Sunday, December 14, 2025

Snowstorm Preparation Checklist: How to Stay Safe & Cozy at Home

Snowstorm Preparation Checklist

Be ready before the snowflakes fall. This printable checklist helps you prepare for a snowstorm so you can stay safe, warm, and cozy at home for 3–5 days, even if you’re snowed in.

🍂 🍁 🍂

❄️ Before the Storm

🧹 Outdoor & Snow Removal

Snow shovel
Snow pusher (wide shovel)
Ice scraper or metal shovel edge
Rock salt or ice melt
Pet-safe ice melt (if needed)
Clear drains & pathways

🚗 Vehicle Prep

Gas tank at least half full
Snow brush & ice scraper in car
Emergency blanket in trunk
Park away from plow paths

🍂 🍁 🍂

Inside the House

🔦 Power & Safety

Flashlights (one per room if possible)
Battery-powered lanterns
Extra batteries
Portable phone chargers / power banks
Candles + matches (used safely, never unattended)
Working smoke & carbon monoxide detectors

🥫 Food & Water (3–5 Days)

Bottled water (about 1 gallon per person per day)
Canned soups & vegetables
Pasta, rice, or oatmeal
Peanut butter
Crackers or bread
Shelf-stable snacks
Coffee, tea, or cocoa

🍂 🍁 🍂

🧣 Warmth & Comfort

Extra blankets
Warm socks & layered clothing
Slippers or indoor shoes
Books, games, and chargers for devices

🍂 🍁 🍂

🐾 Pet & Family Care

Extra pet food and treats
Pet medications
Towels for muddy or salty paws
Diapers, wipes, and baby needs (if applicable)

🍂 🍁 🍂

🌨️ During the Storm

Shovel early and often while snow is light
Re-salt icy areas as needed
Stay off roads unless truly necessary
Keep fridge and freezer doors closed during outages
Check on neighbors if it’s safe to do so

🍂 🍁 🍂

Family-Friendly Version

👨‍👩‍👧 How Our Family Gets Ready for a Snowstorm

When a big snowstorm is coming, our family gets ready before the snow falls so we can stay warm, safe, and cozy together at home.

We get ready outside: We put our shovels by the door, sprinkle salt on slippery steps, and make sure paths are clear. Snow is easier to shovel when it’s fresh!

We prepare for power outages: We gather flashlights, charge phones, and keep lanterns nearby. If we use candles, an adult is always in the room.

We stock cozy foods: We choose easy meals like soup, oatmeal, and snacks. Warm drinks like tea or cocoa make storm days feel extra special.

We stay warm: We wear layers, use blankets, and keep the house cozy without turning the heat up too high.

We take care of pets: Pets get extra food, dry paws, and shorter outdoor trips. Salt can hurt paws, so we wipe them gently after walks.

We enjoy being snowed in: Snow days are perfect for board games, reading, family meals, and quiet time together.

🌨️ Snow outside. Warmth inside. That’s how we do winter.

🍂 🍁 🍂

Thursday, November 20, 2025

Garden Reflections: How to Listen Better A Practical Guide

(Improve understanding, reduce conflict, and build stronger connections)

As I was working in the garden today, I found myself thinking about communication.
Plants don’t speak, and yet they respond to light, water, and care.
People aren’t so different — we grow best when we feel seen, heard, and understood.

Listening is like tending a garden: it takes patience, intention, and a gentle touch.

Fourteen Ways to Listen Better

1. Give Your Full Attention

Put down your phone
Pause multitasking
Turn your body toward the speaker
✨ Presence is the first step to understanding.

2. Maintain Soft Eye Contact

Not staring — just showing engagement.

3. Don’t Interrupt

Let them finish their full thought before responding.
Interrupting breaks trust and understanding.

4. Listen to Understand, Not to Reply

Ask yourself:
“Do I understand what they’re trying to express?”
instead of:
“What am I going to say next?”

5. Reflect Back What You Heard

Use gentle phrases like:

“So what you mean is…”
“It sounds like you’re feeling…”
“I hear that you’re saying…”

This confirms clarity and deepens connection.

6. Ask Gentle Clarifying Questions

Examples:

“Can you tell me more about that?”
“What did you mean when you said ___?” Shows genuine interest and care.
“How did that make you feel?”

7. Pay Attention to Non-Verbal Cues

Tone, posture, facial expressions, pacing — these often reveal more than words.

8. Keep Your Emotions in Check

If you feel defensive, pause and breathe. Regulate first, respond second.

9. Avoid Judging or Jumping to Conclusions

Replace assumptions with curiosity.

10. Don’t Offer Solutions Unless Asked

Sometimes people need understanding, not fixing.

11. Validate Their Experience

Validation does not equal agreement. Try:

“I can see why you’d feel that way.”
“That makes sense.”

12. Be Comfortable With Silence

Silence gives space for deeper thoughts to emerge.

13. Summarize Before Ending the Conversation

A quick recap ensures alignment:
“So to make sure I got this right…”

14. Practice Daily

Listening is a skill the more you practice, the more natural it becomes.

Garden Thought

Every conversation is like a seed.
When we listen with patience, curiosity, and kindness, we give that seed the chance to grow into trust, healing, and deeper relationship.

🌻 May your words be gentle, your listening deep, and your relationships always in full bloom. 🌻

Looking for more tips?

Saturday, November 15, 2025

Winter Sunlight & Vitamin D:

How to Stay Nourished When the Days Get Short

A gentle winter wellness note from Henchy Family Gardens

As the days grow shorter and the air grows colder, many of us start to feel the quiet shift winter brings. Our gardens sleep under blankets of frost, the sun sinks earlier each afternoon, and our bodies begin to crave something we can’t buy in a bottle: sunlight. Vitamin D—often called the “sunshine vitamin”—is essential for strong bones, immunity, mood balance, and overall vitality. But in winter, when sunlight becomes scarce, it’s easy for our levels to dip lower than we realize. Let’s talk about why winter sunlight matters, how to tell when your Vitamin D may be running low, and simple things you can do—both in everyday life and in the garden—to stay nourished all season long.

Why it matters

Why Vitamin D Matters Even More in Winter

Shorter days = less natural exposure. Most of us go to work or school when it’s still dim and come home after sunset. Even outdoor workers struggle in winter. Weaker UVB rays. In winter, the angle of the sun changes. UVB (the rays that help your skin produce Vitamin D) barely reaches us in many places. More indoor living. It’s cozy inside—but it also limits natural light. Vitamin D supports:

A strong immune system
Bone health (helps your body absorb calcium)
Mood regulation
Hormone function
Reduced inflammation

Low levels in winter can lead to sluggishness, irritability, low mood, decreased immunity, and more.

Listen to your body

Signs You Might Be Low in Vitamin D

Everyone is different, but common symptoms include:

Feeling down or more emotional
Fatigue or lower energy
Muscle aches or weakness
Getting sick more often
Trouble concentrating
Increased cravings for carbs or comfort foods

If you suspect deficiency, consider speaking with your doctor—simple blood tests can confirm your levels.

Practical tips

Ways to Boost Vitamin D in Winter

🌤️ 1. Take Intentional Sun Breaks

Even on cold days, step outside for 10–20 minutes when the sun is highest (usually between 11am–2pm).

Stand in a bright spot.
Roll your shoulders back.
Let your face relax into the light.

Winter sunlight may not produce as much Vitamin D, but it still lifts mood, supports your circadian rhythm, and helps your body in subtle but meaningful ways.

Your cozy kitchen-sun-and-herbal-tea artwork fits beautifully beside this section.

🍳 2. Include Vitamin D-Rich Foods

Try adding:

Salmon, tuna, or sardines
Egg yolks
Fortified milk or plant milks
Mushrooms exposed to sunlight
Swiss cheese
Yogurt

Even better? Turn these into garden-to-table winter meals—like roasted veggies with salmon or a winter omelet with herbs you grew and dried yourself.

Drop in your “Winter Nourishment” basket illustration here to spotlight Vitamin D foods.

💊 3. Consider a Vitamin D Supplement (with guidance)

Most people benefit from a winter Vitamin D3 supplement—but always check with your doctor about dosage. A simple daily pill can make a big difference.

Garden magic

Ways Your Garden Can Help Boost Vitamin D in Winter

Even when the soil is resting, your garden can still support your winter wellness.

🌱 1. Winter Garden Walks = Sunlight Therapy

Bundle up and walk your garden paths, even for a few minutes a day. This helps:

Increase your sun exposure
Boost your mood
Keep you connected to your plants and rhythms

The quiet beauty of winter—bare branches, frozen soil, soft light—can be grounding and calming.

Place your whimsical “garden gate to the winter sun” artwork here to invite readers outside.

🍄 2. Grow Vitamin D–Boosting Mushrooms Indoors

Did you know mushrooms produce Vitamin D when exposed to sunlight or UV light? You can:

Grow oyster mushrooms indoors
Place them near a bright window
Set them in the sun (or use a UV lamp) just before harvesting

They absorb and store Vitamin D, giving you a fresh source right from the garden.

🌿 3. Keep an Herb Garden Going Indoors

Herbs won’t give you Vitamin D, but they support winter wellness—especially when used in warming stews, teas, and soups. Good indoor herbs for winter:

Rosemary
Thyme
Parsley
Mint
Basil (with warm light)

Being near plants—even indoors—helps lift mood, which is tightly linked to Vitamin D levels and sunlight exposure.

☀️ 4. Create a “Sun Spot” in Your Garden (or Yard)

Choose a sunny south-facing area, clear it off, and make it an inviting place to sit for a few minutes each day. Even in cold weather, this intentional space encourages you to step outside and soak up whatever light winter gives.

🪴 5. Start Seedlings Near Bright Windows

Late winter is perfect for starting seeds indoors. This gives you:

Time in bright windows
More natural light exposure
A mental boost (because seedlings = hope!)

Caring for tiny plants is a beautiful way to reconnect with sunlight as we wait for spring.

A Winter Reminder from Henchy Family GardensOur bodies, just like our gardens, need light to thrive. Winter sunlight may be softer and shorter-lived, but it matters—for your mood, your energy, your immune system, and your overall well-being. With a few mindful choices and some gentle garden practices, you can stay nourished until the brighter months return.

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Thursday, November 6, 2025

Mental Health in the winter

🌿A Gentle Winter Garden Guide🌿

from Henchy Family Gardens

When the days grow shorter and the air grows colder, our moods often follow the same rhythm as the garden — slowing, quieting, waiting. The world outside looks sleepy, but inside we’re still growing. 🌻

At Henchy Family Gardens, we believe that taking care of your mind in winter is a lot like tending soil before spring: gentle, steady, patient. Here’s how to care for your mental health this season — one small kindness at a time.

☀️ 1. Welcome the Morning Light

When sunlight feels scarce, even a few minutes of brightness can lift your spirit. Open your curtains early, sit near a window, and let natural light touch your face.

If the sky stays gray, try turning on a lamp beside your morning tea — a warm glow can tell your body it’s time to wake gently.

“Even a flicker can remind you of the sun,” Nana says. “Don’t wait for brightness — invite it in.” 🌞

🍵 2. Begin with a Cozy Routine

Start your morning with something that feels like comfort: a cup of tea, a few deep breaths, a small stretch while your kettle hums.

Jot down one kind thought:
“I’m doing my best today.”

Little rituals like this help steady the mind before the day begins.

🌱 3. Move Gently, Grow Steadily

When it’s cold, our motivation can shrink like the daylight. But movement keeps energy flowing, just as roots keep sap moving through the soil in winter.

Take a short walk, stretch by a sunny window, or dance to a favorite song in your kitchen. It’s not about fitness — it’s about joy in motion.

🌻 4. Stay Connected — Even in Quiet Ways

Winter can whisper loneliness. Fight back with small moments of connection. Send a quick message. Share soup with a neighbor. Text a friend just to say, “Thinking of you.”

“When one flower wilts,” Nana says, “the others lean closer.” 🌼

Even quiet companionship can bring warmth to cold days.

🕯️ 5. Create Warm Corners

Your surroundings can lift your spirits. Add softness where you spend the most time — a candle, a lamp with warm light, a blanket that smells like home.

These little “nests of comfort” remind you that warmth doesn’t only come from the weather.

🪴 6. Tend to Something Living

Keep a small houseplant, sprout seeds in a jar, or feed the birds outside your window. Caring for something alive reminds us that growth continues — even when it’s hidden under snow.

“You can’t stop the frost,” Nana says, “but you can still grow kindness indoors.” 🌻

🌙 7. Rest Without Guilt

The garden rests in winter — not because it’s weak, but because it’s wise. So should we.

Let yourself slow down, nap when you can, and remember: rest isn’t a reward you earn. It’s a need you honor.

🌾 A Closing Thought from Nana’s Greenhouse

The time change might dim the day, but not your light.
Be kind to your mind, patient with your heart, and gentle with your pace.

Winter is not an ending — it’s a quiet chapter of renewal. 🌻

💚Nana’s Hugs of Wisdom:

If this brought you peace, share it with someone who could use a little warmth this season.

Stay cozy, stay kind, and remember — you’re still growing, even now. 🌿

🌻 About Henchy Family Gardens

✨🌿Welcome to Henchy Family Gardens, where stories and seedlings grow together. 🌿✨

Created by Raquel Henchy, this cozy corner of the internet blends storytelling, gentle living, and garden wisdom. Here, every post is written with warmth from Nana’s greenhouse to the raised beds out back to remind us that growth doesn’t only happen in soil.

Through each season, we share reflections, recipes, and heartfelt tales from the world of the Sunflower Family a whimsical storybook garden where family, kindness, and imagination bloom side by side. 🌻

Follow along:
Instagram · Facebook · YouTube ·
@HenchyGardens

Tagline:

“Where stories and seedlings grow together.” 🌿

💚 From the heart of Henchy Family Gardens — may your week be gentle, your tea warm, and your roots strong. 🌻

Friday, October 10, 2025

Fall Gardening & Frost Preparedness 101 1/2 (in Zone 7a)

🍂 Fall & Frost Preparedness 101 1/2 🍂

(in Zone 7a)

Dear Garden Friends,
The air is crisp, the leaves are beginning their colorful dance, and the soil feels a little cooler beneath our hands. Fall has officially arrived in the garden, and with it comes a fresh wave of opportunities, reflections, and cozy joys. While many think of spring as the season of beginnings, fall is equally a season of growth—it simply carries a gentler, quieter rhythm.

🌱 Fall the Gardener’s Friend 🌱

Cooler temperatures and softer sunlight mean fewer pests, healthier soil, and easier watering. In Zone 7a, fall is a season to plant with confidence:

🥬 Spinach, kale, lettuce, arugula
🥕 Carrots, radishes, beets
🧄 Garlic & onions (for next year’s harvest)
🌳 Perennials, trees, and shrubs (to establish strong roots before winter)

The color palette of autumn in New Jersey is unlike anywhere else—deep scarlets, glowing oranges, and golden yellows sweep across the landscape, turning even the simplest garden stroll into a breathtaking scene. The garden becomes a living canvas, painted fresh each day by nature’s artistry.

🍁 Preparing for the First Frost (October 25th)

💡 The average first frost date in Zone 7a lands between October 15–25. This year, expect it around October 25th.

✅ Frost Readiness Checklist (Sidebar Graphic Idea)

Cover crops: clover, rye, or winter peas
Protect tender plants: frost blankets, sheets, or row covers
Mulch roots to regulate soil temperature
Move containers to sheltered areas
Compost fall leaves for rich soil

(This could be styled as a Pinterest-ready checklist with icons for mulch, blankets, and leafy compost piles.)

🥧 Flavors of Fall

From the garden to the kitchen, fall flavors bring warmth and comfort. Apples, pumpkins, pears, and squash find their way into pies, soups, and roasts. At Henchy Family Gardens, apple tarts and roasted root vegetables have been our seasonal favorites—meals that connect garden and table in the most heartfelt way.

🌸 A Gentle Reminder

As the garden slows, so too can we. Fall teaches us patience and rest. It whispers:

“You’ve done enough. You’ve grown. Now, prepare and be still.”

🌎 Growing Zones & Why They Matter

Growing zones are based on average minimum winter temperatures. The U.S. is divided into 13 zones, each spanning 10°F.

Why Zones Matter?

🌱 Perennial survival – pick plants that withstand your winters.

🍅 Crop timing – zones guide frost dates.

🌼 Climate matching – cool vs. heat-loving crops.

📅 Season extenders – row covers, cold frames, and greenhouses stretch your season.

Frost Dates: The Daily Gardener’s Tool

Last Spring Frost: mid-April (safe to plant tender crops).
First Fall Frost: mid-to-late October (harvest & cover plants).

Zone 7a offers about 180 growing days per year.

How to Use Your Zone:

🔎 Look up your zone on the USDA map.
🏷️ Read seed packets & plant tags.
📅 Build your calendar around frost dates.
🌞 Use microclimates (raised beds, sunny walls, greenhouses).

5. The Whole Story

Zones give direction, but not every detail. Rainfall, soil type, humidity, and sunlight hours shape your garden, too. Gardening will always be science, art—and heart. 💚

🌻 Closing Thoughts

At Henchy Family Gardens, we see zones as a gardener’s compass: they keep you pointed in the right direction while leaving space for creativity. As we tuck our gardens into bed, every mulched leaf and planted bulb becomes a promise to spring.

Here’s to cozy mornings with coffee in hand, golden leaves crunching underfoot, and soil still under our fingernails.

🍂 Happy Fall, friends 🍂

With sun on your face and soil in your hands,

—We thank you!

and welcome to the Henchy Family farms Community.

-Raquel Henchy,

Henchy Family Farms 🌻

Looking for more tips?

https://www.pinterest.com/HenchyFamilyFarms
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573707443744
https://www.instagram.com/henchygardens/
https://www.youtube.com/@HenchyFamilyGarden
https://amzn.to/4lLno0Z
Henchyfarms.com

Zone 7

Jersey Shore, New Jersey

Thursday, October 9, 2025

Learning to Be Kind to Yourself 101 1/2

The Importance of Mental Health Maintenance in the Winter:
Learning to Be Kind to Yourself 101 1/2

When winter arrives, it brings shorter days, colder nights, and sometimes heavier emotions. While cozy blankets and snowy evenings have their charm, winter can also be challenging for mental health.

That’s why mental health maintenance is so important this time of year. Just like a winter garden that needs care even when it looks bare, your mind thrives when nurtured with patience and kindness.

❄️ Shift the Winter Mindset ❄️

Instead of focusing only on results — weight lost, tasks completed, or goals checked off — try shifting to how things make you feel.

👉 Replace “I have to exercise” with “I get to move my body to feel better.”
👉 Celebrate even 5–10 minutes of gentle activity.

Small steps matter. Consistency counts more than intensity.

🌼 Make It Personal & Fun 🌼

Wellness doesn’t need to feel like a chore.

Dance in your room to a favorite song
Try yoga with soft lighting
Bundle up for a short walk
Add creativity: Playful, When it’s fun, it’s sustainable.

🪴Build Gentle Routines with Rewards🪴

Structure can keep you steady in the winter months. Pair routines with small joys:

Listen to your favorite podcast only on walks
Mark off a daily tracker for motivation
Light a candle or brew tea after completing a short meditation

✨ Self-care becomes something to look forward to, not another box to check.

🌻 Connect to Meaning🌻

When energy feels low, tap into your values.

Movement isn’t just for fitness — it’s for stress relief, sleep, ADHD focus, or grounding.
Think of wellness as strengthening yourself to better show up for family, friends, and passions.

This makes your efforts feel purposeful, not just routine.

💙 Lower the Pressure & Practice Kindness💙

Winter can be tough. Some days you’ll feel motivated, others you’ll need rest. That’s okay.

🌱 Kindness to yourself is not laziness — it’s wisdom.

Like a garden resting in winter, even when growth isn’t visible, important work is happening under the surface.

🌿Everyday Practices for Winter Wellness🌿

✅ Practice mindfulness – 5 minutes of breathing or meditation
✅ Move daily – Walking, stretching, or dancing
✅ Stay connected – A quick text or call keeps relationships strong
✅ Make time for joy – Reading, cooking, or hobbies that soothe you
✅ Limit screen time – Too much scrolling fuels anxiety
✅ Ask for help early – Therapy and counseling are signs of strength

🌼 10-Minute Gentle Movement Routine🌼

Minute 1–2: Sunflower Stretch 🌻

Arms up like petals reaching for the sun, deep breaths.

Minute 3–4: Storm Sweep 🍂
Side steps with arms swinging as if sweeping leaves.

Minute 5–6: Dragonfly Wings 🪰
Arm circles forward and back, imagining dragonflies above.

Minute 7–8: Garden Path Walk 🚶
March in place, picturing walking through a peaceful garden.

Minute 9: Henchy Shake 🎶
Freestyle dance — loosen up, wiggle, and enjoy.

Minute 10: Golden Dew Cool Down 💧
Hand on heart & stomach, slow breathing, imagining morning dew.

☀️ When to Reach Out for Support ☀️

Persistent sadness or emptiness
Trouble sleeping or eating
Feeling hopeless or overwhelmed
Withdrawing from things you love

💡Henchy Reminder💡You don’t need to wait until a crisis— reaching out early is an act of strength.

Trusted Resources:

NAMI – Support & education
SAMHSA Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Dial 988
Mental Health America – Self-assessments & resources
The Trevor Project – Support for LGBTQ+ youth

🌱 Winter Wellness Reminder Box🌱

🌼 Pause & Breathe – Take 3 deep breaths right now
🌼 Step Outside – Even 5 minutes of fresh air shifts your mood
🌼 Stay Connected – Call or text someone who matters
🌼 Seek Help When Needed – 988 for crisis, 1-800-662-HELP for support

Take care of yourself the way you take care of your garden — patiently, gently, and with love. 🌿💙

✨ Henchy Thought ✨ : Winter may seem long and quiet, but remember: just like gardens rest and prepare for spring, so can you. The kindness you show yourself today becomes the resilience and strength that blooms tomorrow. 🌻

With sun on your face and soil in your hands,

—Welcome to the Henchy Family farms Community.

-Raquel Henchy,

Henchy Family Farms 🌻

Looking for more tips?

https://www.pinterest.com/HenchyFamilyFarms
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573707443744
https://www.instagram.com/henchygardens/
https://www.youtube.com/@HenchyFamilyGarden
https://amzn.to/4lLno0Z
Henchyfarms.com

Zone 7

Jersey Shore, New Jersey

Sunday, December 14, 2025