Jen’s Boot Camp and Allerton Abbey Experience

Greg Martin wrote:Wow, you guys have been getting pretty cold Jen.  Still no killing frosts yet here in Maine, though I'm sure it won't be long.  I'm still picking tomatoes...weird, right?

We have had killing frosts here since September! What a difference a few miles makes huh? (LOL)

Travis Johnson wrote:

Greg Martin wrote:Wow, you guys have been getting pretty cold Jen.  Still no killing frosts yet here in Maine, though I'm sure it won't be long.  I'm still picking tomatoes...weird, right?

We have had killing frosts here since September! What a difference a few miles makes huh? (LOL)

Fresh tomato season for me just ended on Saturday (Nov. 2nd).  I think the big bonus in time that I get comes from being in a warm spot in Maine and being up on the South facing hillside that descends a long ways down to the river that separates southern Maine from NH....LOTS of room for the cold air to drop away from me.  When I drive to work I see the frosts on the flat land areas just up the road from me quite a while before I finally get hit.  It was really nice having the extra time for my pawpaws to ripen.  Even the early varieties need the extra time up here.

I think the big bonus in time that I get comes from being in a warm spot in Maine and being up on the South facing hillside that descends a long ways down to the river that separates southern Maine from NH....LOTS of room for the cold air to drop away from me.  

This is an important point to keep in mind when looking for property and locating features on the homestead. A feature not mentioned is not only dose the cold air fall away but if there is a source of warmth such as a body of water the air warmed will rise up the slope. that river of warmth will provide a warmer micro climate. For example we had a garden alongside a spring that flowed down into the bay below. Not only did cold air flow away from the garden but warm air would flow up under the branches of the fir trees and onto the garden.
So applying it to wofati design give consideration to cold air flowing away from entrances and catching rising warm air that may be rising.  Note the difference under the overhang and the more distent outdore temperature.

Chris,

Yes, the dust is pretty bad. I would definitely like to try a milk paint when I can make time!

Nicole,

That’s a good idea—I will start scavenging for smaller sticks.

Greg,

Yeah, Paul was pretty surprised we already dropped below zero!

Jennifer Richardson wrote:Yeah, Paul was pretty surprised we already dropped below zero!

Oh you pour thing! We had that weather last winter. On Thanksgiving Day 2018.Maine was well below zero (f). We were the coldest spot on earth, and that included both the North and South Poles.