After a long, dry summer, raining is finally falling pretty regularly, and the plants seem happy! 156 mm (just over 6″) since November 27th, which is the day I finally installed and configured the self-emptying rain gauge pictured above.  Soon the winter garden chores will start.  This year I’ll be tearing out the raspberries and blackberries – too thirsty, especially if the drought is going to continue – and building a raised bed for asparagus, as the older bed seems to have essentially given up.  I plan to also plant another walnut – the one from a few years ago is alive but barely hanging on, having been ravaged repeatedly by deer – and perhaps another almond.  Garlic and elephant garlic and shallots are in the ground and growing, though slowly.  Some of the various mustards and other cole crops out in the food forest are starting to naturalize as reseeding annuals, and with any luck, all of the various trees and food forest perennials will awaken in the spring.  One can hope…