Greenhouse

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!