Not Before the Snow Came . . .

but it's a Greenhouse!

How did I not update the greenhouse progress?

Winter came early this year and eventually running 4 extension cords across the ground from the house became problematic.

The project grew and changed as it went along.

As did I.

Power tools are not so scary.
Except table saws. Still a little petrified of them!

I love building things with wood!
Busy now trying to get enough shelves built for growing things on - to fit the randomness of the window placements.

It's still a work in progress on the inside. Waiting for the cold to loosen it's grip so my unheated space can be put to use.


Can't wait to see what the spring holds.
Hope it comes early, too!

Project GREENHOUSE!

Rafters were joined.

Nephew Kyle took an interest in building and planted himself on the scaffolding. I feared for its sturdiness whenever he and his dad were near the middle at the same time.

For my birthday we decided I really wanted a miter saw that would cut boards thicker than a 2x4. After my spinning wheel, the Ryobi Compound Miter Saw might be my favorite impulse buying decision ever. 

I want to build all the things. 

I cut everything myself until the rafters. My brother's knowledge has gotten this project looking for real! He took over determining the angle of the cuts needed and it went faster with me just setting everything up before he got here and making sure anything needed was right at hand. 

Soon. Windows will be put in their rightful place. Looking forward to that so much I almost put some in on my own. Fear of breaking them needlessly seemed a good enough reason to take the few I had propped up along a wall back out to the waiting stacks. 

I still see windows on the side of the road for free and feel nearly compelled to keep gathering. Only very wonderful offerings will be considered. Hoarding is a thing that should be controlled . . . at least a bit!

The Twelve Birches

How selling birch trees turned into a greenhouse . . .

It all started 2 years ago when an employee on his way to work at Evergreen Farms in Swanville noticed the really *white birch trees sprouting up in our field. 

The field was sadly filling in from lack of use after the farmer who had been renting it became ill. I tried removing saplings as they sprouted each spring but eventually they overtook my efforts. 

So I started pruning the orderly rows of birches that were determined to take root along the last plowed lines from when the farmer left it.

Last year the nursery owner stopped in and asked to buy 6 of the birch trees to put on a ferry and haul across to an island where the landowner wished them.

This year he showed up with a crew and asked how would I like to sell 12 - 15 more? Umm. Sure. Things went much faster this year and within a couple of weeks the semi backed in for the first half. They chose 12 in the end.

Last year I used the extra money for kayak supplies. A roof rack and a new life jacket suitable for kayaking.

This year I decided to use up the lumber and windows we seemed to be stockpiling for "something" and build a greenhouse with this "extra" money.

It's coming along! I designed all the walls around the windows we had, I found for free on trash day. A few came from the Restore. My brother and his boys helped us get walls standing. The walls were finished with stronger headers and the center ridge beam went up last weekend. 
Hopefully rafters this weekend!

*Actually they are the whitest grey birch trees the nursery owner said he had ever seen and they are more resistant to problems, so talked the rich landowner into this excellent deal. I may need to sell a few more if this project costs much more!

There was a rainbow yesterday while Tom was staining the (very high) center beam and supports for me.