First frost is forecast for tonight. I already have weather damage to several plants and the top of the greenhouse is not yet in place. I had predicted the first frost would come early. I hate when I'm right, sometimes.
It may not be a bad thing if the frost kills off the main garden bed early. I intended to change the direction of the garden to East/West, rather than North/South, as it is now. That is, aside from building more raised beds. If the main bed gets killed off, I can dig it out and re-compost the top layers to kill off weeds and grass which invaded. While the remaining plant material would enrich the compost more. That would give me enough material to use for four compost pits, one for each corner of the greenhouse and enable me to really ramp up on the compost heating experiment. Even more so when mixed with the leaves from the trees and normal kitchen waste.
That design will look more attractive, any way. I had started the garden without all that much thought or knowledge. The placement and direction was decided on mostly because it was most convenient at the time, with few tools available. I have more tools now and more knowledge. The East/West direction will enable me to place taller plants, such as corn, further to the south or in alternating rows/beds, allowing for more shade in summer months to shorter and more heat-sensitive crops. I also want to look into what kind of vines will grow in this environment, so I can grow vines along some support structures, making for even more shade. Mostly, I want to look into grapes and hops. Biggest question is which ones will survive and produce here.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Too late
Looks like I'm finishing the greenhouse too late for some plants. It wasn't supposed to freeze last night but I guess there was some frost at ground level. A few of the pumpkin plants suffered frost damage. Unfortunately, the two with the worst damage were the ones with pumpkins actively growing.
In spite of all the effort, going to be using blankets for a while. I'm out of plastic sheeting and out of money to buy more, since I haven't gotten any work for a while now.
It really is a challenge to build a solid enough greenhouse here in NM. Heat in the summer, freezing in the winter, not enough rain at times and torrential rains at others, snow, and winds that pick up suddenly and can blow cars across lanes.
So, it's not great surprise that the landscape staples didn't work. The wind picked up this afternoon and every single one pulled out of the ground. They're still a good idea for areas that don;t have the winds we get here.
So, last night I had cut a lot more snap clamps while watching TV and backed them with weatherstripping. This afternoon, I snapped those in place. But by the time I had finished the last side, they had all popped off the first side. I had a box of self-tapping screws, so I took them and a drill with a screwdriver attachment. Went around and fixed each clamp in place with two screws. Some of the pipes came apart, as well, even some that had been glued with PVC cement. I fixed many of those in place with screws, also.
Some of the posts in sandy soil got blown hard enough to be leaning severely. Blocked those temporarily with other short lengths of PVC. I have 1x2 stakes in the shed, so I can put those down tomorrow. If the holes grow any larger, I can pour concrete in them at some point. I had thought 12" deep would be enough but obviously not in this soil.
I'm really hoping this greenhouse isn't just wasted effort for the next few months. Though I never really consider anything truly wasted effort, as you gain knowledge along the way.
Planted the first tree seeds last night. Not much, just a few lemon seeds. I planted several each in five styrofoam cups. If multiple ones start growing, I'll separate them when they get large enough. Going to plant more seeds in cups this weekend, when my daughter is here. Keeping them all inside for now. By the time they are large enough to transfer to bigger pots, I should have the greenhouse done.
In spite of all the effort, going to be using blankets for a while. I'm out of plastic sheeting and out of money to buy more, since I haven't gotten any work for a while now.
It really is a challenge to build a solid enough greenhouse here in NM. Heat in the summer, freezing in the winter, not enough rain at times and torrential rains at others, snow, and winds that pick up suddenly and can blow cars across lanes.
So, it's not great surprise that the landscape staples didn't work. The wind picked up this afternoon and every single one pulled out of the ground. They're still a good idea for areas that don;t have the winds we get here.
So, last night I had cut a lot more snap clamps while watching TV and backed them with weatherstripping. This afternoon, I snapped those in place. But by the time I had finished the last side, they had all popped off the first side. I had a box of self-tapping screws, so I took them and a drill with a screwdriver attachment. Went around and fixed each clamp in place with two screws. Some of the pipes came apart, as well, even some that had been glued with PVC cement. I fixed many of those in place with screws, also.
Some of the posts in sandy soil got blown hard enough to be leaning severely. Blocked those temporarily with other short lengths of PVC. I have 1x2 stakes in the shed, so I can put those down tomorrow. If the holes grow any larger, I can pour concrete in them at some point. I had thought 12" deep would be enough but obviously not in this soil.
I'm really hoping this greenhouse isn't just wasted effort for the next few months. Though I never really consider anything truly wasted effort, as you gain knowledge along the way.
Planted the first tree seeds last night. Not much, just a few lemon seeds. I planted several each in five styrofoam cups. If multiple ones start growing, I'll separate them when they get large enough. Going to plant more seeds in cups this weekend, when my daughter is here. Keeping them all inside for now. By the time they are large enough to transfer to bigger pots, I should have the greenhouse done.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Staples and clamps
Since I needed to secure the sides of the greenhouse covering, I recalled I had a box of landscape staples. So, I stapled the bottom all the way around today. May get another box and place one staple about every 6". One good thing about them is they're cheap. I got a box of 50 for something like $3 at Harbor Freight Tools. They're just under 5" long. I love Harbor Freight!
Since I don't want to spend that much money and snap clamps aren't available locally, I decided to make my own. Got a 10' length of 1 1/4" thin walled PVC today, cut it in 6" sections. Then cut a small section lengthwise from each piece. Lot of work but that way I get twenty 6" pieces for about $3. So far, I've only cut 8 pieces, two for each corner. If necessary, I can fix them in place with self-tapping screws and/or apply pieces of weatherstripping to the inner side.
I still need to get the top up by Wed night, as first frost is forecast that night.
Since I don't want to spend that much money and snap clamps aren't available locally, I decided to make my own. Got a 10' length of 1 1/4" thin walled PVC today, cut it in 6" sections. Then cut a small section lengthwise from each piece. Lot of work but that way I get twenty 6" pieces for about $3. So far, I've only cut 8 pieces, two for each corner. If necessary, I can fix them in place with self-tapping screws and/or apply pieces of weatherstripping to the inner side.
I still need to get the top up by Wed night, as first frost is forecast that night.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
From some light research
The compost heated greenhouse is not at all a new idea, it seems. Such attempts have been made at least as far back as 30 years in multiple countries. It also seems it is a good idea, as such experiments have been quite successful.
One reason this is a good idea is that compost produces mostly CO2. Since plants inspirate CO2 and expirate O2, increased CO2 levels in a greenhouse is a good thing. It can boost plant growth and production by as much as 40%! In fact, one problem often seen with winter greenhouses is lack of CO2, as plants absorb the existing ambient CO2. Since winter greenhouses are most often closed to external sources of CO2, the greenhouse is naturally lacking in this gas, which plants require.
This is in addition to the fact that compost can produce heat up to 140 degrees F (some sources say up to 165 degrees F). Now, much of the research has involved compost heaps much larger than my own. The ones in research were several tons large. So, I'm not sure just how much heat my own puny piles will produce but any amount of heat which helps at least decrease the need for external sources of heat will be welcome.
So, by placing a compost pit or bin inside the greenhouse during winter months, it would seem you are providing multiple benefits to the plants inside. You provide heat and CO2 at the same time you are basically cooking them a healthy meal.
Most of the American research has included manure as a major component of compost. However, European researchers have achieved the same temperature ranges with little or no manure and the end chemical composition is virtually the same. It appears to me the benefit of manure is simply bacterial introduction. Yet, once the required bacteria are present, they remain present and continue to propagate. The trick is simple. Never completely empty your compost pile. Always keep some back for the next batch, which transfers the bacteria along. It's like making sourdough bread starter. I've been doing this since my first compost batch and it has proven to work.
Some research has included using compost to heat water and has worked well. Once again, the compost heaps were considerable and required heavy equipment to manipulate. I don't have the money, the equipment or even the available material for such a large compost heap. I kind of question the practicality of such a thing, if you need large machines, any way. They also included pipes and pumps to circulate the water. My thinking is that simple small, slow fans over the pit would help oxygenate it, possibly increasing heat production even more, distribute the heat and the CO2 more effectively. (If it can be solar powered, even better!)
So, I'll place several pits or bins inside the greenhouse over the winter. Get a few thermometers and at least one temperature probe to check and record progress.
One reason this is a good idea is that compost produces mostly CO2. Since plants inspirate CO2 and expirate O2, increased CO2 levels in a greenhouse is a good thing. It can boost plant growth and production by as much as 40%! In fact, one problem often seen with winter greenhouses is lack of CO2, as plants absorb the existing ambient CO2. Since winter greenhouses are most often closed to external sources of CO2, the greenhouse is naturally lacking in this gas, which plants require.
This is in addition to the fact that compost can produce heat up to 140 degrees F (some sources say up to 165 degrees F). Now, much of the research has involved compost heaps much larger than my own. The ones in research were several tons large. So, I'm not sure just how much heat my own puny piles will produce but any amount of heat which helps at least decrease the need for external sources of heat will be welcome.
So, by placing a compost pit or bin inside the greenhouse during winter months, it would seem you are providing multiple benefits to the plants inside. You provide heat and CO2 at the same time you are basically cooking them a healthy meal.
Most of the American research has included manure as a major component of compost. However, European researchers have achieved the same temperature ranges with little or no manure and the end chemical composition is virtually the same. It appears to me the benefit of manure is simply bacterial introduction. Yet, once the required bacteria are present, they remain present and continue to propagate. The trick is simple. Never completely empty your compost pile. Always keep some back for the next batch, which transfers the bacteria along. It's like making sourdough bread starter. I've been doing this since my first compost batch and it has proven to work.
Some research has included using compost to heat water and has worked well. Once again, the compost heaps were considerable and required heavy equipment to manipulate. I don't have the money, the equipment or even the available material for such a large compost heap. I kind of question the practicality of such a thing, if you need large machines, any way. They also included pipes and pumps to circulate the water. My thinking is that simple small, slow fans over the pit would help oxygenate it, possibly increasing heat production even more, distribute the heat and the CO2 more effectively. (If it can be solar powered, even better!)
So, I'll place several pits or bins inside the greenhouse over the winter. Get a few thermometers and at least one temperature probe to check and record progress.
Sides up
I have the plastic sheeting up on the sides of the greenhouse. The plastic doubles over for the top few feet, which should help with winter weather. Just having the sides up should help with an overnight cold snap.
Got the sliding sections up which I mentioned. However, the overall height is between 9-10 ft now. Wanted it closer to 8 for easier maintenance and less wind resistance. Besides, 10 ft looks a little precocious. So, I'm going to cut the height down a bit before covering the top. Shouldn't take long.
Have to weigh the sides down to block more wind from the bottom. I have loose bricks and one railroad tie which should serve the purpose. Still need to clamp the plastic, too, as duct tape isn't going to last for long, especially when the weather gets colder.
Transferred a bunch of plants out to the raised bed this weekend which were getting too big for the peat pots. Hope they do well. I had been hardening them to outside weather for a while.
I had harvested, fermented and dried some seeds from a beefsteak tomato a few weeks ago. Planted them in some peat pots. I'm excited to say they're growing! May not sound like much to some people but this is the first time I've ever done this. I also harvested and dried seeds from a cantaloupe this weekend and was amazed at how many seeds I obtained. If you buy seed packets, you only get about 1/4 of that for more than the cost of one fruit! Kind of a rip-off, isn't it? Just saving those for spring.
One edge of the smaller compost pit extends under the side of the greenhouse. Think I'll fill in the outside edge and dig out the inside, to experiment with the heat production aspect. If it helps heat the greenhouse through the winter, that would be great! If it does harm, I'll just fill it in and move it back outside.
Got the sliding sections up which I mentioned. However, the overall height is between 9-10 ft now. Wanted it closer to 8 for easier maintenance and less wind resistance. Besides, 10 ft looks a little precocious. So, I'm going to cut the height down a bit before covering the top. Shouldn't take long.
Have to weigh the sides down to block more wind from the bottom. I have loose bricks and one railroad tie which should serve the purpose. Still need to clamp the plastic, too, as duct tape isn't going to last for long, especially when the weather gets colder.
Transferred a bunch of plants out to the raised bed this weekend which were getting too big for the peat pots. Hope they do well. I had been hardening them to outside weather for a while.
I had harvested, fermented and dried some seeds from a beefsteak tomato a few weeks ago. Planted them in some peat pots. I'm excited to say they're growing! May not sound like much to some people but this is the first time I've ever done this. I also harvested and dried seeds from a cantaloupe this weekend and was amazed at how many seeds I obtained. If you buy seed packets, you only get about 1/4 of that for more than the cost of one fruit! Kind of a rip-off, isn't it? Just saving those for spring.
One edge of the smaller compost pit extends under the side of the greenhouse. Think I'll fill in the outside edge and dig out the inside, to experiment with the heat production aspect. If it helps heat the greenhouse through the winter, that would be great! If it does harm, I'll just fill it in and move it back outside.
Friday, October 23, 2009
Oh, well
I returned the call to the NM Dept of Agriculture. No direct assistance, just some advice. It was good advice, though.
One thing was that the solid waste dept offers free compost to whomever asks for it. I knew about this but their website refers to needing a truck to pick it up. I have a van. I will call them and see if maybe I can load a few Sterilites at a time and haul compost that way.
No matter what, I am still moving forward with the project. Have seeds wintering in the fridge now. Some have only been there a few days, others a few weeks. I keep adding with the items my daughter and I eat. She gets excited at the idea of planting them. She's careful to look for and save seeds whenever she eats fruits now. Most of what she has helped me save goes in the fridge. We haven't explored seeds together which have to be dried yet.
The base section of the greenhouse is pretty much complete. Little fine tuning as I complete the rest is in order. It won't be perfect but it should be quite stable and definitely large enough. Need about two connectors to complete the base, each about $1 or less.
The top section is going to have some intentional give, as I am building it with a couple of feet of sliding sections. The winds can get fierce here, so I think the sliding section will allow more flexibility when it's strong. The top section will intentionally slide, then spring back when the wind subsides. Takes some of the stress off other parts of the structure. If more rigidity to the sides is needed, I can always fill the pipes with concrete.
Supposed to have cooler weather coming in next week and seems the first frost isn't too far away. Knew it would come early this year. Need to get this done soon.
One thing was that the solid waste dept offers free compost to whomever asks for it. I knew about this but their website refers to needing a truck to pick it up. I have a van. I will call them and see if maybe I can load a few Sterilites at a time and haul compost that way.
No matter what, I am still moving forward with the project. Have seeds wintering in the fridge now. Some have only been there a few days, others a few weeks. I keep adding with the items my daughter and I eat. She gets excited at the idea of planting them. She's careful to look for and save seeds whenever she eats fruits now. Most of what she has helped me save goes in the fridge. We haven't explored seeds together which have to be dried yet.
The base section of the greenhouse is pretty much complete. Little fine tuning as I complete the rest is in order. It won't be perfect but it should be quite stable and definitely large enough. Need about two connectors to complete the base, each about $1 or less.
The top section is going to have some intentional give, as I am building it with a couple of feet of sliding sections. The winds can get fierce here, so I think the sliding section will allow more flexibility when it's strong. The top section will intentionally slide, then spring back when the wind subsides. Takes some of the stress off other parts of the structure. If more rigidity to the sides is needed, I can always fill the pipes with concrete.
Supposed to have cooler weather coming in next week and seems the first frost isn't too far away. Knew it would come early this year. Need to get this done soon.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Still not done/ Got a call!
Greenhouse still isn't done. Been raining since last post. However, one benefit was that it softened up the soil enough that the rest of the posts were easily driven deeper this morning, so all posts are now sunk at least 1 ft deep.
Keep having to adapt the design. It would be easy if the right connectors were available but they're not, so I keep having to change things. Thought I had enough of certain connectors but when I inventoried, I was short. Then I recalled that the store was out of them when I went to purchase them. Can make do with what I have but it takes some ingenuity.
Not matter what, I can get at least started on the top section tomorrow. No more rain in the forecast, so things should go smoothly. I have the base pretty well evened out and it's stable.
Got a call back from a government extension office, referred by the governor's office. Apparently, they're going to extend some help with the tree planting! Yay!!! I have to call them back and see what happens from there. I'm excited!
Keep having to adapt the design. It would be easy if the right connectors were available but they're not, so I keep having to change things. Thought I had enough of certain connectors but when I inventoried, I was short. Then I recalled that the store was out of them when I went to purchase them. Can make do with what I have but it takes some ingenuity.
Not matter what, I can get at least started on the top section tomorrow. No more rain in the forecast, so things should go smoothly. I have the base pretty well evened out and it's stable.
Got a call back from a government extension office, referred by the governor's office. Apparently, they're going to extend some help with the tree planting! Yay!!! I have to call them back and see what happens from there. I'm excited!
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Not so much
Worked last night and it was quite a night. Off tonight, so got some sleep and set the alarm for this afternoon, woke up armed with a list of things to accomplish today, mostly outside or involving some driving. A few moments after I woke up, noticed it was cloudy. Then there was a crack of thunder and I heard a tink-tink-tink sound on the water heater exhaust and a rush of wind. Rain and hail.
It's a couple of hours later now. hail stopped quickly but still raining. I did venture outside, took down the patio umbrella and opened up the compost pits to the rain. Nothing getting done on the greenhouse today. May chance driving but unless you live in NM, you will not believe me when I say just how truly bad New Mexican drivers are in the rain.
Oh, well. My daughter's bd is this weekend and I have things to buy to get ready. With my schedule, can't put it off much.
It's a couple of hours later now. hail stopped quickly but still raining. I did venture outside, took down the patio umbrella and opened up the compost pits to the rain. Nothing getting done on the greenhouse today. May chance driving but unless you live in NM, you will not believe me when I say just how truly bad New Mexican drivers are in the rain.
Oh, well. My daughter's bd is this weekend and I have things to buy to get ready. With my schedule, can't put it off much.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Getting there
Well, tried uploading a picture but it failed twice. Maybe file size is too large.
Got the rest of the greenhouse base section put together and placement confirmed. Soaked the ground down with water this evening where the soil is hardest, just to make it easier to pound the bottom pieces deeper in the morning.
Didn't get any further than that because my daughter is here and I didn't care to spend all day working on the greenhouse while neglecting her. We watched movies, talked, had lunch at Burger King, took a walk along the aqueducts and river to see the fall colors. Saw some coyote tracks as big as my hand. Not small, I wear large size gloves. Glad that spot is a distance from my house. Read three books before bed. Somehow, it still felt like a really short day with her.
Won't get a whole lot done on the greenhouse for the next few days. Scheduled to work Sun, Mon and Wed nights, 12 hour shifts. But I can get a lot done in one hour sessions after work. Long as I get out at a decent hour.
Much of what remains still seems like a huge tinker toy set, with some pieces out of stock in multiple places, some pieces special order and others just being too expensive to be realistic. Leaving me to improvise at times.
I did opt for the extra 5 ft length, making the size 20 ft W x 25 ft L. Only going to give the roof a 2 1/2 ft center rise from the 6 ft high base. Enough to slough rain and snow, while offering decent stability against wind and easier to cover with plastic sheeting.
Need to get to bed. Daughter wants to make ghosts, a tradition we just fell into around Halloween.
Got the rest of the greenhouse base section put together and placement confirmed. Soaked the ground down with water this evening where the soil is hardest, just to make it easier to pound the bottom pieces deeper in the morning.
Didn't get any further than that because my daughter is here and I didn't care to spend all day working on the greenhouse while neglecting her. We watched movies, talked, had lunch at Burger King, took a walk along the aqueducts and river to see the fall colors. Saw some coyote tracks as big as my hand. Not small, I wear large size gloves. Glad that spot is a distance from my house. Read three books before bed. Somehow, it still felt like a really short day with her.
Won't get a whole lot done on the greenhouse for the next few days. Scheduled to work Sun, Mon and Wed nights, 12 hour shifts. But I can get a lot done in one hour sessions after work. Long as I get out at a decent hour.
Much of what remains still seems like a huge tinker toy set, with some pieces out of stock in multiple places, some pieces special order and others just being too expensive to be realistic. Leaving me to improvise at times.
I did opt for the extra 5 ft length, making the size 20 ft W x 25 ft L. Only going to give the roof a 2 1/2 ft center rise from the 6 ft high base. Enough to slough rain and snow, while offering decent stability against wind and easier to cover with plastic sheeting.
Need to get to bed. Daughter wants to make ghosts, a tradition we just fell into around Halloween.
Friday, October 16, 2009
Taking shape
May not look like much yet but the greenhouse is taking shape. Going to be more than a one day effort but what shows in the picture was done in less than three hours. Somewhat good thing is that we're experiencing a late heat wave right now.
I don't have anything firmly anchored or glued as yet. At this stage, I'm getting the pieces together so they fit and placement is well established. The upright posts will be set 12" or more in the ground.
A few things evident in the picture firmly establish why I am building this. One is the sandy nature of the soil. I know the sun shelter isn't very decorative but it's temporary. The pumpkin plants wilt daily in direct sun. The wooden fence in the picture is my neighbor's. (Not sure why but it's common practice for each individual yard in this area to have it's own fence, often right against the next property's fence.)
Another thing evident in the picture is that I got one raised bed built, complete with plastic weed liner. I only have it staked for now, going to nail it together tomorrow. Ran out of nails. Final dimensions were 10'x2'x6". Not huge, not for large plants with deep roots but functional. Not bad for under $10 and about 30 minutes work.
Another thing evident in the picture is that I got one raised bed built, complete with plastic weed liner. I only have it staked for now, going to nail it together tomorrow. Ran out of nails. Final dimensions were 10'x2'x6". Not huge, not for large plants with deep roots but functional. Not bad for under $10 and about 30 minutes work.
Made a last trip to the hardware store today. The cost is now slightly over $100 but that was spread out over 2-3 weeks and still not a bad deal, considering the whole thing will cover 400+ sq ft, probably over 420 sq ft, so the cost comes down to less than $0.25 per sq ft. Besides, I know I got too many fittings and may have surplus pipe when all is done. Come in handy for shelves or irrigation later.
Been struggling with the design, considering that I have to be able to construct this by myself. Biggest issue was how to get the sheeting over the top, since I don't have a freestanding ladder. Finally figured out the solution yesterday. Post more on that after it's done.
Got a ceiling fan for $20 from Walmart and hung it last night. Works well and has a one year warranty, so can't be complete garbage. Hummed rather loud at first but seems broken in now and much quieter. Takes some strange bulbs I'd never seen before with "candelabra base", size of a nightlight bulb base. Since the ancient chandelier in the dining room completely burned out, I had no direct light there for a few weeks until now. So, now I have light and air circulation, both good things. Took $20 and one hour of work. (I take my time with wiring and heavy objects hanging from the ceiling. Heavy wired rotating objects hanging from the ceiling get lots of attention!)
Got a ceiling fan for $20 from Walmart and hung it last night. Works well and has a one year warranty, so can't be complete garbage. Hummed rather loud at first but seems broken in now and much quieter. Takes some strange bulbs I'd never seen before with "candelabra base", size of a nightlight bulb base. Since the ancient chandelier in the dining room completely burned out, I had no direct light there for a few weeks until now. So, now I have light and air circulation, both good things. Took $20 and one hour of work. (I take my time with wiring and heavy objects hanging from the ceiling. Heavy wired rotating objects hanging from the ceiling get lots of attention!)
Time for bed.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Little setback
Got a response from Lowe's. They decline to support the tree idea for now. So, I'm on my own in this. Not a problem, maybe I can garner more support after I get it moving and show that I'm serious about it (and that it can have positive results).
Been picking up a bit more work this week, so haven't had much time to work on the greenhouse. I have managed to put together one raised garden bed and hung six new shelves in the house, though. Also planted a large number of seeds in peat pots which will go well with the greenhouse once built.
Not getting a lot done today. Think I'm fighting off the flu. No surprise there, been exposed to it a lot at work, especially in the ER. Then again, maybe I'm just dragging because of my messed up schedule this week, working every other night. So, I think I'll cut some PVC and then go to bed. Cutting PVC isn't very labor intensive since I'm using a drill with a cutting wheel mounted. Can only cut a limited amount for the dimensions I'm certain of. Not real sure of the rise factor yet, think I have the math worked out but want to start putting it together and measure to be sure before cutting too much and finding out I'm wrong! I can put one end panel together to get the measurements.
Should have rented a movie to watch while cutting. Now I guess I'll be watching infomercials. Blah.
Been picking up a bit more work this week, so haven't had much time to work on the greenhouse. I have managed to put together one raised garden bed and hung six new shelves in the house, though. Also planted a large number of seeds in peat pots which will go well with the greenhouse once built.
Not getting a lot done today. Think I'm fighting off the flu. No surprise there, been exposed to it a lot at work, especially in the ER. Then again, maybe I'm just dragging because of my messed up schedule this week, working every other night. So, I think I'll cut some PVC and then go to bed. Cutting PVC isn't very labor intensive since I'm using a drill with a cutting wheel mounted. Can only cut a limited amount for the dimensions I'm certain of. Not real sure of the rise factor yet, think I have the math worked out but want to start putting it together and measure to be sure before cutting too much and finding out I'm wrong! I can put one end panel together to get the measurements.
Should have rented a movie to watch while cutting. Now I guess I'll be watching infomercials. Blah.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Greenhouse supplies
Got supplies for building the greenhouse today. Decided on a size of 25 ft long x 20 ft wide x roughly 10 ft high (debatable on the height but should reach at least 8 ft). I'm making the design adaptable, so it can convert to a simple sun shelter in spring and summer, if necessary. Though the door frame would still be in place with current design. May adapt more later so the front and rear panels remove with the door and window frames, just so it doesn't look funny. Then again, what to do with those panels when removed? Hmm.
Maybe use them for a frame for the swamp cooler shade? Only take a couple more PVC pipes to hook them together and I'd have a door for maintenance. Have to give it more thought but in reality I have at least until April to think about it, so no rush. I know the frames would be light enough to hoist on the roof with a rope quite easily.
Got the wood for some simple raised garden beds, also. I think 10' x 4' is a good size, though maybe I'll reduce the width to 3'. Once again, convertible. Not making the beds very high, so no need to use strong attachments. I can later take them apart and change the size if I have to. Little messy but can be done.
Total cost for the greenhouse came in under $70. For the raised beds, under $15 each.
This really is the best time of year to shop for gardening supplies. Seed starter peat pots were less than $2 for 32 at Lowe's. Got two 6 ft patio umbrellas for $3.87 each at Harbor Freight Tools! Just a little happy about that last one!
Got some wood for more shelves for the house, too. House has been a mess because of not having enough closet or shelf space. Just a few more shelves will do the trick, though.
Guess I should get to bed or I won't be getting anything done later.
Maybe use them for a frame for the swamp cooler shade? Only take a couple more PVC pipes to hook them together and I'd have a door for maintenance. Have to give it more thought but in reality I have at least until April to think about it, so no rush. I know the frames would be light enough to hoist on the roof with a rope quite easily.
Got the wood for some simple raised garden beds, also. I think 10' x 4' is a good size, though maybe I'll reduce the width to 3'. Once again, convertible. Not making the beds very high, so no need to use strong attachments. I can later take them apart and change the size if I have to. Little messy but can be done.
Total cost for the greenhouse came in under $70. For the raised beds, under $15 each.
This really is the best time of year to shop for gardening supplies. Seed starter peat pots were less than $2 for 32 at Lowe's. Got two 6 ft patio umbrellas for $3.87 each at Harbor Freight Tools! Just a little happy about that last one!
Got some wood for more shelves for the house, too. House has been a mess because of not having enough closet or shelf space. Just a few more shelves will do the trick, though.
Guess I should get to bed or I won't be getting anything done later.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
A really affordable greenhouse!
Went to go buy the PVC for the row covers this morning. However, I was foolish enough to not check how flexible the thin pipes were until I got home. Not flexible enough to build individual row covers.
However, I quickly figured out that I could build covers which fit over multiple rows at once! Then, I started thinking. I have enough materials to build a fairly decent sized greenhouse! At least 15 ft x 20 ft, possibly larger. I may have to buy one or two more rolls of plastic. The down side is that I will have to use duct tape to hold the plastic sheeting in place, as I could not find anyplace local to buy clips. Maybe I'll figure something else out that looks better.
In any case, with the supplies I've bought so far, I can build an entire greenhouse for under $60. The price will go up if I double the walls for winter, but only by about $25 more.
I worked last night and scheduled for tonight, so not going to get this done today. Besides, I have to work out the design first. I can build the whole thing in one day by myself. I'll post pictures when it's done. Right now it's time for some sleep.
However, I quickly figured out that I could build covers which fit over multiple rows at once! Then, I started thinking. I have enough materials to build a fairly decent sized greenhouse! At least 15 ft x 20 ft, possibly larger. I may have to buy one or two more rolls of plastic. The down side is that I will have to use duct tape to hold the plastic sheeting in place, as I could not find anyplace local to buy clips. Maybe I'll figure something else out that looks better.
In any case, with the supplies I've bought so far, I can build an entire greenhouse for under $60. The price will go up if I double the walls for winter, but only by about $25 more.
I worked last night and scheduled for tonight, so not going to get this done today. Besides, I have to work out the design first. I can build the whole thing in one day by myself. I'll post pictures when it's done. Right now it's time for some sleep.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Raised beds
Got the loan I needed, plus work picked up. Now, hoping that trend continues..
This week, got some more seeds. Know it sounds insane to some people even here but I planted some things which do well in cooler weather. Albuquerque is an interesting place, as some people I work with live at higher elevations. Their gardens produce wildly during the growing season but then the season is really short. Where I live is called the South Valley, which has a longer growing season. The NE side of town sees large amounts of snow in the winter, while this side of the same city gets virtually no snow at all. Note that the elevation from one side of town to the other rises sharply between here and there.
Any way, I planted two kinds of lettuce, more green beans and have seeds for some peas, broccoli and spinach which I will get in the ground this week.
One reason I haven't planted the other seeds yet is that it requires an extension of the garden as it stands. However, I have been considering going to raised beds for some time and had decided to do so. I was going to construct them over the winter but decided now is a good time to begin. I can install some raised beds at one end of the existing garden, then change the orientation of the rest of the garden during the winter and raise the rest. Raised beds with this soil would most likely be a tremendous benefit. Easier to control bugs and keep moisture loss at a minimum. Not to mention weeds, which are quite a battle in my yard.
I'm going to just use untreated 2x6x10 lumber from Lowes, propped with stakes cut from 1x2's. The cost of each frame should come in under $20 for a 10x8 bed.
I got some 3.5 mil plastic sheeting from Walmart, good price at $7.50 for a 10 x 25 ft roll. Even better that it's made from recycled plastic. I can use that and some PVC to build row covers. When spring and summer return, I'm going to test this plastic out as a sun shelter cover. I'm not sure of the UV properties, may write to the company and ask. In any case, it seems like it should do well at blocking some sun and dispersing direct sunlight. Worth a try before going for the expensive stuff. I figure the same plastic should be good for lining the raised bed frames. Comes in clear or black.
I have some old mover's blankets that I got from UHaul which aren't too decorative but should come in handy for really cold days/nights.
I'm toying with an idea now for a design for raised beds which I'll have to work on. Since compost produces heat, the concept is building long bins or trenches next to raised beds for winter use. This would extend the growing season for many plants. The concept could go as far as building raised beds on tracks or wheels and placing the compost pits directly underneath the beds. Somewhat limited use for the idea here but could be a great idea for farms and gardens in colder climes. Combined with row covers or even greenhouses, this system could allow growth to continue all winter long with little or no artificial heat source needed. If gasses were a problem, vent pipes could be routed through the soil before being vented to the outside, allowing for greater heat transfer to the soil. The insulation of the beds over the compost pits would allow the composting process to continue at a high rate through the winter and the entire system would help reduce moisture loss.
Just an idea.
This week, got some more seeds. Know it sounds insane to some people even here but I planted some things which do well in cooler weather. Albuquerque is an interesting place, as some people I work with live at higher elevations. Their gardens produce wildly during the growing season but then the season is really short. Where I live is called the South Valley, which has a longer growing season. The NE side of town sees large amounts of snow in the winter, while this side of the same city gets virtually no snow at all. Note that the elevation from one side of town to the other rises sharply between here and there.
Any way, I planted two kinds of lettuce, more green beans and have seeds for some peas, broccoli and spinach which I will get in the ground this week.
One reason I haven't planted the other seeds yet is that it requires an extension of the garden as it stands. However, I have been considering going to raised beds for some time and had decided to do so. I was going to construct them over the winter but decided now is a good time to begin. I can install some raised beds at one end of the existing garden, then change the orientation of the rest of the garden during the winter and raise the rest. Raised beds with this soil would most likely be a tremendous benefit. Easier to control bugs and keep moisture loss at a minimum. Not to mention weeds, which are quite a battle in my yard.
I'm going to just use untreated 2x6x10 lumber from Lowes, propped with stakes cut from 1x2's. The cost of each frame should come in under $20 for a 10x8 bed.
I got some 3.5 mil plastic sheeting from Walmart, good price at $7.50 for a 10 x 25 ft roll. Even better that it's made from recycled plastic. I can use that and some PVC to build row covers. When spring and summer return, I'm going to test this plastic out as a sun shelter cover. I'm not sure of the UV properties, may write to the company and ask. In any case, it seems like it should do well at blocking some sun and dispersing direct sunlight. Worth a try before going for the expensive stuff. I figure the same plastic should be good for lining the raised bed frames. Comes in clear or black.
I have some old mover's blankets that I got from UHaul which aren't too decorative but should come in handy for really cold days/nights.
I'm toying with an idea now for a design for raised beds which I'll have to work on. Since compost produces heat, the concept is building long bins or trenches next to raised beds for winter use. This would extend the growing season for many plants. The concept could go as far as building raised beds on tracks or wheels and placing the compost pits directly underneath the beds. Somewhat limited use for the idea here but could be a great idea for farms and gardens in colder climes. Combined with row covers or even greenhouses, this system could allow growth to continue all winter long with little or no artificial heat source needed. If gasses were a problem, vent pipes could be routed through the soil before being vented to the outside, allowing for greater heat transfer to the soil. The insulation of the beds over the compost pits would allow the composting process to continue at a high rate through the winter and the entire system would help reduce moisture loss.
Just an idea.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Good news, bad news
Bad news first. Been getting canceled from work constantly for the past couple of weeks. I work for an agency and work is not stable. Besides, I think the local hospitals signed travel nurses to contracts. They're also in the middle of the annual graduate nurse hiring spree. So, they have a bunch of inexperienced (and poorly motivated) people taking care of patients and leave the experienced nurses out in the cold for months. Normal practice here. So, I'm looking at the possibility of a travel contract of my own, outside of town. Within 400 miles, so I can get back here to spend time with my daughter when not working. See what comes up.
The lack of work leaves me in the position of having to borrow money until something picks up. Blah.
Had a computer virus this weekend and it took three days to get rid of it. Luckily, nothing too damaging and nothing was lost.
No word back yet from the other sources I wrote to about seeds. Still moving ahead, though. Started wintering some pear seeds yesterday. Will start wintering some apple seeds later today. I'll probably have to get some growing lights, so I can keep the plants inside through the winter once they start. Luckily, this house has two living rooms and I only have enough furniture for one of them. Guess I can fill the smaller first living room with plants. I've always joked about having a black thumb but that does seem to be changing very effectively.
The plastic over the rows and the tarp over the pumpkins seems to be helping a lot! Only about a week after planting, I have a row of cucumbers and a row of carrots sprouting. May not sound like much to some people but this is quite amazing to me! The tarp is helping the pumpkin plants along. They're getting enough sun but not wilting badly in the heat of the middle of the day. Some of the pumpkins have failed, while others are growing well. This morning, another female flower opened up and I cross-pollinated with the male from another plant. The flower is a Sugar Pie and the male flower was from a Dill Giant. Be cool if I wind up with a Giant Sugar Pie! LOL!
In most parts of the country, it's too late to be planting new seeds which take any time. Charts say now is a good time here for last plantings of pumpkins, so I planted some more last week. However, it is taking a chance. I have a feeling winter will arrive early here this year and hit hard when it does. Still, if I can get one good crop from the garden, I'll be happy. Right now, the weather cooling down is a benefit to the garden. Think I may build row covers before the weather gets too cold. Need to work up a design which breaks down or folds up when not in use.
Between the unstable employment and actually getting things growing, I am thinking that if I get the garden producing well, I may eventually start selling produce. Right now, a bit early to count on that, considering where I'm starting from. I don't have enough land that I'll ever be able to live off what I produce but if it cuts my grocery bill and makes a few extra dollars here and there, it would be an advantage. I've been doing freelance writing, also. Not making much off of it but got a rather good break this past week. One of my articles was placed as a featured article by my primary publisher. The article is three years old but there's no expiration date on any article published with them. If I can get things stable enough to have a regular schedule and maybe depend less on local employers (who are highly unreliable across the board), I would have more time for multiple endeavors, including gardening.
I've been to the local grower's market once and honestly have to say I wasn't highly impressed by the results I found there. Maybe I should try again and was just there at the wrong time of year. Most of the produce looked small and weak. Could be they use the best and only sell the remains. Can't blame them for that. Or it could be the whole desert issue, stunted growth and lack of moisture. I am hoping to develop some gardening techniques which produce better results, even if it takes time. Some people have lived here for over 30 years who sell produce. However, I see lots of gardens in the area but few windbreaks or shelters built for the purpose. Not many trees growing in cultivated spots, only on the edges. Seems to me that strategically placed trees can make a world of difference. Maybe not much will grow under trees but that remains true if the trees are on the edge of land or in the middle. However, spaced apart, they offer more intermittent shade to soil and other plants, protecting them from extensive sun damage. All grouped together at a distance from other plants decreases their advantage to the area.
Only theories and thoughts I will be putting to the test over time.
The lack of work leaves me in the position of having to borrow money until something picks up. Blah.
Had a computer virus this weekend and it took three days to get rid of it. Luckily, nothing too damaging and nothing was lost.
No word back yet from the other sources I wrote to about seeds. Still moving ahead, though. Started wintering some pear seeds yesterday. Will start wintering some apple seeds later today. I'll probably have to get some growing lights, so I can keep the plants inside through the winter once they start. Luckily, this house has two living rooms and I only have enough furniture for one of them. Guess I can fill the smaller first living room with plants. I've always joked about having a black thumb but that does seem to be changing very effectively.
The plastic over the rows and the tarp over the pumpkins seems to be helping a lot! Only about a week after planting, I have a row of cucumbers and a row of carrots sprouting. May not sound like much to some people but this is quite amazing to me! The tarp is helping the pumpkin plants along. They're getting enough sun but not wilting badly in the heat of the middle of the day. Some of the pumpkins have failed, while others are growing well. This morning, another female flower opened up and I cross-pollinated with the male from another plant. The flower is a Sugar Pie and the male flower was from a Dill Giant. Be cool if I wind up with a Giant Sugar Pie! LOL!
In most parts of the country, it's too late to be planting new seeds which take any time. Charts say now is a good time here for last plantings of pumpkins, so I planted some more last week. However, it is taking a chance. I have a feeling winter will arrive early here this year and hit hard when it does. Still, if I can get one good crop from the garden, I'll be happy. Right now, the weather cooling down is a benefit to the garden. Think I may build row covers before the weather gets too cold. Need to work up a design which breaks down or folds up when not in use.
Between the unstable employment and actually getting things growing, I am thinking that if I get the garden producing well, I may eventually start selling produce. Right now, a bit early to count on that, considering where I'm starting from. I don't have enough land that I'll ever be able to live off what I produce but if it cuts my grocery bill and makes a few extra dollars here and there, it would be an advantage. I've been doing freelance writing, also. Not making much off of it but got a rather good break this past week. One of my articles was placed as a featured article by my primary publisher. The article is three years old but there's no expiration date on any article published with them. If I can get things stable enough to have a regular schedule and maybe depend less on local employers (who are highly unreliable across the board), I would have more time for multiple endeavors, including gardening.
I've been to the local grower's market once and honestly have to say I wasn't highly impressed by the results I found there. Maybe I should try again and was just there at the wrong time of year. Most of the produce looked small and weak. Could be they use the best and only sell the remains. Can't blame them for that. Or it could be the whole desert issue, stunted growth and lack of moisture. I am hoping to develop some gardening techniques which produce better results, even if it takes time. Some people have lived here for over 30 years who sell produce. However, I see lots of gardens in the area but few windbreaks or shelters built for the purpose. Not many trees growing in cultivated spots, only on the edges. Seems to me that strategically placed trees can make a world of difference. Maybe not much will grow under trees but that remains true if the trees are on the edge of land or in the middle. However, spaced apart, they offer more intermittent shade to soil and other plants, protecting them from extensive sun damage. All grouped together at a distance from other plants decreases their advantage to the area.
Only theories and thoughts I will be putting to the test over time.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Gardening ain't pretty!
I got sick of seeing my pumpkin plants drooping and wilting in the desert sun on a daily basis. So, last night I decided to do something about it.
I have an old tarp which I recently removed from being suspended over my swamp cooler. I'll detour for a moment on that. Here in NM, a common practice with swamp coolers is to place them on the roof, directly in the sun. This design has remained common for decades. Shortly after moving in, I suspended a large tarp over my swamp cooler. The day I did it, I felt a drop in my house of at least ten degrees within one hour. My house has remained cool all summer. If you have a swamp cooler on your roof which is not cooling, try this and notice the difference it makes.
Back to the subject. Last night, I took the tarp which is no longer needed over the swamp cooler. I tied one end of it to the fence. At the other end, I cut a metal broom handle in half at an angle, making two stakes. Hammered those into the ground and tied the other end of the tarp to the stakes. This morning, found the tarp has small tears in it at the corners and part of it was dragging in the center. So, I used some duct tape at each corner and raised the tarp off the ground to the top of the stakes, fixing it in place. The whole thing is now suspended and the plants are protected from the sun at the hottest time of day. They still get indirect sun most of the day and direct sun at some points in the cooler times of day. A few are still getting more direct sun in the morning and begin to droop but by noon, the shadow of the tarp is protecting them. Today is the first sunny day the leaves have not wilted to ground level by this time. Big difference.
The construct is not all that attractive, but not completely ugly. But this should also allow more moisture to remain in the soil on a constant basis. (No, I'm not going to allow the leaves to remain wet.)
A couple of the plants have gotten to a decent size. At first, I was somewhat disbelieving they would develop into vines at all! Had read advice about covering vines with soil to encourage secondary roots to form but the vines were not long enough for this until a few days ago, on one plant. So, I'm giving that a try. See how it all turns out.
I am considering planting other seeds than trees in the wild areas along the river. Pumpkins, grapes.. I'll give thoughts to what may survive and where. The ground along the trails is quite fertile here, as horses have been raised in the area for centuries. Today you can walk the trails and encounter local horse riders along the way. (Plus the resulting manure.) The land in different spots has been farmed for just as long. The aqueducts were built under Spanish rule hundreds of years back for irrigation of farmland. Only a fraction of the land is now farmed but remains quite fertile in places. Plants would have a good chance of survival because the area is allowed to grow wild with no apparent intervention. I have no qualms in planting beneficial plants there, as invasive species are quite rampant, including bamboo in some places (run over from local yards), some form of oriental or tropic trees which are hated and destroyed in yards because they take over like weeds and cottonwood trees, which are popular here but not beneficial beyond the benefits almost any tree would provide.
I do find it rather sad that so little of the land is now farmed in this area. The aqueducts are built with sluice gates opening onto most plots of land along the way. Most gates are in complete disrepair, sealed shut by rust and decay. Many plots have wells drilled but it seems the majority are not used. I plan to have a well drilled on my own property when I can afford it. Next door neighbor has an irrigation well and said it only had to be drilled about 25 ft to tap the aquifer below. (That narrow a clearance makes me very careful about using chemicals here.
Okay, I need to get up and do something constructive.
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