Greenhouses Rising!
A PROJECT A LONG TIME COMING
These two small greenhouse (24′ x 17′) have been languishing unfinished for about three years, due to lack of a coordinated effort among other things. When Lyle asked Bob if he’d like to “jump in” and complete them, Bob was thrilled. As you can see, the worksite could use a little planning and organizing.
REDO FROM START
The first couple of weeks were spent undoing a number of missteps. The frames were not straight, the polydrums were unnecessary, and the gravel laid down on the soil (without a weed barrier) was dysfunctional – except for weed propagation. Landscape cloth was deployed to cover the wet red clay, and the site and the materials were reorganized.
FUTURE VISION
It turned out that the base of the greenhouse, meant to be a rectangle, was in fact a parallelogram. After a bit of straightening. a sheet of plastic cover was laid over-top to ensure that it was square enough to be properly skinned. The gravel was raked up and redeployed on the road which benefited greatly from the additional material.
LIKE A GLOVE – ALMOST
It appears that the plastic will fit just fine. When completed, it will sport two layers of 6 mil covering kept apart and insulated by air pumped between the two layers.
LIKE A PHOENIX
At month’s end, the remediation work was completed and new work begun. Hopefully by the end of March it should be complete – ventilation fans, doors, and skin installed.
MEANWHILE, A VISIT TO THE NEXT DOOR GREENHOUSE
The farm next door is always a pleasure to visit. Real Farmers doing real work. The well used tools are a testament to the fabulous produce being coaxed out of the red clay.
SPRING’S HOPE
Jason & Haruka have a knack for raising nutritious food in cooperation with nature. Lots of starts in the greenhouse and spinach rising.
NICE OFFICE
Haruka is tending young plants in their greenhouse while Kuroda stalks the aisles.
FOOD & FUEL
We certainly are lucky to be able to get both local food and local fuel right next door. Kome perches on top of a pile of rice straw, and Piedmont Biofuels’ off the grid, passive solar pumping station is full of locally made B100 biodiesel.
TROUTSFARM IS PREPARING FOR SPRING AS WELL
Spot is pleased to have shed his winter coat (of snow and ice) and BOB received his annual 3 yards of compost made locally in Graham. Bring on the seed potatoes!
THE GARDEN BEGINS AGAIN
Bob planted spinach and lettuce in two of the re-purposed totes. Along with both seeds and starts, there are mantis egg cases that were recovered from a brush clearing project.
KARMA COUNTS
With a new set of Tibetan prayer flags, and some luck, we’ll have another good gardening season.