Liz Cultivates | L.M. Fern

We made it! The fireworks have been deployed; the countdown has finished. The year is over — and now 2026 can begin! It’s always fun (a little self-aggrandizing, but still fun) to go over what the previous year has seeded and what the new one will bloom — because isn’t that the point of all of this? Planting seeds for later growth?

I promised a longer year-end review, so here we go!

A series of fortunate events

In 2025, I accomplished a few goals and made some progress on others. I got serious about my business, including having a new logo commissioned and doing a bit more research about how that all works from a tax perspective. I started a Hero’s Journal with the intent to have a finished novel at the end of it — and that reality is getting closer every day. I worked on the four quarterly editions of the CGRH zine for 2025, a new offering for my streaming team, the sales of which have helped us raise even more money for various nonprofit organizations so far. I traveled, I ate good food, I listened to good music. I grew vegetables and flowers. I cuddled Cora and the Architect and made cozy blankets and brewed tea to warm our bones in the winter.

A life is just a series of experiences that make us what we are.

There are plenty of things I didn’t get done that I wanted to — aren’t there always? The trick is that I’m learning how to be kinder to myself about these things, taking time to appreciate the progress I’ve made and not spend so much time worrying about how I’m “failing” arbitrarily at whatever goals I haven’t yet achieved. (Except for one particular goal — we’ll get there shortly.)

But the most important part here is that I embodied the vibe of this blog — I cultivated myself and the environment around me. My friendships. My relationship with my body and my mental health.

Dispatch from the homestead

This year, I grew so many new things. Pole beans, watermelon, corn, pumpkins, herbs. I had some setbacks with peppers this year (wild, I know) and the tomatoes took a while to get going, but when they did, it was as magical as ever in the garden. I had volunteer tomatoes come up, even, and one of my starts was even run over by a tractor and it came back stronger and more resilient.

Cucumbers and zucchini weren’t as abundant this year as last — I’m going to see about doing something about those dang squash beetles next year. (Although, truthfully, I am kinda grateful that I didn’t have to figure out what to do with four thousand zucchini.)

In 2026, I am hoping to expand even more. I started a project to put concrete slabs around the garden last year and didn’t quite finish it before the cold set in, but that’s okay — more for this year. I might even want to expand the garden further toward the apple tree, and create a walking path inside it. We’ll certainly see! (Side note: I want to take better care of the apple tree, too.)

Ostensibly, I’m also a writer

If you’ve been reading this blog for any amount of time, you are probably tired of hearing me say, “I’m finally going to finish my novel!” This sentiment is extremely valid. It feels like I’ve been writing this thing my whole life — and to a certain extent, I have been. The seeds of this project were sown when I was in middle school. I finished the first very rough draft in high school. My first big rejection (from TOR!) was for this novel. I put the novel (and the rejection) in a drawer. Then I got it back out again several years ago because I still believe in the bones of the characters and the world they live in — I’ve completely rearranged the story, the themes, the relationships… but the bones are there, if you dust carefully enough, if you use the right tools.

I made a lot of really good progress on this project, most of which happened in the back half of the year. I am taking some time off in February to make this happen and to start working on edits, revisions, and my marketing plan. It’s going to be fun — and I actually have a beta reader lined up already. My cousin Erica Barnes is a writer and you should check out her work! I’m ready to jump in and actually make this thing what it deserves to be — the storm in my head become reality in the sky.

I used to read…

Here’s where we get to the part where I have to admit that I messed up. I read some good books in 2025 — but not very many, and definitely not enough. The quick and short of it is that I am going to read more in 2026 if I have to tie myself to a chair to do it.

But really, I am going to look into audio books (because those are nice for walks) and then make a list of the things I want to read this year. I’ll post it here for accountability, and we can either commiserate or celebrate with me at the beginning of 2027. I’m going to start with my TBR and go from there! Maybe even post on StoryGraph!!! (Wow, what a novel idea.)

You only live once

I drove a lot in 2025. More than one person should probably drive. But I got to spend time with friends and family, got to learn new things and eat new foods. I told someone at the beginning of the year that my goal was to “travel less,” and I think that goal got yeeted into the sun, to be honest. Likely the culprit is my “you only live once” mentality — so I imagine there will be a lot of that this year, too.

New and shiny 2026 goals

This is going to be the Year of Content for me, I think. I am excited to get moving with a few new ideas and the planning for more activities that will be happening moving forward. I have a few irons in the fire, including more podcast episodes with Alex and a fun new YouTube series idea filmed from my garden. More info will be coming about that later, so keep an eye on the blog and socials if you’re interested in seeing more of my shenanigans. I also have some secret secrety things I’m working on with Sofia of Uncultured Palate. (Subscribe to her newsletter! Do it now!)

A life is just a series of experiences that make us what we are. It’s the people we meet, the things that happen to us. I’m going to keep doing the things that bring me joy and having the experiences that help me grow into the person I want to be.