning preserved botanicals into nourishing, slow-made studio creations.

FEBRUARY STARGAZING 
Look to the southern sky in February to spot the winter constellation Canis Major and the glowing cluster of the Pleiades resting high overhead. The crisp, cold winter nights offer remarkable clarity for stargazing before the late-winter dusk settles. On February 1 keep an eye out for the full Snow Moon.

BOTANICAL FOLKLORE 
In traditional folklore, February was associated with Imbolc, a seasonal threshold marking the first subtle awakening of the earth. Herbalists historically relied on dried elderberry, rosehips, and chamomile teas to warm the spirit, viewing these sun-infused plants as symbols of hope and renewed life as midwinter gently gave way to spring.