So things have slowed down a bit up here due to some pretty crazy winter weather that has come through. Wouldn't be surprised if we got a foot of new snow by tomorrow. This is actually a good thing though because it is undoubtedly one of the last big storms and will soak all the outside sheet mulch and fill the pond. It also stalls the trees bloom a little bit which is a safeguard against frost later on. Jerome has been commenting on how this is the most 'difficult' time of the year for the greenhouses because the weather is so unpredictable and can change quickly. Thus constant monitoring is needed, especially because of all the new starters. We have approximately 30 trays of seedlings and sprouts around the greenhouses and they need to be watched quite a bit. Our biggest problem with them has been mice eating the seeds out of the trays. Our solutions so far have been locking the cats in the greenhouse and setting traps. The most effective trap is a five gallon bucket filled half way with water and peanut butter smeared around the edges. A piece of wood leans against the bucket and we have been able to get quite a few little mice with this technique. 

I took inventory on all the rootstocks outside and Jerome has ordered a few hundred more. We just got some fig cuttings in the other day and we potted those up in one gallon containers. Been meaning to ask Jerome why he didn't just take cuttings from his own fig. I'll ask him tomorrow. I worked a paid Job with Jerome last week at the Rocky Mountain Institute. RMI is a think tank for energy efficiency and it was a treat to be able to work there and meet Amory Lovins. 

They have a passive solar home with a interior greenhouse acting as a living room. Some plants growing include; banana, avocado, pineapple, coffee, papaya, ginger... and more. Jerome and I came in and built the wall on their pathway higher for more board space and then began putting down all the soil remedies. Manure, coffee grounds, worms, leaves, mycelium, and water. We moved two of their bananas and did some planting. 

I have begun reading Robert Harts book, 'Forest Gardening' and it has proved to be the most informative resource for me thus far.