I was planning on using the winter to find a plot, prepare the soil and construct the area into a plot.
Don't know where you are, but on the left coast now is a great time to look for water supplies. If you have water now, chances are you will this time next year. Too many people look for sites in the spring when the water tables are high only to find out they run out before the plants finish.
If you're growing in the woods, walk in until your legs and lungs ache. Sit down, take a break, then go at least that much further looking for a tributary with running water on a south face (dependent on where you are again). Repeat above instructions.
Now search for a collection area in the tributary, somewhere that the water naturally holds. Can be a log jamb ( I like these cause you can hide the intake and waterline out of the gate easy), natural pool in bedrock, whatever.
This is where an altimeter comes in handy. Walk from your water source looking for the right spot for the patch while paying attention to your altimeter. I like to go at least one dry (at the time) ravine away from the water source. You should be able to lose enough altitude to get head pressure to make it up and over the high side of the dry ravine. Some times it's possible to get too much head pressure by the time you reach your spot. This is easily cured by going back uphill with the water line to reduce head pressure. Worst case scenario, I've had to use 3 different timers running at different times so the lower plants weren't getting blasted while the uppers weren't getting enough.
Figure out how many holes you're gonna run. How much waterline to reach the patch and distribute water to each hole. Spaghetti line for drippers and # of drippers. DO NOT believe in the self cleaning, pressure compensating drippers, it's bullshit! Go with cheap throwaways and replace as needed when you visit.
Come back with your supplies and a maddux, preferably before sunup til your off the beaten path. Find different routes in and out and switch up regularly. Where different soled shoes from one visit to the next. By the second trip back those tracks should be gone. Look for signs of other tracks on your way in.
Roll out and route 100' of waterline. Trench and bury it. You will have to tunnel under blow downs, etc. Don't be afraid to run uphill occasionally to save some work if you have to, you will be able to bleed the air later. Depth will depend on bears as far as I'm concerned. Those bastards will dig the line up and chew it if they can hear the water flowing. Set your timers to water when they're sleeping, like 10am-12pm, or whatever time you need depending on drippers.
Repeat until you reach the site. Snake it around your hole sites so you can run the spaghetti line later.
Check soil for type and plan on packing in supplements if required. I find a half bag of chicken shit pretty much takes care of most problems and won't burn small plants/clones.
I could go on, but I'm tired of two finger typing and most will have quit reading this long ago because it's WORK. Do the work, spend the time, pay attention and you just might beat the odds and pull something off you can be proud of. Nothing comes easy, except being lazy and getting caught.
BLT
