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====== 2021 ======

===== At the Garden =====

==== Winter gardening ====

{{  :garden:intro:pix:img_0440.jpg?direct&200|}}I experimented at the end of 2020 in a way that I hadn't expected. I wanted to decide if any crop was effectively grown in the hoop house during the winter. I chose an easy trial - lettuces and spinach. I expected these would grow, but that it would be a very slow process from seeding to harvest. The hoop house remained closed and the growing areas blanketed in row cover. I did everything I knew of to maintain warmth..
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My suspicions were basically correct. Some seeds failed to germinate, but most did and transplants did well. The time to harvest was more than 3 months, much longer than in warmer weather. This was an interesting experiment, but not effective enough to tempt me to become a cold season gardener.\\

==== Cucumbers in the hoop house ====

{{ :garden:intro:pix:img_0609.jpg?direct&280|}}We had grown pickling cucumbers in the garden, but I had heard of good results growing table cucumbers in a tent or hoop house, so I tried it. Because this plant spreads out I added trellises from fence wire, and ensured that the drip irrigation was properly positioned.\\
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==== More animals =====

{{ :garden:intro:pix:img_2320.jpg?direct&400|}}Even in this downtown garden there are threats to plants! Two neighbors had chickens that were not securely penned and they loved escaping through openings in a fence (or a gate!) pecking away at just about anything that grew in the Garden - \\
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===== Thoughts of moving away =====

==== Garden property to be sold ====

The numerous attacks by animals on our growing plants gave us pause to continuing to garden in Fall City. This was trumped by the fact that the property owner had moved to Eastern Washington and put up the Garden property for sale. There was no assurance that we could continue to garden there. So we were reluctant to plan a future in this area.

==== Deciding what's next ====

One warm August afternoon as we were sitting on the deck, Maura asked where we wanted to live out our days. We agreed that for a number of reasons it wasn't there in the Hill House Home in Snoqualmie. Thinking about an ideal place we agreed that it should:

  * Be a single story residence.
  * Be closer to grandchildren.
  * Allow me to go out the door and tend to a garden. 
  * Have lots of sunshine!
  * Not be within King County
 
Shock settled in! This meant changing everything and present a frightening gauntlet of unfamiliar plans and activities!


==== Searching and finding property ====

As we searched listings and contacted real estate agents, we found other related requirements, specifically that we weren't looking for a house with land that met the requirements, but probably only partially developed land with no house. Then the searching turned up lots fewer possibilities.

We searched from Thurston County to Pierce County from Rochester to Gravelly Beach to Tenino to Roy/McKenna to Graham. Soon in our searching, of course, we fell in love with one place, which was endearingly appealing. We came to learn that development of that property would be a nightmare, starting with permitting, site development and just delivering the Timberland house modules! 


==== Making big plans!====

Our current property in Graham is the second parcel we revisited. It wasn't exciting, but still it had its appeal. For one thing the 40-acre forest reserve provided a familiar setting -  lots of trees. It already had a septic system, a water well and easy access to electricity. And site development seemed to be less a challenge (but lots of aspects weren't obvious right away!) For how this played out see our Sun Mountain Farm website: [[https://sunmountainfarm.net/]], especially the extensive weBlog.

===== 2021 was an OK year! =====

In spite of shutting down our Fall City Garden and moving to property in Graham, by a reasonable measure it was a good year:
  * I harvested almost 900 pounds of produce.
  * I donated over 700 pounds to two local food banks.
  * I gave some to family and friends.

It comes as no surprise to me, with all the changes and reduction in the size of the garden, that my body is tired. I was working in the gardens well into October. I am taking time to recuperate.