I have been complaining about the weather too! We were 28 degrees this morning here in NW Oregon, and that's way too early for that kind of cold. The sun is lovely and everything, but we're on a spring, and if it doesn't rain, we don't have water. I fear it's the new normal too, and I don't like it either. I haven't looked at a forecast for a while, but I imagine it's similar to yours. I love your water containment idea. I have a small field that is completely sodden during the winter months and only dries out during the very middle of the summer. Digging a moat around the outside might give me more room for planting by keeping most of the land dry enough that the plants won't float. Something to think about ...