Since my little bro’s subtropical clime is along the coast, he gets some ocean breezes, but it does get hot. His garden still does very well - quite ‘lush’ actually. He has more than he/wife can eat so gives produce away to the neighbors. He will freeze some things, but doesn’t do any canning.
One thing we noticed when we moved here ... the folks really do know how to dress for the weather. Even the Walmart was carrying much heavier clothing than we saw at the Old House Walmart. At the Old House, I could make it through the winter with a flannel shirt over a T-shirt & a fleece jacket. That combo doesn’t work here! I have doubled up fleece jackets, but that’s a bit bulky. I did go to the Farm Bureau last year & bought a super heavy work jacket that not Carhart, but similar. It has kept me warm during the Arctic temps, but the outer fabric is ‘stiff’ & the hood isn’t detachable, which I found out I don’t like. I already had knee-high neoprene boots & just bought some ankle high neoprenes so I can keep my feet dry/warm in the snow.
The neighbor (JW) who plowed the bottom of the driveway (all the snowplow stuff that was piled up) told me the former owner of our house had a snow blower. JW said he “hated” that thing because the owner would always call and wanted help with it. JW said he felt like it took half a day to do 18” with it, an exaggeration, but he really did not like that snowblower! He also said he and his son went by his church & they were trying to use a snowblower to clear walks, etc., but with the ‘snowcrete’, someone had to go ahead & break it up for the snowblower to work. JW told his son to “just start shoveling”. I can recall some icy ‘crusts’ at the Old House, but nothing as thick and lasting as long (those Arctic temps!) as what we still have.
Currently, 4 of my 6 boxwoods are 3/4 covered with snowcrete/snow. 2 are totally covered. My 4 Lenten Rose plants are totally covered - out of sight! I am leaving things as they are because the snow is insulating - hopefully, when we got down to low single digits last week (1° at least once), the snow kept the plants from getting killed. One good thing about the snow, this area has had drought conditions the last 2 summers & the melting snow should help replenish the ground water levels, which are low.
Our snowblower is a Craftsman, but I don’t know which model. What I do know is that we got the same model as his sister on Long Island has. They had 3 properties to care for: their own home, her MIL’s home, and their business office.
We do not have a problem starting it up. It’s been a champ. I shovel if we only get a few inches at a time. Like I said, if more than 3” fall overnight, this bad boy snowblower makes it an easy job. We have a pretty long driveway (cement, not asphalt), and it handles it easily.
With Snowmaggedon Fern, we were able to help out a few neighbors who were stranded when their equipment wouldn’t work.
I’ll ask hubby if he remembers which model it is. It’s probably written somewhere on the machine, but I couldn’t find it. Worth every penny.
Ok, we looked it up. This is our model of Craftsman snowblower. I’m sure it costs more now than when we bought ours 12 years ago.
It works, though! Handles heavy snow, and starts up without a problem.
Maybe put it on your Christmas wish list? Your neighbor won’t care, because it will get the job done quickly. He won’t need to help you get it started either. And then, after all is said and done, he will want to borrow yours! ;-)
Craftsman Select 24 CMXGBAM213101 24 in. 208 cc Two stage Gas Snow Blower
Here’s the write up from the Ace Hardware website. https://www.acehardware.com/departments/lawn-and-garden/snow-removal-and-equipment/snow-blowers/7015522