When my husband brought home six steal
cages, I thought he was crazy. I thought he was insane when on closer
examination they were all different heights and dimensions. I never
figured out how they all fit together. These steal cages were
designed to transport a giant machine halfway across the world and
were headed to the junk yard when my husband saved them. Whenever I
asked, “Why do we want these?” He would answer with a shrug of
his shoulders and list off projects, “chicken brooder, chicken
tractor, pig shelter, enclosed trailer, greenhouse.”
My husband's passion for reusing things
almost always produces something great. So when only one cage was
left, we moved it to a heavy duty pallet base, which was another
save. I still couldn't envision a greenhouse. However, when the cage
was secured to the base and the roof was slanted, I could picture it
down to the plants growing inside.
When a relative passed away and his
greenhouse was being disassembled, we were offered much of it. Of
course, we loved every bit of it. The corrugated plastic sheeting
that covered his orchid filled greenhouse for over 25 years, now
proudly clad our greenhouse.
The door to the greenhouse was found
when my husband and I were walking through the lumber yard, which is
our name for the storage stall formerly home to the past owner's
ponies. When I gazed fondly at the front door that we replaced with
French doors, I new it would be perfect for the greenhouse.
The heating and cooling were a bit more
difficult. I used a thermometer to document the temperature
difference before we decided on a heater or fan. On sunny days it got
to over 100 degrees, but at night it dipped down to 30 degrees. The
first purchase we made was for a digital temperature controller
thermostat. When it gets above 70 degrees, it automatically kicks on
a heavy duty metal box fan that I found in the shop. When it drops
below 60 degrees, it turns on an electric radiator heater. I have
another heater waiting to be added because it's still cooler at
night.
I started planting radish, broccoli,
and lettuce micro greens. Micro greens are shoots of the veggies
harvested when the true leaves are starting to develop. Since radish,
broccoli, and lettuce all love cool weather, I thought they would be
perfect. I can harvest them within 3 weeks, so it will also make
eating our crops that much quicker.
So here's to a happy March and happy
planting!
