I don't get much snow or ice, so I have some cole crops and root crops in the garden now. I won't be long until winter solstice which bring winter sowing time. To be followed shortly after by seed starting time for the spring cole crops. I use what little down time I have in our 'winters' to build some new frames for my bees, and to take care of general mantenance on my tools/machines.

Since I found the Winter Sowing Forum, I don't sweat the winters so much. I'm getting ready to start planting seeds on the solstice - only shrubs, trees and hardy perennials until about February - but still it's planting and playing in the dirt!

I am having panic attacks here in WV! I plan using my Christmas vacation to get out in the snow to build some more raised beds and use my compost up filling them. I am thinking about building a high tunnel with heat and install 10,000 watt lighting! Start growing tomatoes in January!!! :)

Wake up - reality sets in. Back to the "Vegi Porn books".

Most cool weather stuff doing nicely, tku. But turning compost getting a bit tuff at this age. A neighbor's eucalyptus - 3 stories tall - beginning to cast shadows on planters now - so my luck may be running out. The sun is leaving for the Mexican "playas."

Need to dig new drainage lines anyway - for aging septic field - so that should keep me occupied, along with pruning apricot, and other stuff that really put out a spur of new growth this summer.

A macadamia tree is in bloom with bees all over it - but those critters are finding our recent "45" temps not to their liking - and trying to figure out a way to find nesting sites in our old house.

That's about all that's happening here - but starting some more cabbage, broccoli, bok choy, cauliflower seeds, under lights, along with some thyme and lavendar. This year, I vow to keep trying to grow lavender - I know it's a weed in other folks garden, but somehow --------

Note to Santa - "more sunshine this year, please."

Bejay

This is the time of year I am so grateful to be a southerner. My garden is producing beautiful greens and roots, and the garlic is doing well. We are mulching beds with pinestraw every spare minute we can find. Once Christmas is over and put away it will be time to plant tulips, start pruning, and start seeds. It's a very rare week that there isn't at least one day pretty enough to work outside. That's just how I like it...

We've actually had a really mild fall here in SE Michigan - it was 65 the Sat after Thanksgiving, and I was able to get out and do the last harvesting and a bit of cleanup. This week back to the low 50s but with heavy rain. I find that it helps to make the winter not seem so long if the snow cover either comes late or goes away earlier.

I do have a nice patch of leeks that I can harvest, and will probably do that this week in the dark and/or rain, because those suckers store so well in the greenbags in the fridge if packed in there on the dry side -- I bet they would hold at least 3 months, so would be great to have for winter cooking.

I have more than enough indoor chores to do this winter, so hopefully it will pass quickly.

Just starting to get the twinge. That's why I gave myself the luxery of a morning with GW today. :) My Vegi Porn hasn't arrived in the mail yet. Perhaps the postmistress thinks it is indecent and has "lost" them... Luckily, preparing for the holidays can be so time-consuming that I don't notice that there is no gardening. Actually, this year Nov. was so mild I had a second wind and got a lot of prep time in so I don't feel as starved of garden-ness yet. I'm breaking into the stores set by in summer in earnest now, so the tastes of real veggies still feature in our meals. I think it will really hit me in January.

Cheers!

yup very much so. lol the Girlfriend calls it vegi porn too.

Yup and the garden catalogues are getting dog eared from use. I do grow a few plants under lights and while not like out in the garden, it still is fun and makes for a good salad. Some plants like Chard and Bok Choi can be trimed and eaten and will last all winter. Transplanted into the garden come spring for a continial harvest till bolting. My garden Chard will go all the way to frost so I have year round Chard.

Curt

No, not antsy - still worrying about not having cut the grass paths recently and neglecting the weeding. Had a frost yesterday - the first this year - but back to mild, wet and windy today.

Yes, you are not the only one ;)

Where I like the seasons, it seems like when it hits winter I cant stop thinking about next years garden!!!