The crisp air of autumn signals the arrival of November. The shorter days and cooler nights characterize this month. The recent shift from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time brings about a noticeable change in our daily rhythm, with the sun now setting earlier in the evening, balanced by its slightly earlier sunrise in the mornings. The overall effect is a noticeable decrease of daylight hours, with each day soon measuring in at less than eight hours of sunshine.
“As we await the arrival of winter’s snow and frigid temperatures, we have been working to winterize our home, preparing for the challenges ahead.”
rt23 staff
Our efforts have encompassed several key areas. First, we focused on insulating our crawl spaces, a critical step in maintaining a comfortable and energy-efficient home. We’ve installed R-30 insulation within the floor joists to create a barrier against cold air infiltration. Furthermore, we closed the basement vents, sealing them using precisely cut R-5 foam insulation boards, preventing any drafts from entering the home. To further enhance the protection of our crawl space, we’ve added foam board to the crawl space door, creating an extra layer of insulation. Finally, we took measures to safeguard our plumbing by closing and draining all outside faucets, a necessary precaution to prevent pipes from freezing and causing costly damage during the winter months.
“It’s not all gloom and doom, as this period marks the exciting start of the winter holiday season”
rt23 staff
While the month of November in northern New Jersey may bring about cooler temperatures and shorter days, it’s certainly not all gloom and doom, as this period marks the exciting commencement of the winter holiday season, starting with the joyous Thanksgiving Day celebrations and the anticipation of everything that follows.
Winter Garden
Although our summer crops are finished and the garden has died back considerably, we are still harvesting fresh lettuce that we planted in September
Expanding on our home gardening efforts, beyond the already established lettuce crop, we are now cultivating a thriving indoor herb garden. This garden features a selection of aromatic and flavorful herbs, including fresh basil, parsley, and dill, all nurtured under the glow of grow lights, ensuring optimal growth conditions even during the shorter days of the year.
In the coming days, we will be starting our microgreens cultivation , usingartificial lighting to optimize their growth and development.
