@Bevin Niemann-Cortez Congratulations! Where did you study? No way! @Andrew Tuttle and I taught a class with Greg recently too. What is your YouTube channel? I'd love to check it out.

@Bevin Niemann-Cortez Awesome, thanks for sharing! I'll check it out :)

Thanks for the questions Elaine! I'd recommend getting going this Fall as it's the best planting season in our region for fruiting shrubs and trees. Some wildflower mixes also do well sowing this time of year. Slugs are mostly problematic with veggies and it can help to grow them in raised beds. I find that method easier for managing slug populations. The soil is going to be key to success. I'd recommend brining in a few yards of compost from a local topsoil company. You might consider trying sheet mulching, using cardboard to smother grasses or other plants you don't want to keep, then adding compost on top. I've had success with this method in several landscape installations. Practical Permaculture is a wonderful beginner book that details sheet mulching and many other edible landscape strategies. I recommend grabbing a copy of that. It was written by two local authors that we have learned a ton from! Have you checked out Beacon Food Forest in the classroom tab yet? You can find a bunch of inspiration there and definitely try to visit in person! Last, I also want to suggest signing up for newsletters at https://nwfruit.org. They host many wonderful, affordable classes on growing fruit in our region.

@Elaine Walloch I've heard that too but haven't tried myself. Another method people talk about is using crushed egg shells. Apparently the sharp edges deter them from the space. I usually try to think about eliminating slug habitat around my main production zone. If you keep low growing plants around your raised beds like mowed grass or a ground cover it is easier to stay on top of managing their impact on your veggies. I've been struggling to keep up with them eating mushrooms off of our mushroom logs! They are fruiting right now but getting gobbled up.

@Jessica Johnson Here is another good option! https://tilthalliance.org/our-work/wa-farming-agriculture/washington-state-organic-sustainable-farming-fund/ We find the most grant opportunities on LinkedIn. Great place to find resources for projects like yours :)