Seize the Season: Week 6
Welcome to week 6 of Seize the Season! How is everybody holding up? This is usually the part of the winter when people start feeling the impact. The holidays have passed, the snowfall seems a little less exciting, and our vitamin D levels are probably pretty low. What are you doing to keep yourself feeling good and getting outside?
Last week we had our first annual Wander Women winter getaway at Whiterock Conservancy in Coon Rapids, Iowa. We gathered in a cozy log cabin, ate lots of nourishing and delicious food from Dinner Delights, went on snowy hikes, and had a bonfire under a starlit sky. It was the perfect mid-winter getaway.
This week Andrea Metzler, owner of Art Terrarium, is sharing houseplant tips and is hosting our giveaway, a $25 gift card to Art Terrarium! In order to be entered to win, you must share a photo on social media (Facebook or Instagram) showing us how you are seizing the season. Please tag us @wanderwomeniowa or use the hashtag #WanderWomenSeizeTheSeason. If you do not use social media, you can e-mail your photos to us at hello@wanderwomeniowa.
We hope your enjoy this week’s offerings!
Bring the Green Inside
Houseplant tips from the Art Terrarium
Guest contributor, Andrea Metzler, owner of Art Terrarium. Art Terrarium is a plant store and green oasis located in downtown Des Moines. They sell a variety of houseplants, and will help you find the plants that are perfect for your life. They also offer a variety of activities and events.
A view inside Art Terrarium
As we find ourselves in the middle of the coldest and grayest months of the year, nothing lifts my spirits like bringing some life and greenery into my home. In addition to looking beautiful, house plants offer a number of wonderful benefits when incorporated into your home (or office!) decor.
One of the top benefits is air purification. In the 70s, NASA conducted a study to see if common houseplants could help clear air of certain toxins, including asbestos, mold, radon, formaldehyde, benzene and carbon monoxide, and compiled a list of the best performers. On that list are some of our favorites; Golden Pothos, Sansevieria (aka Snake Plants) and Dracaena (aka Dragon Trees).
Another study found that interaction with plants and soil can help reduce stress. If you’ve ever been in Art Terrarium, I’m sure you’ve experienced the relaxing and calming vibes that plants produce. Texas A&M University conducted a study showing that having plants around your workspace can substantially improve your creative performance and problem-solving skills.
BENEFITS OF HOUSEPLANTS
They’re beautiful
Air Purification
Stress Reduction
Boost Creativity
Improve problem solving skills
If you’re new to plant parenting, or looking for a low maintenance, easy care plant, my top three recommendations are the Golden Pothos, Sansevieria and the ZZ Plant. All three tolerate low to bright indirect light and can survive with a bit of neglect. If you’re the winner of our Wander Woman Iowa giveaway, you’ll get to take home a hardy, air purifying 6” Sansevieria AND a $25 gift card to you can stop by the shop and pick out the perfect pot. We’ll help you pot your Sansevieria in your new pot at our potting bar!
Get Outside This Week
Local outdoor activities and ideas to get you outside!
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IDEAS
Each week we’ll give you five ideas to get you outside and moving, even in the colder temperatures.
Identify animal tracks you see in the snow or mud. This guide from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources is a great way to get started.
Find a place nearby to view bald eagles. Winter is prime viewing time for bald eagles!
Visit a near-by nature center
Go to a state park or county conservation park you’ve never been to before
Wander through the Des Moines Sculpture Park
We scoured the local events calendars to find some great outdoor, outdoor-themed, and winter wellness activities. If we missed something, send us an e-mail at hello@wanderwomeniowa.com and we’ll add it to the calendar!
Thursday, February 6
Air purifying plants 101 + Happy Hour
Friday, February 7
Full Moon Snowshoe Hike at MacRae Park
Saturday, February 8
Girls in Science Festival at the Science Center of Iowa
Woodland Restoration at Easter Lake Park
Ice Fishing Basics at Thomas Mitchell Park
Sunday, February 9
Weekly Winter Wellness
Seasonal Recipes & Wellness Tips
Turnip, Leek, and Potato Soup
Turnips, leeks, and potatoes are in season right now, perhaps you have some in your root vegetable storage that need to be used. This soup is easy, nourishing, delicious, and perfect for a chilly winter night.
Recipe from Six Seasons: A New Way with Vegetables by Joshua McFadden
This soup pot is a good destination for turnips that may be a touch over the hill. This recipe is very flexible, so add more or less of the three vegetables, and leave the soup chunky or puree it until silky smooth; a big pat of butter would make a nice final enrichment.
Serves 4
Extra Virgin olive oil
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
1 leek, trimmed, split lengthwise into quarters, cleaned well, and thinly sliced crosswise
1.5 pounds turnips
1 pound russet potatoes, peeled
1.5 t chopped thyme
1.5 t chopped fresh rosemary
1 bay leaf
1/4 t dried chile flakes
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Heat a glug of olive oil in a large pot over low heat. Add the garlic and let it cook slowly for about a minute to let the flavor bloom. Add the leek and cook until soft and fragrant but not browned, about 6 minutes. Add the turnips and potatoes and cook everything gently for another 10 minutes.
Add 6 cups of water, the thyme, rosemary, bay leaf, chile flakes, and 2 teaspoons salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until the potatoes are falling apart and the turnips are very tender, about 25 minutes. Season generously with black pepper. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Adjust the texture as you like—crush with a wooden spoon or potato masher for a chunky soup or blend for smooth consistency, adding more water if the soup is too thick.
Weekly Wellness Tip: Vitamin D Nap
With our vitamin D levels slumping, it’s essential to get as much sunshine in our lives as possible. Of course, being outside is the best way to do this, but sometimes we just need to slow down and take a nap. Yes, a nap! Carve out some time on a sunny day to take a nap near a sunny window (just like a cat) and rest your mind and body while the sun shines on you. A little vitamin D nap to renew your mind, body, and soul!