it needs to be damp throughout. It’s described as 50 percent moisture, but I don’t
know how that can be measured other than being just . . . damp!
There only remains the need for air. I recommend the use of a composting
pole (for example, the compost aerator from http://www.territorialseed.com)..) It has a
pair of folding hinged blades that drive easily into the heap and then open up on
their way out to aerate.
12. Seasonal Replanting
Right from the get-go I was keen on getting fresh produce all year round, both to
eat and to share. While there are certainly places in the continental United States
where this is possible outdoors, it certainly isn’t so in the Pacific Northwest. But
there are ways to extend the season by replanting crops and using a greenhouse.
To start, I marked my diary in bold words:PLANT NOW FOR FALL/WINTER CROPS
Beware of procrastination . . . plan ahead.In our outside beds, once the peas and runner beans had been harvested, Ireplanted with a variety of salad greens: arugula, mesclun mix, and mâche (corn
salad) as well as bok choy, mustard greens, New Zealand spinach, broccoli, and
savoy cabbage. My early plantings of beets, carrots, and Swiss chard were all de
pleted, so I filled those spaces with lettuce and broccoli starts.
Since I had the advantage of the greenhouse to extend my growing season year round, I aimed for a greenhouse planting from seed to begin the fi rst
of September, when I could keep the greenhouse temperature from dropping
below 40ºF.
Rather than simply use the greenhouse as a nursery for my seasonal planting,I set about to create grow beds inside, built with sturdy yellow pine sides. (I read
up on woods that could be used in greenhouses and elsewhere in the garden and
MY NEED-TO-KNOW LIST • 41