Excel - thanks for the update plus I reviewed the site that you provided and I will give it a try.
I've had two droughts this summer with just one 20-minute rainfall that replenished my water tanks. I have two new enclosures, one is 200 square feet, to plant without concern about animals attacking the plants. I had a lengthy period of heat that killed the tomato blossoms inside the enclosure. Some other tomatoes that I planted using my earlier schedule fared better. Next year I will be back into my old planting schedule.
My garlic did crazy great. Part of my harvest goes to chefs who give me meals and rides to grocery stores.
Potatoes, my main pandemic survival crop, did great, as well.
I have two large aronia berry bushes. The berries are rather bitter, which I use in my morning oatmeal. This year due to the droughts, the birds that normally avoid the aronia, needed fluid and have been eating the berries. I said to myself that they need to survive too and so I didn't put a new over the berries.
I've got major concerns about our food supplies going forward. Things are already disappearing off the shelves and I think that the new norm will be scarcity. The skill set for growing food by a major part of our population was lost just after World War II, so three generations of people exist not knowing a thing about growing food.
Sounds like you and your wife are in good stead!
You take care and good luck.
