As we move into February, our Small Shifts focus turns to Care and Warmth. Here at Adrian’s Croft, we now have almost two extra hours of daylight compared to the shortest day. Through January we were noticing energy; now we can begin to feel what that energy brings. Extra light brings a little extra warmth. The snowdrops are in full flower now — quiet markers that something is stirring, even if it still feels wintery. On dry days, we might feel the urge to do — perhaps to start caring for the garden. This is a good moment to pause and notice how we define care. Care doesn’t automatically mean tidy. In nature, stems left standing may hold insect eggs. Fallen material offers shelter. What looks messy to us can be warmth and protection for others. This week’s invitation is not to act more, but to notice more: Where is warmth beginning to gather? What forms of care support life quietly, without control? Where might “leaving be” be the most appropriate response? Care, at this time of year, is often about restraint, attentiveness, and trust in natural rhythms. Take what’s useful. Leave what isn’t. And notice where warmth — literal or metaphorical — is beginning to return.

Hi, the local open air historical museum, auchindrain, their tearoom has a kitchen garden which they are asking me for help with. They want early main and late crop tatties as a start and looking for varieties that grow well here! Now i have no clue as i just grow shop bought that have sprouted so as not to waste them! 🤦‍♀️ Can you help with suggestions for varieties that would grow well here in argyll, west coast scotland?? They would like me to do the kitchen garden and i would like to aim for something between modern permaculture whilst being historically relevant! There is the possibility i could help olan pther areas for traditional sryle gardens elsewhere on thw sote also! Just struggling with where to start 🤦‍♀️🤣 Hopefully an adventure in the making!!

Over the last few days I’ve been moving through grief — not in a straight line, but in waves. I’ve been recording the audio for Permaculture Practice 2, which explores patterns and energy cycles, and I’ve been struck by how grounding it is to recognise this as a normal rhythm rather than something to resist or fix. Energy rises, falls, pauses, returns. The sea reminds me of that — waves arriving, breaking, retreating — each one different, none wrong. This is why I value pattern literacy so deeply. Not as theory, but as something that helps us live more gently with what is.

I dont always have time to recycle my candles, but this module prompted me to be creative and think about my consumption. Being off grid with no working generator, we live by candle light most of winter, I burn them even in daylight hours to keep the chill out the house a little. Well I was about to order some more, read this module and went on the hunt for scraps of wax that we have been keeping from all the big expensive candles I usually buy! Not all will be good, but for 2 days work, working with scrap wicks, scrap wax and a couple of make your own gifts I got for Christmas. I can happily say I am proud of this pile! Won't last long, but all wax left will go back in the pot and be recycled again! (The brown candles on right have been recycled at least twice previous to this, thus the yucky brown colour 🤣)

Thinking about my digital footprint 🌱 These last few days, I've been reflecingt not just on the footprints I leave on land, (very pretty in the snow) but the also ones I leave online. If you follow me on social media, you'll have noticed that I'm sharing more content, making reels and writing books and courses. Even tools that support learning, connection and creativity have an environmental cost — energy used, data stored, systems running quietly in the background. Used lightly and intentionally, that cost can be small. Used thoughtfully, it can even help reduce other impacts by replacing travel, printing and unnecessary consumption. Like everything else, it’s not about perfection, but awareness. Living lightly, even in digital spaces, begins with noticing where our energy goes — and choosing care. How do you balance connection, learning and online tools with living lightly? Are there practices you’ve adopted to use technology more intentionally — or ways you’ve noticed it helping you reduce impact elsewhere? I’d love this to be a space for shared reflection rather than right answers.