Frost, Fire, and the Return of the Light
- Kathleen Moss
- Feb 2
- 1 min read
In this deep February chill, it is easy to believe the land is sleeping. The fields in Hurlock are locked in ice, and the morning air holds a sharp, cold clarity. Yet, beneath the frozen surface, we remember life is stirring. This is the time of Imbolc—the ancient Celtic festival marking the mid-way point between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
At Fox Briar Farm, I look for the small signs: the slight lengthening of the days, the swelling of buds on the elderberries, and the quiet return of energy to the soil. It is a season of preparation and ritual. While the heavy work of harvest is months away, our hearts and hands are already turning toward the first seeds of 2026. The first sewings start in the greenhouse this week, and it feels like a fierce act of hope in these ice heavy days.
Imbolc is historically associated with cleaning and purification—a symbolic 'spring cleaning' of the farmstead. We are taking this time to mend equipment, sharpen tools, reorganize shelves, and finalize our planting schedules for the vibrant season ahead. It's a time for fire as well, and soon I'll be burning up old plant debris from tomatoes and winter squash and asparagus plants, the ashes left in the field as a sort of thanks for the gifts of last season.
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