We are rural ... lots of acreage; fencing efforts are ongoing, but slow.
Our outdoor raised-bed garden, in the patio area where we will one day build a greenhouse, did very well. Lots of produce for this kind of effort. The local critters were also happy & thankful with this approach; I estimate we got 50% or so of the produce ...
Temporary greenhouses just don't hold up in our neck of the woods ... wind is too fierce at times; neighbors always calling to say "come get your greenhouse (parts) unwrapped from around my (tree, car, etc.)".
Winter is settling in, and not much can happen outside with the snow flying, so I think about critter annihilation techiques ... JAWZ traps for mice/rats/chipmunks seem easy to set and work with, and make for easy disposal as well; the fields/forests are full of these guys, and I don't believe they are on the protected critter list. I tested some JAWZ this year ... no more victor trap misfires or smashed fingers.Raccoons & such to tackle one day. Deer should be handled with completed fencing (in the future).
Then I got to thinking, is there a way to move some production inside? Has anyone had success with year-round production of at least some veggies inside, w/o a greenhouse? I'm thinking some form of aerogarden device (hydroponic), but they are expensive; this might have to be DIY in some form.
Other options? Rip out windows on south wall, put in window garden box frames?
Would love to get most of our salad production growing year-round, in advance of the greenhouse.
Our outdoor raised-bed garden, in the patio area where we will one day build a greenhouse, did very well. Lots of produce for this kind of effort. The local critters were also happy & thankful with this approach; I estimate we got 50% or so of the produce ...
Temporary greenhouses just don't hold up in our neck of the woods ... wind is too fierce at times; neighbors always calling to say "come get your greenhouse (parts) unwrapped from around my (tree, car, etc.)".
Winter is settling in, and not much can happen outside with the snow flying, so I think about critter annihilation techiques ... JAWZ traps for mice/rats/chipmunks seem easy to set and work with, and make for easy disposal as well; the fields/forests are full of these guys, and I don't believe they are on the protected critter list. I tested some JAWZ this year ... no more victor trap misfires or smashed fingers.Raccoons & such to tackle one day. Deer should be handled with completed fencing (in the future).
Then I got to thinking, is there a way to move some production inside? Has anyone had success with year-round production of at least some veggies inside, w/o a greenhouse? I'm thinking some form of aerogarden device (hydroponic), but they are expensive; this might have to be DIY in some form.
Other options? Rip out windows on south wall, put in window garden box frames?
Would love to get most of our salad production growing year-round, in advance of the greenhouse.