A good way to germinate seeds is to get a plate and put a few peices of paper towl on it and then pour on some water put the seeds on the wet paper towl and then put a couple more peaices of paper towl on top then put another plate on top and keep them in a dark and warm place.
Germinating Sprouting Marijuana Seeds
you could germinate them outside right in the soil as long as it doesnt get too warm and the soil stays moist.
To keep pigs away put up a good chicken wire fence around your plants(you can paint black to avoid being seen) also piss around the area, putting soap in socks and hanging it from low trees is supposed to help to, as well as coyote, fox, couger, tiger shit and human hair.
You should go for a strain that flowers automaticly, i dont know of any way to force budding without reducing the hours of light by covering the plants.
If the soil in the area isnt very good you should plant in grow bags or 5 gallan pots with any good potting soil and bury them in the ground so there not as tall