<a class="mention" href="/@isaiah_smith">@isaiah_smith</a> thank you for your extended thoughts and suggestions. In my current little garden, there are identifiable separate zones, some pest-inhabited and some pest-free: 1 - a quickly constructed "pandemic" cinder block garden, two bricks high, about 4 feet by 4 feet, built on gravel. It&#39;s a part shade location. Layered from the bottom with: cardboard, thick pile of leaves (this was a mistake --&gt; slugs), bagged soil (Seasoil, a brand I like). Peas, arugula, and radishes did really well here in the spring, despite slugs. Currently home to some Siberian kale. 2 - a section adjacent to the neighbours and fence, half potted plants. Blueberries, tomatoes in pots. Sunflowers, black-eyed susans, bush beans in the ground. Sunniest in the midday and afternoon. 3 - Lilac tree, hydrangeas, and a blank spot which is planned for transplanting bleeding hearts. 4 - Herb garden. Giant rosemary in giant pot plus parsley going to seed. Volunteer oregano, a clump of chives. Creeping jenny. Lupins are here. Also nasturtiums. 5 - Random little area where the tulips were in the spring. Peas, beans along the back at the moment. Borage and chives. For some reason, lots of pillbugs and also ants. :( 6 - Porch hanging baskets and balcony planter. The happiest shiso and basil is growing here, untouched by slugs. One hanging potted cherry tomato plant is here for midday sun. 7 - An ugly-looking "salad sled". The kids put a giant crack in their lime green-coloured plastic toboggan this past winter, so it was toast. We drilled some holes in the bottom, propped it on top of two milk crates, and stuck a long bag of soil on top. I cut the top off the bag of soil (poked some drainage holes) and planted it with salad greens. The first crop grew really well. Because, no slugs here! Inspired by this channel: <a href='https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w2DJxMNppw'>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w2DJxMNppw</a> 8 - Row of hostas on the shady side. My worm compost bins are kind of a lost cause. I&#39;m thinking of harvesting all the worms, starting with fresh bedding (not fall leaves, but newspaper -- where does one find newspapers these days???) and dumping the pillbug-laden compost somewhere near the adjacent creek instead of letting the bugs loose in my garden. Hoping that raccoons like to eat the bugs?! I&#39;ve previously used row cover but was too lazy this year. It does seem to be worth it for brassicas, because handpicking the cabbage worms (and the tiny yellow eggs) off the kale is a pain. Unfortunately, my children can no longer be enticed into doing this kind of job. No space suitable for a greenhouse, even one that&#39;s improvised. There&#39;s not enough hours of direct sun in any spot for it to be worth it. I&#39;m not opposed to using plastic sheets, temporarily. (Previously I&#39;ve sheltered tomatoes with a combo of rebar, bamboo, pvc piping, and clear shower curtains. Sorry, neighbours!) I will look into some of your tips. Thanks again for the input!