There are a number of ways to approach your land planning. If I remember correctly, this is a second home. It sounds as though you want to develop a self sustaining property. Okay...let's tackle the two major problems first. Heavy winds that blow slate roof off. I can't promise you that any windbreak is going to solve this problem. Suggest that on the very wet, windward side of property you plant just one tree variety in three staggered rows; Bald cypress(Taxodium distichum). Toward the house side, about 40' from the trees install two rows of grapes spaced 20' apart (or so you can run a mower between comfortably). (Note: Always keep ease of mowing in mind when you add anything to a large property.) Think of the grapes as a windbreak, also. They would not have to be grown with the usual precision of pruning, etc. Just the foliage controlled as needed. Should you desire, plant in front of the grapes a mixed shrub border. Raise them up on a slight berm above water table. Viburnums, blueberries, even dwarf fruit trees could be grown on this berm. If wind is a summer problem then veggie garden would probably have to be enclosed with a solid board fence, dwarf fruit trees espaliered along the outside. Garden might be best situated in the square formed by barn and shed, as wide as you want to make it. If the deer find you it may be necessary to install an electric fence outside the garden area to prevent them from fence jumping. The 'V' between the sidewalks by the house looks like a spot for a parterre garden of kitchen herbs plus an ornamental, small tree, limbed up, planted at the sidwalk 'V'. Trees along curving drive...Donald Wymann flowering crab. Beautiful used in this manner. Bright red apples hang on all winter. A more upright growing ornamental tree than many of the other crab trees. Just a few quick thoughts for you. Your best advisors are neighboring farmers who know the territory. This Forum really cannot be of much help to you.

If the wireless deer fence really works, that looks like a nice solution. From people who have dealt with deer, though, I would expect they might just learn to avoid it ... just as they learn to accept the motion-activated sprinklers. I've heard that an electrified wire that runs around the garden generally works well, as does clear fishing line strung at their chest height and "ankle" height ... they can't see it, but can feel it and become confused and avoid it. They can jump quite high, but need room in order to do so; therefore, two parallel fences spaced just right will deter them - they have to be far enough apart that the deer cannot clear both in one jump, but close enough that they can't get the start they need to clear the second. Some people install these fences at an angle, but that becomes quite space-intensive. As others have already stated, keeping the greenhouse cool in spring and summer would be a real problem, especially for those cool-weather crops you're planning. The shade house idea is a good one, however, and I'm wondering if you could get away with some type of tunnel-type structure covered with bird netting or some other mesh. For an easy-to-build frame, have you seen the faux bamboo stakes and connectors? Sort of like a large Tinker-Toy set for adults/gardeners. Gardener's Supply has them. Actually, greenhouser, deer are becoming more and more a problem in suburban areas. We're creating the perfect habitat for them. Deer actually dwell at the woods' edge, seeking shelter inside and food in the adjacent meadows ... whether that "meadow" be wild or someone's lawn and gardens. Their natural predators all but gone and an abundant food supply, their numbers increase until population pressures force them to move outward to new areas. Deer seem to be extremely adaptable and, as evident in some previous posts, become used to living around people, even standing their ground, blithely munching away on choice specimens, as a homeowner/gardener advances trying to shoo them away (I've seen it on video). Squirrelypete, I don't know that it would be any comfort to your hubby, but my dad, who loved fishing, held the philosophy that the fish got itself caught because of its own greed: it thought it was eating something else; so he had no qualms about eating it (though he'd never have hunted).

Chuck, That looks amazing. Just out of curiosity, what kind of paint did you use? There is a partial decal visible in a couple of Jason's photos. One is straight on, and you might be able to use that as a guide for painting on your decal. There is also a decal visible in one of my photos. In case you want to add some accessories to your Merry Tiller, there is a company called Maxim that makes tillers very similar to the Merry Tillers, and I think there is a good chance that some or all of Maxim's accessories might fit a Merry Tiller. I emailed them a couple of years ago, and they seemed willing to make a set of their Till Hoes to fit my Merry Tiller. They were going to add transmission seal protection cups in the style of the Merry Tiller tines. So they seemed to be pretty knowledgeable about Merry Tillers. (I guess they should, because they are making something very similar). I was going to use the Till Hoes as traction for my homemade dozer blade, since I can't find the wide finger tine sets anymore. Maybe I should re-open my line of communication with Maxim. Several of their tillers have clutch latches, and some come with optional tractor tires for plowing. But apparently none have adjustable handles. I might bring that subject up with Maxim. Incidentally, Maxim used to have an amazing machine called a "Plow Hoss", which is now discontinued. But, just for jollies, I am linking to an old picture of a Plow Hoss here. It's sort of like a high-wheeled cultivator on steroids. (I could grow better corn than that.) MM

Outsmarting the tree rats (squirrels) around my house is a full time job. This past spring I hit on a new idea. When I plant a container I invert an empty wire hanging basket over the container and the plant gets sun and can be watered but the squirrels can't dig in it. Another idea: I bring in a lot of plants to "over winter" under lights in my garage. I have so many that it is hard to reach my hand under the lights (4 shop lights) to the middle for watering. So I bought a pump sprayer with a long wand and it works great! In late winter I add a little liquid Dawn detergent, few drops, to each gallon of water and not only does the soil get wet easier but the worms that are waiting to hatch into distructive pets just don't hatch. Don't know what it costs me to run those four shop lights all winter but I don't care. It is a small price to pay to be able to "garden" every weekend in the garage. Many people have mentioned that they mark their outdoor plants with a "permanent Sharpie". In my experience there isn't a "permanent Sharpie", they all fade and quickly too. A grease pencil/china marker or expensive "no fade" garden center marker are the only markers I have found that won't disappoint you by fading. Eight years ago I decided to learn about gardening so I tapped into my local library. I checked out nearly every book they had on gardening and learned so much. The Gardenweb forums are also a wealth of information and entertainment. There is always something new to learn and I appreciate all of you who take the time to write in your ideas. One last idea from me...I keep a small notebook on my computer table and jot down any idea I find that's new and I will want to try. Little pieces of paper get lost but I always know where my notebook is and also use it when I order "on line" so I will remember the name of the company and the order date. Tina or Trowelgal