ceelove

It's been a winter of tribulations - seasonal, physical, monetary, personal - and also a time of awareness of how much worse it could be if-not-for. One of the biggest bulwarks against misery has been the greenhouse, where my tiny oasis of greenery stood stoically against winter's onslaught. Outside, it will be weeks yet before the ground is bare of snow and warm enough to germinate seeds. Inside, I did my spring cleaning, harvested the broccoli, and started a new round of greens and lettuces.
I spent a lot of money and time making the greenhouse happen, but being able to go play in the dirt now? Priceless. Even scientifically indicated to be happifying!

I wish I could make screenshots of my thermometers from various points in the last few days. I've been attending closely to the brutal cold, mostly because of how it might affect the greenhouse. Even when the low temp was down to 13 outside, and with no solar energy available to collect, just geothermal energy kept the greenhouse above freezing.

But last night, when it got down to -4, the greenhouse came down to 23 degrees. Oh noes, Cee, will it kill your plants? Maybe; but they're cold-hardy broccoli, leeks, carrots, Asian greens - it's not like I'm trying to grow tomatoes in there - so I'm not rushing in with a space heater, I'm just noting the data. And right now, the temp in there is back up into the 60s - while we're at the today's high of 16.

There's tinkering yet to do - I bet in years to come, I can do even better at trapping the heat - but I believe I have made my point.

Oh, and just because it amuses me: the broccoli was intended purely as an experiment, to teach me when I would need to plant it to get a yield. But now, in January, when it gets a mouthful of sunlight a day, it's producing heads. With salvaged glass and lots of insulation, I have turned the seasons on their ear.

Reminder: greenhouse raising tomorrow. I've had few responses and those, mostly maybes, so I hope you can make it!

Sunday, September 8, from 1:00 to 6:00, let's raise the roof! And, you know, attach the glass panes, fit the door and vent, add plywood/siding/insulation/shingles, all that jazz. Show up for any portion of that you'd like. You needn't be skilled, just able-bodied and able to take instruction.

I've got work gloves and eye protection to spare. I'll rent nail guns, but if you've got a chop saw (mine is small) or a short ladder (the structure's peak is 12 feet), they would come in handy.

I'll supply a wide array of beverages and some finger foods; we'll leave open the option of a celebratory meal at the end.

RSVPs are exceptionally welcome.

And lest you doubt that I know what I'm doing - I don't! I've been operating way outside my comfort zone for months. But my parents have helped build dozens of houses, and they will be there, and that gives me a lot more confidence that we'll get this puppy up safely.

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Ahhhh.

Playing with the seasons

greenhouse raising tomorrow

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