FWIW Paris and other large european cities were fed on plants grown in composted horse manure.
It was swept from the streets, composted, and used in cold frames to grow a great deal of vegetables within the city limits. The rotting manure was used as a warm bed to keep plants growing in the winter.
Used once and tossed to get maximum production. Can't recall where I saw this, maybe Elliot Coleman's book winter harvest?
Their biggest challenge was not cold, but hours of sunlight.
Bower you are on to something with the soil heater. Soil temp is more critical than air temp for plant health.
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