Page 52 - ESCARPMENT MAGAZINE | Spring 2013

52 Escarpment Magazine Spring 2013
Our cultural tradition of spring cleaning may
find its roots in the Jewish tradition of cleaning the
house before Passover (Pesach). No leven is eaten dur-
ing Pesach, and observant households will thoroughly
clean their homes prior to the holiday, making sure all
bread and other “banned” foods are removed. Other
possible origins for spring cleaning are more func-
tional, stemming from the practical logistics of living in
a seasonal environment. In the past, people might have
been unable to make repairs to their homes or com-
plete certain chores during the winter months. Once the
weather grew warmer and the days longer, bedding
could be stuffed with fresh hay and laundry hung out-
doors. Whatever the reason, the idea of spring clean-
ing is firmly entrenched in our society, and as winter
melts away, our thoughts turn to howwe might prepare
the seasons ahead.
For some of us springtime means spending more time
outdoors. For others, it means continued enjoyment of
the outdoors. In many cases, a lot of that outdoor time
will be spent in our backyards, on our decks and pa-
tios. Therefore it’s only natural for us to include our out-
door living spaces in our annual spring cleaning rituals,
sweeping away the leaves, hosing down the furniture
and tidying the gardens. *
Cheap
cheerful&
Rejuvenating the
Backyard on a Budget
BY C. RACHEL KATZ