Reply To: Fleece through the ages

[Stringfellow]

Great question Angela. I’ve read books by Janes Gunston and F.C. King, both believers in no till veg growing and the use of surface mulching with compost. Cloches, cold frames, greenhouses and hotbed growing would spring to mind as an alternative to fleece and mesh, as well as focusing on soil, and therefore plant, health to help protect against pests as much as possible (Charles is championing this philosophy regularly, for very sound reasons). Additionally, French growers used to use straw mats (1800’s) to help insulate against low night time temperatures; see Eliot Coleman “The Winter Harvest Handbook” for some fascinating info.