Blog Posts

Ode To Wyoming

5/11/2012

Out the car window.

Cord and I just returned from a whirlwind trip to Wyoming and Florida but first I will start with Wyoming. When we get there - to the Natrona County's Master Gardener's Conference I feel compelled to yell, "We love Wyoming!" and I did it again - couldn't help it. I do love Wyoming - it's right up my alley - beautiful, wild, harsh, and did I say - beautiful? I love it - the people are very open to the garden - very open to trying new things. As a speaker - you sure know when your audience is receptive and up in Casper - the people are trying - with all their mights. Obviously they enjoy hearing us say YES to their world. Yes, to seed saving - it will help your gardens to have seed adapted to harsh, extreme conditions - and yes, seed will even adapt to wind. Yes, you can save seed here, yes, you can grow food here and yes, you can create your own seed collection.
The event is well organized by our now new friend Fawn who brought us in last year for high-altitude veggie growing. First we present for an hour and listen to the other speakers and then we move into seperate rooms for Break-out Sessions where we answer questions and do demo's, share books and learn anything else needed for 2 -1.5 hour sessions. We squeezed tomatoes, threshed seed, handled seed, sniffed seed and eventually, shared some - I had to - seed is powerful and people are so attracted to it. Pretty soon everyone in Casper is going to have free food in the form of re-seeding Orach (Mountain Spinach), Giant Dill, plus my favorite - Cottage Red Marigold will be volunteering in many gardens. Good thing as it is a beautiful, multi-branching long-stemmed red marigold - woohoo!
When it's over we go out for burgers and beers with Fawn and her husband Sean - a lovely way to unwind.
I love the event, I love the people, I love the hosts - thank you Casper, we learn as much as you - maybe more! - and we come home feeling joyful.

Snow fence.

Wind professionals.

Aquaponics

Lulu inspects the fish. More pics of this in the next blog.

But there was more. Lots more. I laced the trip with other learning experiences and boy did they deliver - we saw incredible things and met incredible people - I have to report.
On the way up we stopped in Boulder to tour Sylvia Bernstein's Aquaponics system - yes, that's right - the author of Aquaponic Gardening and founder of the AquaponicsSource. Since our next gig after this was an Aquaponcs training session - we needed to see it in action. Of course, it was wonderful, beautiful! Sylvia's husband Alan gave us a splendid tour and explained everything in great detail. We loved all of the systems that use and emulate nature - it's what aquaponics is. (If you don't know yet, Aquaponics is a totally organic, closed-loop system that grows fish and vegetables together.) From gravity to worm poop, aquaponics is a smart alternative to chemically laden hydroponics and oh yeah, it provides another healthy crop - clean fish!
Sylvia obviously has a knack - I could see that instantly, everything was vibrant ad healthy, diverse and abundant. What more could you want? While Alan and Cord talked after the tour, I looked around Sylvia's beautiful yard, following paths into the trees to find a gazebo and water features and quiet places. I loved it, and felt at home amongst the rocks and trees. Like I said, she has a knack. That visit started us off, it was great to see it up close like that.

Into The Wind

Welcome to Wyoming.

These guys are ripped!

From there we sped north to Casper - for dinner with the Master Gardeners at 6pm. We made it in the nick of time - with me taking pictures of fields of oil wells and wind farms. You can see the wind turbines from miles away and they still look like giant trees off in the distance. Wyomingites are cool - they use what they have - oil and wind. We saw homesteads tucked in the crevices, arroyos and hills, safe from the wind, blowing right over the top of them. Above on the plateau, the sagebrush bears the brunt of it, sheltering smaller plants that all help each other tie down the soil. These plants have adapted to Wyoming's harsh reality and they show us also how to adapt. It was perfect for the topic of saving and adapting seeds, which we went there to teach.
After a wonderful event, we got to sleep in, and head to Cheyenne to meet Shane Smith, author of the Greenhouse Gardener's Companion and director of the Cheyenne Botanic Gardens. We had tried to meet him last year but he was away. We decided to wait another day to meet him on Monday - even though we had to leave for Florida on Tuesday at the crack of dawn.

Tucked in.

Protected from the wind.

The USDA Horticultural Research Station

Such a place.

On the way home we had more adventure. Our first stop was in Cheyenne at the USDA Horticultural Research Station. We went to the Station on Sunday and I didn't want to leave. I was out of my tiny mind - and yes, I had to cry - just a little. This place is magic - it's a very old experiment, a research station intended to test hundreds of varieties - trees and shrubs, in the wild and free of the Wyoming wind and cold. They were planted from the 30's to the 50's, rows and rows of hundreds of varieties. Then suddenly, in the 50's, the money dried up and it was totally abandoned.
Today, the experiment is evident - what survived? Which plants could handle 60 years of all Wyoming has to offer? - (The top spot in the country for hail which often comes from golfball to baseball sized). We've all heard of the wind in Wyoming and whatever is left growing there now - in all it's wild glory - are the varieties we need to grow in the wild, wild west. And there are people working on it.

Glorious.

Original markers.

Shane Smith is one of them. There are old and new markers under every tree and shrub and we walked and walked looking at giant flowering trees and shrubs - many just about to burst as well. It was so interesting to see the rows, with more missing than survived, but often the mounds of where they were still exist.
When I saw the flowering crabs just inside this forest of lost varieties, I was truly in awe. Deep pink, huge flowers and 20 feet tall, with several in a row, it was intense.
It was early for blooms in Cheyenne but like most places, the season is early so we were lucky. I took pictures of almost-dead shrubs, with delicate blooms deep inside or way up high as the plants are not all pruned yet. I didn't care, it is beautiful, it is alive.
Every tree was special - marked with the original metal marker from the 30's. Our friend Scott Skogerboe knows a lot about the history of the plants there. He told us amazing stories of where they came from.
We went to our hotel energized and ready to see the next thing.

When you are planted in the 30's, you get bigger than your metal marker.

It's alive!

Color in the sticks.

We didn't want to leave...

I really didn't want to leave.

On To The Cheyenne Botanic Gardens!

Cord was so happy.

The entrance.

Fiberglass tubes of water.

That's THE Shane Smith!

The next morning we woke up raring to go to the Botanic Gardens to see the greenhouse and to finally meet Shane Smith. I am truly star-struck around someone like him. We got there and after a brief search, found him and had the best tour and visit. He even sat down and looked at our greenhouses - he was so kind to do so. We had a great learning tour and were thrilled to find answers to many questions, Shane was totally generous with information. Huge hail had damaged the poly on the roof so workers were fixing it. Cord hung out with them for a while of course too. I was so happy to see all of the stored water and had to touch the barrels of water - covered in beautiful flowering plants. There are also very tall, clear fiberglass tubes that hold water too - gorgeous to my eyes. Shane told me he was friends with Bill Yanda, author of The Food and Heat Producing Solar Greenhouse and the book that changed our lives. We are huge fans of Bill Yanda and only learned a year ago that he died young. This book enables you to build a totally sustainable greenhouse. This is how we learned. It was so cool to hear Shane talk about that time - when they were building smart, totally sustainable greenhouses all over the southwest.
And then he signed my book. (!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) Shane is an awesome person - you can tell right away - and he took way too much time just to make us feel welcome, thank you Shane, very cool.
We drove home stimulated but happily tired. It was quite late when we got there, and we had to unpack, repack and leave at 3am for Florida. I only got one hour of sleep that night - no way to start another adventure.
That story will be the next post - this one was super long - hope you enjoyed it - there was so much to see!

What a glorious sight - barrels heating and cooling the glorious greenhouse.

"Batteries" lining the north wall.

This greenhouse provides all of the bedding plants for the entire town of Cheyenne!! Among other things...

Scott and Cord.

I can't tell who looks happier in this picture. Cord and Scott Skogerboe are in heaven talking apple trees - this one is especially precious. Scott gave us many interesting, and unique varieties, and we were totally in awe.
He has a great job, propagating trees and shrubs and his deep love for plants is apparent. He gave us an excellent tour, it was all eye candy to us.
His love for the Research Station is huge as well and he lovingly researches the varieties to amaze us with their stories and to provide us with the history we need to know. He gave me this French lilac - man, it made me cry - which makes him laugh. If you're going to cry over a lilac, you gotta be a plant lover to understand.
This was the very last stop before home, yet when we got there, we had to unload our tiny rental car of trees and shrubs and deliver them into the greenhouse with our headlamps on.
It was quite an adventure.

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How To Make an Iron Fish!

4/18/2012

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I am not even kidding. He is now blowing fish! Cord and his friends, Lex and Jamie, get together at rotating forges and make cool stuff. The last meeting included blowing fish. On Sundays Cord often forges, depending on his schedule, and he works on things he likes, instead of orders. (Shh!)
He welded the two fish cut-outs together, then welded a pipe into the mouth opening and heated it up in the propane forge. The propane forge blasts like crazy - much hotter faster than the coal forge. Once iron is molten is moves like butta so he's actually blowing hot air (with the forge), into the welded iron cut-outs which makes it puff out.
So - the picture was for fun to send to his friends but the real story is below. I love being married to a blacksmith.

Coal forge.

I am obviously missing many pics of the process - but thought I'd taunt you all with these. Look what happens next - so beautiful!

The iron is alive! (Propane forge next to coal forge.)

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Extreme Homesteading

4/4/2012

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The path to my greenhouse is impeded by the hanging branches.

I love spring snows in the mountains. The other day I told Cord, "I wanna hear some poppin' and-a crackin' in the woods!" I'm referring of course, to Nature's pruning, heavy, wet, luscious spring snows snapping branches before the snow can melt. I was hopping around in glee when I saw how much we were getting and upon hearing we were going to get even more, I was really excited.
It turned out to be a worthy dumping - well over a foot - I had just watered the chamomile bed and was worried about dry spring perennials. After winter snow - March was brutally dry.
What a happy relief. The woods are dripping like rain right now - the ground is running with water - under the snow - and the trees are glistening and running with water, washing away March's dust.
April is our snow month - I say bring it on!

On the way to the greenhouse.

Petunias in the corner and a green flat in the window.

The camera sees the snow first, then the jungle.

The next thing to do was dig under the snow to prepare a seed flat for planting. Cord just made me a couple of new ones and a snowy night is perfect for staying up late and seeding.
I grabbed a hand broom and took it with me to sweep the snow away under a large Pinion right next to my garden gate so I didn't have too far to walk. After I cleared the snow I used my hands to scoop up Pine Needle Mulch for filler in my favorite seed flat.
After this it goes in the shower to be doused a couple of times, then left to drain and swell. The whole thing becomes a sponge especially when I use a coir-based medium on top of the pine needles.
When it's time t o add coir - make sure it is pre-wetted, no matter how you buy it.
I have used pine needle mulch as flat filler for years with great results.

I fill the flat almost 3/4 full - it will sink down when wetted.

I covered the bare spot up with snow to blanket the tree's roots.

Happy day in the snow. From here the flat went straight into the shower where I drenched it and let it sit while I gathered seeds.
As I write the amount of melting that has happened since these pictures is amazing - the sounds in the forest are beautiful.
I went to visit the horses and opened the greenhouse door and sniffed the warm, green, moist air while standing outside in the snow..

My mountain girls say goodbye, false summer will be back soon enough.

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Compost, Compost, Compost

3/16/2012

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Three bins, one cooking and sinking, one finished and one starting. The finished compost warms in the sun.

I am delaying compost making for the moment to tell you all the weather is great for composting. You know you want to - many of you think you can't - I say - as if! Compost is essential in organic gardening and I can never get enough of it. I love it and when the warm weather hits I am always compelled to go out and mix up a batch.
Okay so the real reason I am delaying is because to mix up my next green layer for the compost - I need to clean the fridge. Ugh. However, it will give me just enough extra food scraps to help me make another 4 or 5 layers overall. I work in a layering system using brown, green, soil, repeatedly until I fill my bins - made from salvaged pallets. Brown is dead plant material, green is food scraps, green plant material and herbivore manure, and soil is living soil - earth.
The first layer on the bottom needs to be rough and tough stalky brown - like corn stalks, or mullein stalks - (clip the seed-head off into a wheelbarrow to control and use the rest), or sunflower stalks. This helps give aeration under the pile. I mix other brown materials on that nice web of stalky stuff like old hay or leaves but I concentrate on diversity - really mixing up the ingredients so there are not big deposits of anything anywhere. If you dump in only a deep layer of leaves or hay - they will become a mat - slowing down the process.
After that I layer green and soil and then back to brown again.
I water each layer as I go and cap it with mulch for our dry climate.

Here's the amounts.
8" Brown - rough and stalky first - then mix it up
4" green - mix it up
1" soil - living soil
4" Brown
4" Green
1" Soil
4" Brown
4" Green
1" Soil
Repeat 441 until the top then add:
2" Mulch - any brown - to hold in moisture

Do not use meat, fats, oils or large quantities of fatty dairy. I will throw the pasta salad in even with bits of cheese or a casserole with turkey burger because the small critters and the Pinion Jays will take care of it but it's not enough to wake the bear. Do not use sawdust or straw - very slow to break down and you don't know where they've been - lots of potential for toxins there.
Leave it sit when you reach the top and start another bin. I have three going at all times. You will watch it sink before your eyes - especially after you give it a drink. If it doesn't snow - hit it with the hose occasionally to give it a boost. This will help it thaw out and heat up in the early spring - like right now.

I do not always have all of the materials I need to make all of the layers at once and you will find that green materials can be the hardest to find in the dead of winter. However, because you want a diverse compost pile anyway, getting creative is the name of the game - which brings us back to that sinking feeling - the fridge. With three boys - 5 of us - in a tiny space - the fridge can get scary quickly. Try as we might - things happen and sometimes it's just the thing to help fill in another 'green layer'. You can also clean out your freezer - all of that vegetable mush decomposes quickly to help activate the green layer.
The other winter 'green' I love is fresh horse manure. This green is always available - no matter if I have to chase them around with a shovel - they gotta go sometime. In the warmth of the day it is easy to fill a 5-gallon bucket with relatively fresh poop.
One thing John Jeavons recommends is even if you don't have a total of 4" of food scraps, use even a little in each green layer - it is a great activator and will keep the pile going. It is better to distribute a little in each green layer than all in one and not in another. This has helped me find enough green to build layers in winter.
My greenhouse also helps - it is always green. When one crop goes out and another comes in - I have precious, hot green material for the compost. I try to time this as I want to be able to bury it in to preserve it's hotness. I will make sure I first gather up some brown materials, find exposed soil I can dig or I chip some soil out of a garden bed or the ground and put it in a bucket to thaw indoors until I am ready to make layers.
Perennial greenhouse plants provide green all winter too - in my case sorrel - both common and blood-veined - grow too big and too fast for the space so I shave their heads when I am making compost and use fresh stems and green leaves mixed in with my other green materials - making sure to bury it in with soil and brown again. In Colorado 'green' can become 'brown' very quickly.
Here's another thing - I leave the brown layer waiting for green - so sometimes my pile is built gradually. Once I see there is enough food scraps building from the daily trips by boys with the kitchen compost pail, I get ready to make a few more layers - again leaving it at the brown layer - ready to receive green as we get to it.
And now today I must be brave and dive into the fridge to see what crimes have been committed there, and resolve them in harmony with the earth in the form of compost.
Good grief, that was a long winded explanation of my procrastination of cleaning out the ever-lovin' fridge!! I gotta go...

Brown, green, soil layers - waiting to sink and cook. The top layer is there to retain moisture.

After the layered compost has sunk - without turning - perfect black gold inside.

Rocky Mountain Gold.

In winter I let the sun warm up the pile then scrape off as much as I can with a shovel - I can easily get 5-gallons.
In springtime - I can take as much perfect compost as I need.
The pile on the left was never turned - you can see how much a bin-ful makes.
Compost is extremely satisfying work - especially when it turns back into black gold.
No excuses - make compost!

The next pile, waiting for enough green to make a layer.

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Tomato Day

2/27/2012

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I love tomatoes!

I love planting tomato seeds. I love germinating them, growing them, giving them kelp, watching and watering them. I love the way they smell. I've recently learned to love to save the seeds as well. It's all good.
I just ordered some more - I loved that as well. I am growing every single tomato variety from Seeds Trust along with a pile of others. It's over 100 varieties now - ridiculous. It is my hope to sell tomato plants at the Farmer's Market again this year. Many friends will attend.
On Valentine's Day we plant tomatoes - it's great fun - we really look forward to it. It makes it "Tomato Day". This triggers a snowball effect of flats growing all over the place. How do I plant so many varieties and keep it all straight? Pretty easy stuff.
I use wooden flats - with slats on the bottom, lined with newspaper, filled 3/4 full with decomposed pine needles, then covered with an inch or more of a coir based seed starting mix. They become nice and spongey and barely leak.
To keep the varieties apart I use craft sticks - popsicle sticks - to label them and to separate them. It's easy and cheap - you can get a huge box of craft sticks for very little.
If I do not somehow physically separate the tomato varieties there will be confusion and mix ups. When you grow so many varieties this is a huge issue, from seeding, to transplanting, to labeling and selling - you need to know who's who.
The other option is to plant another plant between them - but something that likes to germinate at 75 degrees, like tomatoes, which could include peppers, eggplants or basil.
Since I love to use my open flats and since I learned a ton from my friends at a nursery I used to work at, I learned I could crowd the heck out of the flats. At the baby stage, they don't need much and quite possibly in nature, germinate clustered from the fallen tomato. So I can dump the seed quite closely - because I'm going to prick them out with another craft stick and pull them apart by the leaves and pop them into their individual pots where they can do their thing.
They are only going to be in the seedling flat for a short time - so they can wait for the yummy potting soil they are going to get next to grow on with.

I could crowd them even more if I wished.

This is the fun part, I love handling the seeds. As you can see - some have less seed than others - it depends on how much I have not to mention how many seeds of each variety I choose to start - this really adds up into the thousands - it's crazy I tell you - but the best addiction in the world.
After I carefully sow and label as many as I can squeeze in, it's time to cover the seeds lightly with the soil-less mix I use which is almost always coir based. (Coconut fiber.)
It doesn't matter if the horizontal craft sticks - the barriers, get buried a little - it all works out later when I am pulling plants out of there. It is clear who is on what side of the stick.
Seed to soil contact is imperative for better germination so I lightly press it down with my hand gently but firmly. After that I use a fine rose spray to water with so as not to wash the seeds away. This is why we start with pre-wetted, moist mediums.
The last step is to cover the moistened flat with some plastic or glass - in this case I am using re-used produce bags, they float nicely on the flat and eventually, the plants.
They will go on top of the propane heater where the pilot's rising heat will keep the flat warm. Tomatoes like to germinate around 75 degrees so this works great. I spot water them with the fine spray occasionally, usually around the edges. They'll be up in a few days, it's so fun to watch.

Cover lightly with soil-less medium, press and water lightly.

Cover with produce bags or other plastic or glass to keep evenly moist while germinating.

Under lights.

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Ridge-Beam Day

2/20/2012

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The ridge-beam is up!

It's exciting when the ridge-beam goes up - it really feels like it's all coming together. Talk about getting over a hump! Cord, Rick and the boys went to Gardener on ridge-beam day and together they had it up in no time. Cord had spent the day before making extendable - adjustable iron posts to temporarily hold up the 64' distance while he makes the permanent supports. It's a big deal to think about, plan for and trouble shoot but usually when it happens - it goes better than hoped.
And that's how it went. Everything worked, and Max was even released early as he has a teenage schedule and my brother was in town. Beau and Rick remained to begin the rafters.
The rafters are fun to watch because they happen so fast and the building just seems to grow and grow before your eyes. When they last left, the south wall was up - leaning and supported - waiting for the rafters to stabilize it. That will happen soon.
As you can see, Cord pre-painted the lumber for the front wall. This helps tremendously later.
Cord also built the scaffolding for the day - of course his blacksmith shop once again - provides whatever tool he needs.
I just added a drop-down page to Greenhouses - the Current Greenhouse Project is moved to it's own page - lot's more pictures too.
Here's a couple more pictures.

A few rafters up as the sun goes down.

End of day pics.

Looks good.

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Planting Seeds With Wulfgar

2/13/2012

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Wulfgar and Cord planting radish's.

Oh Man they were cute. Well, Cord wasn't cute - he's way too manly - but Wulfgar was. On Happy Sunday we finished planting Cord's greenhouse. All of it - it was so fun. Boys had to walk down the mountain to talk to us and that's how we ended up with Wulfgar.
On Saturday we went down intending to plant and realized the whole place needed to be soaked down first. So we watered it on Saturday and let it soak in until Sunday.
After a liesurely morning, we escaped to the botttom of Cord's garden and into the warm, moist environment of the greenhouse. I drove the car down loaded with seeds and stuff we needed. I placed the seed in the middle of the greenhouse - the center bed was already planted with carrots, so we could reach them from all around. The beds make a large U shape so we just worked our way around. As we went Wulfgar got more and more interested and Cord started handing him seeds to plant with him. He also fetched a pile of bottomless milk jugs to double cover some warm loving plants.

Sculpted bed - ready to plant.

Wulfgar watches Cord sculpt the bed.

Cord's hilarious.

Wulfgar definitely thinks Cord is hilarious.

We planted tomatoes from seed, as well as broccoli, chinese cabbage, bok choy, beets, spinach, mixed greens, nasturtiums, claytonia, chard, turnips, radish's, and leek plants. We match the warm lovers near the warmth - and let the cool lovers be near the glass. This will all change for summer but for now, there are plenty of micro-climates within the greenhouse to work with.
We learned to plant the tomatoes from seed when they sprouted last year in January - from compost added to the soil.
We added the jugs for a little extra warmth and moisture. It took us a few hours, then we went back home and relaxed. It felt so good to get the whole thing planted.
As always, I love to hang out with Cord but on this day we had our 9 year old, having fun and planting seeds like it's in his blood, so it was even better.
Oh, and if you are wondering - we love Verbascum (Mullein) so much we let them grow wherever we want - we're not scared. It's an amazing plant - and on my useful plant list.
We will show you growth as it comes - before you know it we will have our wall of tomatoes again.

Cord using saved seeds, direct seeding tomatoes - under jugs.

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The Ironworker

1/31/2012

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The moon and Cord's Ironworker - finally home.

I've been meaning to tell you this story for some time. Cord has owned an Ironworker - (a machine for cutting and punching and basic processing of iron) for many years but had not moved it home. It lived at a friend's industrial repair shop in Colorado Springs and that friend was moving his business and so it goes - when you have to do something - you do. Cord's friend Lex had a rig they thought would work. Part of the reason for not moving it before, besides time and money, was how heavy this monster is. 6,500 lbs. Together they had the resources to go get it.
They got home to our house at twilight with an increasing moon cheering them on. I got the pic above right before we went inside to eat. In Colorado Springs it was loaded on the trailer with a fork lift borrowed for the occasion. After lashing it down with chains, they began the journey home. They took an alternate route, deciding not to attempt our steep mountain road at the end of a long day.

Now, how were we going to get it OFF the trailer? A couple of phone calls later and our neighbor was on his way over with a giant machine.
They put chains around the Ironworker, and hooked the chain on the bucket. The bucket loader picked it up off the trailer and Cord drove the trailer out from under it.
Our neighbor Steve set it down to get re-adjusted but it did not want to lift it again.
Around this time - another neighbor showed up with a skid loader, ready to help. Cord had talked to him the night before and he wanted to see what was going on. So here is this little skid loader and a humungous bucket loader that barely fit in the driveway. Together, the guys figured it out.

I couldn't imagine what Ray was going to do with that little skid loader - ha! - he pushed and shoved and pushed and shoved and it slid on the snowy, icy driveway! Just like that he had it shoved across the yard and almost into place. It was great! I was amazed - I video'd the entire homecoming of the Ironworker as it happened.
The next step was to see if Steve could squeeze the giant bucket loader into place to help lift it just enough to get it positioned.
And so he did.

Such teamwork! The Bucket Loader fit and did the job.

So that's the story of the Ironworker - it sits outside Cord's shop door to be reckoned with and leveled another day. He will begin to collect die's and get it operational. Meanwhile, there are greenhouses to build, seeds to sow and spring is upon us.
Welcome home Ironworker.

Cord working on iron log racks and a greenhouse vent cover with the Ironworker waiting in the background.

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A Day In The Greenhouse With Cord

1/24/2012

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Cord sowing saved Kinko 6" carrot seed.

I love hanging out with Cord - he is my favorite person. We've been trying to get down to his greenhouse to take it back and replant it and we finally made it.
The very first thing we did was prep the middle bed for carrots. I had gathered a 5-gallon bucket of small, half-crushed leaves for this very thing. Carrots don't like a lot of nitrogen and they appreciate organic matter to keep soil loose so we dug the leaves in with compost. The leaves will tie up some of the nitrogen as it's breaking down. Meanwhile, the carrots like the aeration and good drainage.

It was a great start and we left happy and full of plans. 2 days went by and we made it there again, it's hard to get there and then once you do - you lose track of time and don't want to leave.
Today we cleaned the rest of the beds, spread compost and Cord turned half of it in and raked it. Tomorrow is another day. It was so fun to clean up the old and prep for the new. We left this greenhouse fallow for a few months as our lives dictated. We didn't like it and were anxious to get it going again.
So here we are - and the beds are throbbing with life - ready to deliver.

Before.

After.

Before.

After.

Last year's tomatoes and a lot of other past growth needed to be bagged up. All of the green plants - like a lot of arugula, went into the bag to go to the compost. I was so happy to provide Cord with my gold - my finished compost - and in exchange, he sent me enough green material for at least 2 layers! I can't wait to make some more compost in the days to come. It was a good trade.
I loved our time together and soon it will all be planted.
We will be direct seeding tomatoes at the foot of the barrels, and planting mixed greens up against the glass. Bok Choy and Chinese Cabbage are favorite winter eats.
I'll keep you posted - it doesn't take long to have something to eat once you've planted.

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Building Passive Solar Greenhouses

1/18/2012

12 Comments

64' X 18'

The latest greenhouse project is a doozy - no doubt about it. Look at the growing potential in this thing. I think it's wonderful.
Cord is actually taking over this job after the person who started it had to move on. He comes in after the foundation is poured and the back wall is up.
The foundation turned out to be not level, (to put it mildly) and extremely erratic.
Cord and our great friend Rick spent a week correcting it. It was quite something. Now that it is righted - they can really get started.
They are back at it - enjoying the southern Colorado winter weather.

This is what they did about it.

Tedious, slow focus - that's how you correct a problem - that and a band saw. It looks beautiful though - so cool - now they can continue to build with confidence that it will be true.
The back wall was built as all one piece. They took it down and as they leveled the foundation by cutting boards exactly to the contours of the concrete, they put the great north wall back up in sections.
It is straight and true.

We will keep you posted on the project as the mighty one goes up. Cord will be dodging storms and oh yeah, he's a blacksmith too - there is that. There is so much to do - during lunch break we talk about what we hope to plant this spring.
Sound, solid, straight, true. Cord is really good at that. Be sure to see more pictures of this greenhouse on the greenhouse page.

Build it huge or build it small - you will love it inside.

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Penn Parmenter is a high altitude gardener, seedswoman and student of the earth. She is married to Cord Parmenter - an awesome gardener, gorgeous man and a master blacksmith. Together they own and run a sustainable greenhouse design company, Smart Greenhouses LLC and Penn grows seed for her seed business, Miss Penn's Mountain Seeds. She is a mother of three sons and an outdoorswoman. Penn forages wild food, hunts big game, fishes, preserves, maintains a huge organic forest garden and occasionally makes dinner. At home you can find her in her greenhouses as well as in the wilderness - nose to the ground, butt in the air, trying to identify Colorado natives.

Aquaponics

Into The Wind

The USDA Horticultural Research Station

On To The Cheyenne Botanic Gardens!

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