I find the more I get out into the garden during the winter the better I feel - physically and mentally. However, like most people, I don't have much growing at this time of year. Still, here are a few tasks to get you (and the kids!) outside: 

1. Winter sowing. This is my favorite winter time garden activity. The most time consuming part is simply planting the seeds; after that, there isn't a whole lot to do. However, you can check your seeds at least a few times a week to ensure they are neither soggy nor dry - and you can open up more holes in the seed containers once seedlings appear. Learn how to winter sow here. 

 2. Planning next season's garden. Much planning happens inside the house with seed catalogs and paper in hand. However, it's smart to measure out garden beds so you know how much space you really have. You can also mark out beds, pathways, and rows using stakes, firewood, or hoses. 

3. Weeding. If there are weeds in your garden now, they will grow big and reproduce like mad once warm weather comes. Remove all the weeds you can now. 

4. Pruning. A number of plants benefit from being pruned in the winter. For example, I prune my roses in February. This gives them lots of time to rest during the winter but encourages new growth in the spring. Fruit trees, grapes, and deciduous bushes also often benefit from winter pruning. If you're not sure what to prune, check out this helpful article at The Garden Granny. 

 5. Collect rose hips. You know those red berry-like things that grow on some roses? They are edible and highly nutritious! Learn how to gather and eat them here. 

 6. Clean up. Even if you cleaned up the garden in the fall, keep picking up leaves and shriveled fruit or blooms throughout the winter. This helps prevent disease. 

7. Composting. True, compost bins and piles don't do much decomposing when it's cold out. But that doesn't mean you can't continue to add kitchen scraps, shredded leaves, and so on to the pile. Learn the basics of composting and what can go into the compost pile here. 

 8. Tool care. Now is also a great time to tidy up the garden tool area, clean tools, and sharpen tools when necessary. 

9. Watering. If you have plants that are sheltered from rainfall by structures or trees, you'll need to water them during the winter. If your faucets are winterized and you can't use them, place small buckets around the yard to catch rainfall, then periodically empty them by watering plants.