Pictures from last month and the snow fall today. I’m experimenting after observing kale unexpectedly coming back in previous years, reading about brussel sprouts wintering in Alaska, and operating under my own (perhaps dubious) theories that artichokes can be perennials in zone 4b (-25F to -20F, frosts October-May). I used a bunch of old plastic storage tubs and straw. The idea is to create a refrigerator instead of a deep freeze. Some of the kale I only covered with straw because I ran out of bins but that’ll be my control to see if there’s a difference and if I need to bother covering the kale. On the stone retaining wall in the background I mulched the berry bushes and strawberries with straw. I also stuffed straw into the sides of my cold frame on the side of the house (salvaged window frame, also covering artichokes). Since that’s in a sunny spot and near the foundation of the house for warmth, I’m hoping those artichokes will have a head start on the rest. If they do good I’ll be planting loads next year and letting a number of them grow wild and bloom for the bees. I didn’t do anything with the other garden since everything has been harvested. There’s still so much to do, we’re a little frantic with a blizzard in the forecast. I think we’re on edge after how rough last winter was.