The deck planting box is turning out to be a good alternative spot for tomato plants.

We decided to delete the roof overhang section to increase sun exposure time.

It also opens up a space to add a smaller planter box.

Experimenting with using a thick salvaged window as one of the walls to get a peek at worm activity and water drainage.

I'm very excited to announce that our first video course is now live! If you use this link before the end of the day Friday, you should be able to snag your copy for half off.

Even if you're just curious, I recommend heading over there since you can watch five of the sixteen course videos for free in preview mode. You can learn why I love no-till and cover crops, how to topdress, and how dorky I look on video. What do you have to lose?

Our new friend Brad was able to squeeze us in Friday for a drone rescue from a tree.

When we moved to Ohio, we went hardcore on our garden fencing. And the barrier has kept out the deer I was most concerned about.

Unfortunately, nothing else seems fazed.

It's taken years to figure out exactly who's eating our fruits and veggies. But a game camera recently confirmed what I'd already guessed.

Unripe strawberries and tomatoes strewn across the ground are a sign of fumble-fingered chipmunks. These little rodents can go through a planting remarkably fast.

Entire branches torn down in the raspberry patch and snow peas dragged off their trellises are a sign of raccoon damage. Yes, raccoons are quite happy to eat garden produce other than corn.

The solution? We aren't quite there yet. But at least we've nailed the problem down!

In other news:

My heart was warmed when I heard from a very unexpected trailersteader two weeks ago:

"Your book inspired my wife to have the courage to move out to our little farm and live in a trailer, the only way we could afford to live there upon my retirement from teaching high school history. How delightful to pick up your Trailersteading book and learn the author was one of my first AP history students back at Tennessee High in Bristol! I admired your intelligence then; now I admire what you have done with it. Sarah loved your book!"

--- Ken Senter

What a wonderful cycle since Mr. Senter's enthusiasm and intensity of focus on his subject matter was contagious twenty-odd years ago. It's wonderful to think that I managed to have an unexpected positive impact on his life just like the one he had on mine!

I'll end with a teaser of what Mark and I have been hard at work on this summer. My next post will hopefully be a link to the finished product, but you can hear about it first and get a free review copy if you sign up for our email list. Can't wait to share with you!

We made a short video that updates our experience using 2 recycled bathtubs as outdoor worm bins.

Spoiler alert! A cheap heating pad coupled with a thermocube ensures the worms can survive the Winter.