Fall Clean-up

We've had our first frost last week so the summer growing season has pretty much come to an end. I already have the greenhouse cleaned out and one of my 4 x 8 cold-frames planted with lettuce, arugula, kale and spinach to provide us with fresh salad greens throughout the winter, so now it's time to start cleaning the gardens and covering them with shredded leaves for the winter. 

 

Meet the cleaning helpers!

These are our two Pekin ducks, (haven't named them yet). They roam the back yard during the day foraging for bugs and pretty much anything else they can eat. After I pulled up the tomato, pepper and other withered plants, I opened up the garden for them to feast on the remaining summer kale and cabbage. 

They are excellent cleaners and have been doing a thorough job!

Since growing organically and applying compost tea to the seedlings in the spring, I haven't had much of a pest problem. I do get the occasional squash beetle or cabbage moth, but not enough to do any significant damage. I am hoping the ducks will clean any hibernating insects left in the garden and next year will see even less pests. I just need to keep them out of the garden when I plant the tender seedlings next spring!

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