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Farm

THOUGHTS

My Greenhouse dreams came true!

9/30/2020

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I think my garden this year ended up as a success!!!
I have not had a successful garden since we moved 5 years ago. This year with the covid-19 shut down, we got going on gardening extra early and were able to get all our raised beds planted. We also dug another couple beds through the gravel and sand, digging out the rocks and adding dirt and compost in its stead, then lining the beds with cedar to edge.  The first one we finished and filled with tomato plants that have thrived in that location. The second one we only half finished before things dried out to the point it was excessively difficult to dig, so we decided to wait and finish it this fall. 
But the big gardening news this year was that we got a greenhouse!  Even at our prior house I was chronically on a hunt for a good greenhouse. We tried a couple of the $99-$300 models, but were never more than moderately successful. The best I ever did was the year I started a bunch of plants under grow lights and then after they got going, put a plank in front of our living room window and moved them to it. They were a little gangly, but that year we had tons of plant starts for the garden. 
My co-workers know me pretty well and know I am chronically on the look out for homesteading stuff.  One day at work, one of my coworkers said to me after coming back from her lunch break, “did you see that greenhouse on craigslist?” I had been busily working, so I had not. On my lunch break a little later, I looked up green houses. A few hours prior, someone had listed a sturdy-built glass and cedar greenhouse for only $500. What they had was actually a sunroom, with the structure leaning up against the back wall of their house.  I texted Josh with no expectation of him being interested. It was so nice but I knew it would be a big chore getting it moved. 

Josh was on his way out to the mountains with Wyatt, but they quickly changed course and headed over to look at the sunroom. Josh loved it. He arranged for a fellow contractor who specializes in cabinetry and carpentry to look at it and they hatched a plan to move it to our place and build a back wall. 
This was quite a process and took us most of the summer.
First, Josh rented a backhoe and dug out our foundation area.
We had another friend come help us trench out for a water source  and power for the green house, and while they were at it, they trenched for spigots in the garden area and out to the orchard. 
Then we laid all the pipe and filled in all the trenches again.
Next our contractor friend built forms, then poured a foundation and a pad at the back. Since we were modifying someone else’s design, we decided we did not want to loose the back double door and that meant somehow making it look like it was supposed to be that way.  Our solution-not that we don’t have tons of little nooks and crannies everywhere on this property, was to pour a pad and make a little patio. 
After the foundation was cured, we filled it with rocks. Eventually I may add pavers as well.
Next the guys reassembled the existing walls and parts, rechecked the measurements for what they were adding, and built the back wall and ceiling, re-calking everything, replacing the few pieces of glass that broke during the move and creating all the little custom parts to match for the other side. 
We ordered new wax hinges for the roof vent openers, and washed and resealed the outside. 
 
All said and done, we got this greenhouse installed and functional for less than half of what it cost new, and I love it!  I am now working on putting in beds around the outside, and we are figuring out how we want to put everything inside. 
 
I cannot wait until next seed planting season, to be able finally to start my own plant starts, and I am looking forward to a little winter gardening!
 
What is your best deal on a homesteading find and where did you find it?
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