Molly, sounds great. Every year I tell new wintersowers that milk jugs are best. Most want to try all different things in their first year, but most find that the jugs do indeed work best. And they allow lots of headroom for seedlings, too, for those of us who aren't too efficient at getting everything planted fast enough.
Wintersowing generally does eliminate the need for soaking, nicking, and everything else needed for some seeds indoors. The rain and snow and fluctuating temperatures overcome those physical problems well.
Like Neal, I usually start sometime in January, after Christmas mess is put away.
Sounds to me that you're a new convert to wintersowing. Once that bug bites, it stays with you.
Karen