James Lucas

Planting Garlic is a great way to end the growing season.  I have come to utilize with success Keene Organics methods to the T. https://keeneorganics.com/quick-growing-instruction/  

Much of their methods mirror what other contributors have already suggested.  

Here in Northern Michigan we have extreme deer browse pressure. We successfully planted a fence row of Hazelnuts as the base and as they grew added additional perennials for pollinators.

Forrest, your system is beautiful!  I received a deal on framed-damaged IBC food grade Totes and have 10 tanks ganged together from our barn roof to our drip irrigation system; we move water up to 300 ft away to garden beds. We also added a Harbor Freight shallow water pump to move water efficiency and have been very satisfied with the results. We reuse pantyhose to filter incoming water, filter again at driplines, and do an annual power wash to remove alge build up and flush to nearby compost pile.  Exploring solar pumps also.

Yes the issue of having moisture when I need it for my garden and tree nursery.  I have 12 1000 liter food grade ($25 each) totes ganged together that I deliver over our land from percipatation off our barn and home. With 30 inches of precipitation a year, the sandy soil was like a sive,  but as we build organic matter into it, we  now have happy plants.