Jen Fulkerson

thanks Barbara. I will keep trying to think of an alternative. My property is . 99 of an acre, so not that big compared to some, but all the gardening is done by me myself and I. I keep adding more and more, so it's a lot especially since I live in Northern California, and hand water.
I've tried cardboard, it works, but needs to be redone every year. as

Microclimate is a word you hear a lot in the permaculture world. I understand the basic concept, but I don't think I realized I could intentionally create a microclimate. It kind of blows my mind, and makes me want to try a bunch of different ways to create Little individual areas. ( When time allows)
We have had a very mild fall. Between that and being busy and behind I have not removed all of my tomato plants. We are finally getting some cold weather. All but one of my marigolds have died. The marigold next to one of my massive tomato plants is alive and blooming. I doubt it will survive much longer, but it's cool to see if still blooming. It brought home the microclimate concept.

I grew garlic 24/25. It wasn't very successful. I think I didn't water enough in the spring. Then realized my mistake and probably watered to much. What I did get was very small, and a lot of the foliage had died back, so I think I missed a bunch.  
A little late, but still in the acceptable window for  my zone I was planting garlic today. I have a bunch of volunteers. I decided to remove them. I doubt they would grow all bunched together the way they were. Being a waist not want not kind of person I replanted them. I separated them, and planted around my raised beds. I don't know if they will survive. If they survive I'm not sure they will produce bulbs. I figured I have nothing to loose. If they survive, it's a win no matter what. Even if they don't make a decent bulb, we can eat the greens, and they are a great pest control
Time will tell.

It's advantages to over winter peppers. They produce so much earlier than when they are started from seed
I don't enjoy the process. Dig it out, prune it way back. Put it in the greenhouse. Keep it watered, but not much water. It takes up space. Some make it, some don't (it's getting better each year,) I decided to try overwinter a couple in place. I pruned it back, used a bunch of shredded cardboard to heavily mulch, and put a clear plastic bin over them. I don't know if it will work, but it's worth a try.

Unfortunately I have not figured out a way to defeat Bermuda grass. I don't know what kind it is (native to N. California) but it's my nemesis for sure!!!
I can tell you I had my entire garden at one time covered in weed cloth with about 4" to 6" of wood chips on top.  I still battled Bermuda. I don't think it can push through the weed cloth, but any seam, edge or rip it will find it and come through.  When I redid my garden I removed the weed cloth and there was a solid mass of Bermuda roots.
I still use weed cloth. I know Permies people hate weed cloth, and I understand why. I try very hard to use as little plastic as possible. Without it gardening becomes constant miserable work. I've tried cardboard, wood chips, and a combination of both. It does help, but only for a few months.
I would love to find a good alternative to weed cloth. I think I may try to get a few cotton sheets at the thrift store and see if it works, and  how long will it last before if breaks down. It will be an interesting experiment.
Good luck, do what you need to do to grow what makes you happy.

I checked on the compost, and it's looking good. It's totally cooled down. It's a nice dark color, only an earthy smell, and besides the wood chips no distinguishable parts. It's right when I expected it to be. With any luck and the help of the composting critters I should have some great compost by spring.

I have a bunch of projects to get done, but I hope to start a new pile soon. I have a ton of material, I just need the time to chop up the garden debris, and put it all together.

the pile was about 118 to 120 for several days. I decided it's a sign I'm done. I mixed it around, and no more bad smell, and no more white stuff, so I feel good about letting it cure. It's still rough, but does look like compost. I guess once it cools the worms and other compost critters will help to finish it to what I hope is really good compost.
The leaves you can see it the photo just fell in the pile.

I refresh my beds Just before I plant in spring and fall. I remove what needs to go.  (I also garden year round, and find it difficult to remove producing plants to plant new plants that won't produce for a while).  I will mix what ever I have on hand. Today it was fish bone meal, azamite, green sand, bio live, a tiny bit of kelp meal, a little veggie fertilizer. all organic. I mix it in a bucket, and lightly sprinkle it on the beds. It's  not very much, but I figure especially since some are raised beds I need to replenish what the plants may have used. I want them to not only taste great, but be as nutritious as possible. Then I will top the beds with what I have. Today it was compost, potting soil, and soil conditioner. It's all organic. I work at a co-op, so if I can get a broken bag for a deal I will grab it, if you read the ingredients, they are all about the same. My beds are all filled with wood in the bottom, so over the years the soil level gets lower. I fill them as much as I can when I can. Even with my discount it can be pretty expensive. I'm working on making compost, but even though it's actually heated up this time I will never be able to make enough to keep my beds full. Then I water it well and plant.
I have to confess I enjoy the clean fresh look, and the the potential for amazing veggies, fruit, herbs and flowers to come.

A happy byproduct of this post is I've been pretty busy, and forgot when I turned my pile. Now I can see it was the 10th. Is been 135 to 145, so I guess I will turn it today after work.
Maybe for future piles I will make a flip chart, so if life gets busy I can keep track.

I got chicks from my work (co-op), so I raised them.
strange enough the rooster seems to be quite low in the pecking order.
I have no idea who is pulling neck feathers. It never happens in front of me. I don't think it's still happening. I'm not sure, but some seem to have grown back, and my flock is starting to look more normal. It very noticeable on the rooster.  Unfortunately I lost 8 chickens since spring. If I forget to close the coop at night a raccoon 🦝 will eat one of my hens. Maybe the feather puller was one that was eaten. Time will tell.