Spring is definitely in the air in the part of the world where I live here in New Zealand. There are lambs on my morning walk, daffodils under the blossoming trees in the orchard and the days are getting longer. This morning as I was getting ready to go to work I heard a pair of Paradise Ducks honking outside and I thought to myself - everyone is busy! The birds are busy, the bees are getting busy, the farm animals - the plants. I suddenly felt a sense of overwhelm about all the things I have to do this month. Who knows that feeling? It can be paralysing as we think of all the things that need to be done as well as all the other things going on in our lives.

So I’ve been doing a challenge recently where I aim to show up daily on social media with a walking and talking type post. The brief is to chat to the audience (you) as though I am telling you about something on my mind, to do with my business or life or whatever, and you are a fellow walker also puffing away beside me.  The aim is to get comfortable putting one’s  face out there, (so you will know I am actually a real person) and also to get my butt into shape by moving every day.   

What do to this month in the Kitchen Garden - in your vegetable garden in winter.

I do love this quote by Patience Strong where she is perfectly describing this month.   Although it is still winter, the promise of spring is in the air.  The winter narcissi are flowering and the classic harbinger of spring, the daffodil will be out soon if not already depending on your micro climate.  There are lambs frolicking on the hills and you may find that with the occasional warm springlike days we will get this month your own sap will start rising and you want to get out there and garden!  But hold your horses for a bit longer.  Get excited of course but channel that into this list of “P” things to do this month. 

Managing business finances can feel like a juggling act—balancing expenses, tracking cash flow, and planning for growth. But with the right strategies, keeping your finances in check doesn’t have to be overwhelming! From budgeting smarter to utilising digital tools, small changes can make a big impact on your bottom line.

This is an area I really struggle in and I am sure I am not the only one. Guest blogger, Mary Johnson from Self-employed Solutions gives some advice on what we can do to get ourselves organised when it comes to finances.

For those of you who are following along with the crop rotation poster, we are talking this month about what to do to care for and cultivate your little piece of backyard paradise.  We’ve done a round up of your main beds, we’ve covered the perennial crops in the outer beds, and this week we are going to talk about those small fruiting trees, shrubs and vines that make up the structure and variety in your bed.

One of the biggest challenges for those of us who have spent years as "failed dieters" isn't actually the food.

It's the food noise.

The constant chatter that seems to run through your head all day long.

"What should I eat next?"

"How many calories are in this?"

"I know I should eat that... but I really want this."

"Why do I keep eating this rubbish?"

"Chocolate... I see chocolate... I must eat chocolate!"

Perhaps your food noise sounds a little different, but if you've struggled with your weight for years, you'll probably recognise that endless internal conversation.

What to flowers to sow or plant in the winter flower garden. (Check. your local climate)