Hi Greg. My father retired to Paris, Tn and was a great gardener. He gardened here in Alaska (Fairbanks) prolifically and had great success. He would build a greenhouse out of willow branches (7' tall) covered in poly and grew tomatoes, cukes and the like in there. He had a few acres under very 'manual' cultivation in Paris and they 'put up' tons of stuff for the winter. He even built a work shed for his wood working stuff on a slope so he could have a concrete root cellar beneath on the down hill side. I would love that but I am a flatlander (if you don't count the Chugach mountains to the South and the chain of mountains to the north (including Mt. MtKinley) that trails down the Aleutians, all in site on a clear day.
But my little 13000sf lot is flat as a fritter. Could I do the back yard over again I would build in a rock slope covered in dirt that would allow for a cave of sorts to use as a root cellar.
I have my cole (hmmm, I always thought it was 'cold' weather) crops growing in the garage for now. Lettuce, spinach, Pak Choi, as well as herbs basil, thyme, rosemary, etc. Hm, I think I also started two squash plants just for fun. And of course, some experimental (for out zone) flowering plants. I have three raised beds (18"x4'x8') with pvc hoops over top that I cover with poly when it is warm enough for things to go out for hardying up. Works great for dahlias that need protection from the direct sun. They never burn in the hoop houses. Not so good for beans though as they really do need the warmth, not just protection from frost.
