4 - April New Beginnings…
Lots of lovely bluebells around Harpenden and still some beautiful blossom trees and also daffodils with a few new dandelions appearing, so lots to see on sunny local walks in nature.
Amazing new healing and antiinflammatory seasonal foods in too for the month, with watercress (organic available in Waitrose), sea trout and jersey royal new potatoes. That’s a lovely meal in itself but if you can source sea trout yet try UK or Scottish Wild Salmon (wild Atlantic is less sustainable but still an option) to get your oily fish in weekly.
Other sustainable white fish is pollock, coley or monkish. Spring chicken, lamb and eggs if you eat meat but otherwise peas, broad beans and more are all coming back in next month if not before. There is some early asparagus popping up (organic on Ocado) and still a favourite is purple sprouting broccoli, albeit last month for it (organic Daylesford Ocado).
Lots of fresh herbs too like wild garlic, parsley, mint, coriander (organic Daylesford Ocado). I’ve just made a lovely pea, mint, broccoli, leek and spring onion soup. Salad leaves are great too but remember to wash if in plastic bag.
Dock bay is a traditional savoury oats dish, which I like to make with wild garlic but you can make it with any type of herb and veg you like, as lots of recipes. Also apples are still in store but otherwise it’s only rhubarb that is fresh at this time of year, so again oats can be used for a crumble if you fancy on a cooler day.
Seasonal self care includes Suncream, barefoot grounding when dry, nature walks, bluebell forests, DIY spa at home and some sustainable spring wardrobe clearing and shopping (The White Company has lots of organic cotton for Spring/Summer and sales on during the season).
Sunrise is getting a little earlier each day and sunsets are stunning around 6.30pm, both great to tune into to set our circadian cycle (Melatonin and Cortisol) and remember to track the weekly moon phases and your infradian cycle (Menstruation and Ovulation).
This month we have already had the heart portal 4/4 on the Easter weekend, which always falls on the first Sunday after the Full Moon. We have just had the last quarter moon and next Friday is the Aries New Moon, with the start of a new moon cycle.
This month is the 4th of the year but the 1st true month of Spring and the astrological year, with Aries and Taurus zodiac signs. The birth month stone is diamond.
I hope you all enjoy some warmer weather and sunshine. If you’re like me and haven’t managed to balance your energy well at the start of this year (again) don’t worry you can use this time to the New Moon next week to start afresh. Listen to your body and intuition, as your guide, in line with Mother Nature, as intended…
Much love, as always to all x