OCTOBER - My DIY Greenhouse

Every Winter when the snow flies I get itchy feet to get out and dig into the dirt.  So I decided to tinker around until I figured a way to build my own greenhouse.  It started out real simple:

Sch 40 1 inch PVC pipe is cheap and as a kid I liked building with Tinker Toys.  So I just started to tinker!

After a few days and several designs, it all started to come together.  I took into consideration the Winter rain and snow and of course the wind.  It had to be strong and yet light enough for me to move it if needed.

I still had to modify and strengthen it several more times

and then figure out how to cover it and install a door.

I used 6 mill plastic sheeting from Lowes, and hinged the door with a latch to keep it closed at night.

Above, you can see where I framed in a window on the back of my greenhouse.

I cut larger size PVC pipe into 2 inch segments and then cut them so they would just snap over the plastic sheeting and the pipe frame.  After a little trial and error I got the size just right and I used these home made clips to secure the plastic sheeting to the frame.

I then secured the door latch and hinges and started to furnish my new greenhouse. Was I ever excited when I put my first plants inside!

The finished size is about 8 feet wide and 8.5 feet deep and 7 feet tall.

I used my magnifying glass to burn some fun plant signs and

then I made one for the front door of my finished greenhouse.

When some guys bug their wife they are sent to the dog house but my wife is so sweet I get to go to my greenhouse where I grow her more flowers!

 Just in time for Winter! Nov 10, 2012 - Picture at 6 a.m. with a flash.

Picture without a flash! You can see I have strapped it down to

the cement and put a solar powered light in to keep it a little warmer.
It really works and my lettuce is 1/4 inch high already!

SEPTEMBER 23, Second Day of Fall, My Flowers

Today is the second day of Fall and so after attending the Brigham City Temple Dedication I walked around my yard and took pictures of some of my flowers.

 

 

   

SEPTEMBER- Canning a variety of Jams.

This morning I went out and picked a lot of fruit from my garden and today we made 15, 20 oz. jars of all kinds of Jam.

 

We made several combinations of raspberry and peach, peach and prune, and peach and Plum.

 

SEPTEMBER- Canning Peaches & Prunes

I had a bumper crop of peaches and Stanley prunes this year.

 

After canning a case of 12 quart peaches I picked a few Stanley prunes and canned 11 quarts of them.

 

All of this fruit is starting to fill up my food storage shelves!

SEPTEMBER- Canning Raspberries and Drying Plums

My Raspberry patch is producing really good this year.

Today I canned 6 small jars of raspberries and I froze the rest.

 

This is the largest crop of Stanley prunes my tree has ever produced!  They look more like giant grapes all over the tree.

I cut a bunch of them in half and set them out in the sun to start them drying.

My other plum tree is producing a crop of very juicy and sweet plums too!