The Spring Equinox, is astronomically the first day of spring and where the day and night are of equal length. This is a time of new growth, energy and reawakening from the dark winter months.

Demetria and I of course, did not know at the time we discussed the interview how strange a moment this particular equinox would fall. And as this interview is released we are still in a period of change, unrest and unknown. Demetria shares her thoughts on this below;

 I put off filling out these questions until the last possible minute, and now I see that maybe this is because even one week ago I would not have so fully understood how important it is to live within the cycles of nature. We are made up of earth stuffs and even if there is so much chaos and fear as we watch our system collapse, I think underneath all of that there is the feeling of the earth regenerating - the birds singing, the air clearing, the spring greens bursting forth, the green returning. As the machine that runs our lives slows down and more and more people experience just being; As some people around the world experience blue skies for the first time in years, as factories shut down and pollution clears, our bodies are experiencing a sacred pause - a silence we are not really used to. And amidst fear and chaos it is still beautiful to watch the earth coming to life, people coming together even from a “social distance”. I am heartened and I am hurting and I am humbled, acknowledging that in times of darkness, when the system quiets, down, that the invisible work of the earth shines bright. That in this time nature is the only thing that is not canceled. This spring equinox is a portal into a new way of being on earth.

 What does the spring equinox mean to you?

As a lifelong reluctant and hopeless astrology nerd - the equinox to me symbolizes the first day of the astrological new year. The nature of Pisces is the soft dissolving of winter, sensitive, reflecting and adapting before we start fresh in Aries. It is the pause in between ending and beginning. It is not only the celebration of the sun’s journey - when days and nights are the same length, but also the energy of Mars - life blooming forth, inspired and hopeful action. It is a time of planting seeds, cleaning house and home to welcome the tipping into days with more light. It is a reminder that the light is returning to earth, and always does, year after year. In the balance between dark and light we find renewal, fresh energy to move forward in bright ways.

How would you normally celebrate this day/part of the year?

I love to bake treats that celebrate nature’s rhythms. The celebration almost comes naturally, as spring stirs all around me, I feel myself excited to start a new season - the zeal comes over to clean house and make moves on all the things I dreamt about through winter. Baking, making iced teas, harvesting spring greens, infusing flowers. I get caught up in the blooming of new life and the rest takes care of itself. 

 What are your favourite things about these early spring months?

 Even though I was born in the winter and love it in certain ways, spring is my favorite season. Something about the feeling of finally seeing winter fade into colorful flowers, bright green buds on the trees, familiar edible greens popping up on the ground feels like a celebration - welcoming you into a new season and congratulating you for making it through the winter. I think we all feel the excitement of familiar bird calls back outside our window in the mornings, coffee in the sunshine, fresh juices, picnics and planting seeds.

What can be seen in nature near your home at this time?

 Right now the creek rushes and winds through our yard after days of rain. The forsythia is blooming, the dead nettle and chickweed and violets are sprinkling the ground. The cherry tree is blossoming pink across the gravel road and the small bright green leaves grow a bit each day on the trees around our home. Daffodils and crocuses are blooming on the path to our door and the springtime birds sing their familiar morning songs from the branches.

Which dishes do you plan to bake in the kitchen during spring?

 Right now I am infusing honey with the forsythia blooms outside and then will make a forsythia honey cake for the equinox, commemorating the first spring in our new home and the plants that surround us. Also pine needle shortbread, violet jelly thumbprints cookies, a quiche with all of the wild greens, nettle pesto savory buns - that seems like a good start!

How does seasonal living inspire you and your baking?

When I started making pies with the seasons I couldn’t help but feel connected to nature’s rhythms. A pie is like a wheel of the year and then when you fill it with the blackberries winding around your yard in summer, or wineberries in spring, or apples falling from the trees in autumn, suddenly something as simple as a pie feels rooted and connected to the land around you. Even in New York City, getting fruit in from farmers upstate, you could feel the connection - there was nothing like going from the custard and apple pies of winter to slicing and filling those first strawberry pies. Suddenly you associate the peak of summer with blackberries and nettles as the first sign of spring. After a few of years of this it seemed fitting to celebrate the cycles of nature with a treat - an eclipse cake, solstice mini cakes, full moon bread, new moon cookies. Even though I often think I will find inspiration outside of myself, it often comes just from my innate excitement of being a part of this cycle of life. 

You can see more of Demetria’s photographs and baking on her website Woodland Keep and her instagram