Planning the Garden – Winter/Spring Edition 2016 – Zone 8

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winter-spring-gardening-zone8-2016

Oh I can’t stand it any longer! I’m ready to get going on the garden!

It’s March 2016 and I’m slowly starting my garden.

We live in the Pacific Northwest in zone 8. Zone 8 can vary widely so I’ll tell you a little bit about  the weather I experience.

Grocery Bags with Food

It rains a lot in the Spring and Fall here. Winters are fairly mild and if we get snow we’re happy for the day (the one day) of play it provides. We had one day of snow this past winter. Spring weather lasts well into May and can send up some strong winds and hail. I usually try to harden my tomatoes off in late May but I have to be careful and be ready to cover them if adverse weather arrives. Our summers get hot about late July and definitely in August. For me hot is 90’s. Fall pretty much lands about the last week of October. That means I can keep growing things until about then. And that’s my weather.

Right now it’s not quite Spring and these are my gardening chores so far…

  • I’ve looked through catalogs and decided for sure I’m growing…
    • onions
    • zucchini
    • tomatoes (I mean who doesn’t?)
    • radishes
    • peas
    • beans
    • peppers
    • cantelope (wish me luck)
  • I’ve ordered my onions starts from Dixondale Farms and they should arrive mid month. We are long day variety up here.
  • I’ve pulled out my seeds and seed starting pots. I’ll be starting the tomatoes and peppers and cantelope from seed. Is this smart? Not sure.
  • I’ve talked my husband into a garden shed. Pray with me that nothing thwarts this plan. He’s been avoiding it but our back porch and garage tell the tale.
  • We’ve looked longingly out the back window waiting for the yard to dry so that we can get out there and clean things up.
  • We have plans to raise the beds but I think that may have to wait for another year.

Now all this is just the veggie arena. I’m also going to start some flowers from seed (since I have them). Not sure what I’ll be growing for those yet. And then our berries and lemon trees will get their usual care and hopefully produce well.

Also I’ve signed up for this year’s Home Grown Food Summit. This is a free online summit with a large variety of seminars to help you get the most out of your backyard. Not every presentation is for everyone. I don’t have chickens nor am I interested in bee keeping but if you like to “make your own” you’ll find something in here for you.

It’s started today and is free during the time it is going on. During the summit you can learn these great homesteading, gardening, things…

 

  • How organic gardeners produce 2X to 10X greater yields.
  • How to spend $0 feeding your chickens.
  • Guide to MAKING $80 worth of compost per week.
  • Legally keeping chickens and goats in the city.
  • Natural beekeeping… how to do it WITHOUT chemicals!
  • Raising your own superior eggs, milk, and meat… in your backyard.
  • How to get FREE access to local seed varieties.
  • The BEST species of worms for backyard composting.
  • Instant solutions for growing food-without land.
  • 24 herbals you can use to treat colds, flus, allergies, infections, and more.
  • Protect yourself as a small-scale farmer from the 5 MOST COMMON law suits.
  • Understand the Cottage Food Laws (CFLs) that regulate food production on your property.
  • Our role in breaking the monopoly of big chemical and seed companies.
  • Lessons we can learn from World War I & II trends in food production.
  • Raising goats for milk and meat… an introductory guide.
  • How science supports backyard gardening as a cure for most major diseases.
  • Creating a garden biosphere.
  • Addressing wildlife and insect issues to rebalance your garden.
  • Recipes for herbal drinks you can make every day for better health.
  • Learn easy, brilliant, FREE secrets for composting in place.
  • Save $100s making your own fish emulsion fertilizer.

 

2016 Home Grown Food Summit

 

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3 Comments

  1. Your plan is great ! I’m now finishing all that planning and I’m almost done with the seed starters too. Haven’t thought of growing cantelopes till now (wish you luck! ) and it’s a good idea. I may try there’s still time to add it to my plan and I have a spare planting area. Definitely recommending your post to some friends. Thank you for the Home Grown Food Summit information!

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