5 Ways to bring Hygge to Your Picnic Area

written by

posted on

April 18, 2024

As the hues of spring unfurl and the air turns balmy with the sunshine, it's time to bid farewell to winter's chill and welcome the cozy embrace of hygge into our outdoor spaces.

With nature awakening from its slumber and the world teeming with life, there's no better time to infuse your deck/patio/picnic area with the art of hygge.

Hygge (ho͞oɡə, h-you-guh) is a Norwegian word and means creating a warm atmosphere and enjoying the good things in life with good people.

So, grab your favorite blanket, and a basket of treats, and let's explore five simple ways to create a haven of warmth and comfort amidst the blossoming beauty of spring. Forget about the busyness of the season. Take time to linger in the moment and allow all 5 of your senses to drink in this season.

Soft Textures and Warm Layers: Hygge is all about tactile pleasures, and there's no better way to evoke a sense of coziness than with soft textures and warm layers. Drape your picnic area with light blankets, oversized cushions, and snuggly throws (for the cool evenings). Try an outdoor rug or tablecloth for an aesthetic and tactile appeal to your senses. Choose natural materials like wool or cotton charm. Encourage your family or guests to sink into the comfort of fluffy pillows while savoring the delights of spring.
Soft Lighting and Candle Glow: As the sun sets and dusk settles, let the gentle flicker of candlelight cast a warm glow over your picnic area. Embrace the ambiance of fairy lights or Edison string lights strung from tree branches, strung around your eating area, or even just nestled among potted plants. Scatter candles in lanterns or mason jars to create a magical atmosphere that draws you to linger a little longer under the starry sky. Soft light will instantly transform your outdoor space into a sanctuary of serenity.
Nourishing Comfort Foods: What's a picnic without an abundance of delectable treats wherein to indulge? Embrace the spirit of hygge by curating a menu of nourishing comfort foods that warm your soul, tantalize your taste buds, and truly nourish your body. Think hearty stew with crusty bread, raw cheeses, and an assortment of fresh soil-grown veggies. Encourage your family to savor each bite slowly, relishing the flavors and the joy of communal dining amidst nature's embrace.
Nature-Inspired Decor: Channel the essence of spring's renewal by incorporating nature-inspired decor into your picnic area. Adorn your table with freshly picked blooms, or fragrant herbs in clay pots. Create a whimsical centerpiece using fresh boughs, pine cones, or pebbles collected from an outdoor adventure. Let the sights, scents, and sounds of nature envelop you, enhancing the hygge experience with its innate beauty and tranquility. If you can't hear an abundance of birds singing, try a nature-sound playlist to help cultivate a sense of peace and calm.
Mindful Moments of Connection: I know I mentioned this in my previous blog post, but it is vital. At the heart of hygge lies the simple pleasure of meaningful connections shared with loved ones. Foster a sense of intimacy and togetherness by encouraging mindful moments of connection during your picnic gatherings. Put away electronic devices, engage in heartfelt conversations, and relish the laughter that dances on the breeze. Create cherished memories as you bask in the warmth - not only of Spring's beauty - but of deep human connection, surrounded by nature's bounty in this season.
(Bonus!) Mindful Use of Natural Resources: Try these simple ideas for taking care of the Earth and practicing sustainability. 1. Try a meal or two using real dishes in your outdoor dining area rather than paper products to throw away. 2. Source as many of your meal ingredients as possible directly from a farm dedicated to sustainable practices. 3. Compost any scraps left over from your dining experience. 4. Take off your shoes! Did you know that the Earth is basically a huge battery that recharges us when we let it? "Earthing appears to counteract inflammation through the transfer of negatively-charged electrons from Earth’s surface into the body. Once in the body, those electrons neutralize positively charged destructive free radicals involved in acute, as well as chronic, inflammation. In essence, the Earth's energy makes the ground beneath our feet an extremely effective and abundant antioxidant! And it’s free. No pills, no prescriptions. All you have to do is reconnect." (-grounded.com/what-is-earthing)

As you embark on your journey to infuse your picnic area with hygge this spring, remember that it's not about perfection. Rather, it's about embracing the present moment and finding joy in life's simple pleasures...even in small pockets of time.

So, gather your loved ones, bask in the beauty this season, and create a warm atmosphere and enjoy the good things in life with good people. Let yourself be enveloped in a cozy cocoon of warmth and contentment. Choose one or two of these ideas to implement this season, and see where it takes you.

Here's to picnics filled with laughter, love, and Spring's song.

Hannah

Why Choose Fermented Foods?

My grandparents on my father’s side used to make sauerkraut in wooden barrels in the basement. My mother’s side made cheese and salami. I could smell these concoctions throughout the entire house. Fermenting is part of your national heritage, no matter your family’s country of origin. Alongside nourishing grass-fed/grass-finished pastured meats like Polyface raises, every person should include real fermented foods into their diet. This method of food preservation goes back farther than most realize, reconnecting us with ancient traditions, long before the refrigerator-freezer was invented. Every culture consumed something fermented every day. Here are the reasons why I like fermented foods. Fermentation preserves food without using high pressure, high heat, or chemicals, so it both conserves and increases them. The nutritional value of fermented foods lies mostly in the pro-biotic bacteria that are present, and byproducts of their digestion. The bacteria’s digestive “waste” is a collection of vitamins, enzymes, and co-factors needed for every system of the body. These include: Vitamins B1, B6, B12, C, and K2 Superoxide dismutase (SOD, an antioxidant) GTF chromium (assists sugar metabolism) Glutathione (a potent detoxifier) Phospholipids (cell membrane building blocks) Digestive enzymes Beta 1,2 glucans (present in shiitake mushrooms; modulates immune system) Fermentation neutralizes or eliminates these: Phytic acid (present in seeds, nuts, beans, legumes) Enzyme inhibitors (also present in seeds, nuts, beans, legumes) Nitrites Prussic acid (hydrogen cyanide) Oxalic acid (binds minerals) Nitrosamines (known carcinogen) Glucosides Probiotics and enzymes in whey neutralize phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors, allowing your digestion to access the nutrients in the food. Enzymes are proteins. Proteins are delicate molecules with very complex structure and shape. The structure of the enzyme gives it its function. Without structure and form, the enzyme will not do its job of catalyzing biochemical reactions. Without enzymes, biochemical reactions would cease. Enzymes are denatured (unraveled or broken down) by high pressure, high heat, acidic conditions, toxic chemicals, and electrical disturbances. Once denatured, they lose their form and shape, therefore they lose their function. Unlike canning and commercial processing, fermenting occurs at atmospheric pressure and room temperature, encouraging beneficial bacteria to thrive. Temperatures above 117 degrees Fahrenheit denature enzymes and kill probiotic bacteria. If you wonder what 117 degrees feels like, it’s the temperature at which you cannot touch an object with your bare hands and hold it for a few seconds. If it’s hot, but you can still touch and hold it in your hand and not pull away, it’s under 117 degrees. This innate protection mechanism (i.e., reflex) prevents your own protein (i.e., skin on your finger) from being denatured. It’s also a good indicator of when your food is hot enough to kill probiotics and denature enzymes. For best results, fermented foods must be eaten raw, never hot or cooked. Fermented foods are safe and protective against pathogens. USDA scientist Roger McFeeters, who oversees a fermentation laboratory, says, “The lactobacilli can number a billion per gram of tissue at the height of fermentation. The bad bacteria can't compete." According to McFeeters, lacto-fermentation has caused no known food-borne illness. "As far as we know, it's been going on for thousands of years. It's perfectly safe.” The sauerkraut that my grandparents made had a layer of raw pork chops embedded in the salted cabbage. When the sauerkraut was done, you could safely eat the pork chops raw! They were pre-digested by the bacteria, and “cooked" by the organic acids in the kraut. Probiotics prevented pathogens from establishing. None of us ever got food poisoning. My grandmother lived to be 100. Fermented foods have anti-carcinogenic properties. They normalize blood pressure and heart rate, help to break down fat in the liver, and maintain healthy systemic pH. And they are quite tasty. In the supermarket, look for fermented foods in the refrigerated section, not on the shelf with canned foods. Shelf-stable canned foods were subjected to high temperatures. The probiotics and enzymes have been denatured. Look for “live cultures” or “live probiotics” on the label. Eat something lacto-fermented every day, like your ancestors did. Just a tablespoon or two of sauerkraut or an ounce or two of cheese is enough to have the desired effect. Choose a salad dressing made with raw apple cider vinegar, or a tablespoon of a fermented condiment such as ketchup, mustard, or mayonnaise. Try a fermented beverage, like kombucha, beet kvass, or ginger ale. (Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon has some great recipes for all of these.) The original condiments were digestive aids. They’re easy to make. Try it. May you be deeply nourished! Susan

5 Ways to bring Hygge to Your Picnic Area

More from the blog

Why Choose Fermented Foods?

SOY

Thanksgiving

About

Education

Shopping

Polyface Farms

Healing the land one bite at a time!