Starting all of these plants each year costs (among other expenses) money for the power to run the growroom. We offset the cost by selling some of the seedlings and of course the money you save growing your own food pays off in later months. We are expanding this year with both our gardens and our donations, we need a lot of plants, so here we are!
Despite my best attempts, winter came back with a vengeance😒
The plan is to move everything but the bubblers out to the greenhouse to save on power in the house. Not to mention crowding. I am worried about aphids or mites with everyone in such close quarters and this perfect breeding temperature. We increased our garden and number of seedlings needed so much this year that the growroom is too small. If this works, it will be so much cheaper (And less stressful for me!!) than adding a bunch more lights and fans. And this guy that we just bought:
Sold! To pay for the heater. Win Win!
Next, we bought a 240v heater used from kijiji.
We had a roll so used 160' of 12Ga wire run inside conduit (couldn't bury in frozen ground, will bury in the spring)
240v socket and plug
20 amp 240v breaker
Was lucky to find this guy in the barn. Don't worry, it is out of the snow now
The heater is on its own 20 amp/240v service now. If the temps don't increase soon enough, we will encase the area in some plastic with the use of the trellis frame.
New heater installed
Have this for back-up, or for added heat if needed
Changed up the salvaged screen door that was on it with a less crappy salvaged screen door that didn't have a missing pane
My poor silkie gang hiding in here from the big bully #chickenbitches for the day
Bunch of cuties!
I am going to keep all the plants on pallets here in the middle so I can make a second layer of plastic or a "mini greenhouse" using this trellis to box them in, making it even warmer
It is -4° and overcast, it says it is 12° in the greenhouse already! Heater has been running for 1 hour
This is really nerve wracking! One mistake and we would loose a lot....I will play around for the week with the heat at night and the fans, monitoring the weather and temps 4 times a day for the next week. Hoping to be able to only run the heater at night in off peak hours. After next week's overnight lows of -16° for a few days I am hoping to get everything out here and sell the rest of my indoor lights to pay for the hydro bill, then it will go back to normal sooner!!
Do any of you have experience starting seedlings in a high tunnel while it's still cold? I would love to hear your experiences!!
Off topic but look at this baby asparagus!!! I am in love haha!! #iloveallthebabyplants😍
Thank you for reading! Take care of you and yours ❤
HEY! Do you have gardens to feed your family or community or do you grow plants? Please feel free to use the #doyougrow tag for any of your gardening and plant loving posts! I would love to see what you grow and where you grow it 🌱
I am always looking for new tips and inspiration. I believe it is so important to learn how to grow food as food security and our health is so important. Plus, gardening is rebellious!! Save money and put the healthy back in your food ❤ I will check the tag often to upvote and comment, so let's grow good food for our families and earn Steem together!
Omg the silkies are sooooooo cute and colourful, what fluffy little Angels!!
And that baby asparagus...heheheeee!!!!!!!!
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The silkies are the sweetest. They are in fact getting beat up...#chickenbullies and #chickenbitches :(
Baby asparagus is my new fave!!
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This is a great idea, I hope it goes well for you. We struggle with providing enough warmth and sunlight for the seedlings in our house. I've been dreaming about a well insulated, draft proof greenhouse that we can heat from the wood furnace. It's on the "one day list".
I like your idea of a mini greenhouse within a greenhouse. We do that a lot in the spring because temps still dip really low at night. I've also read somewhere that keeping barrels of water in the greenhouse can provide a heat sink and add warmth at night time ... I want to look into that this year.
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It is a struggle!! Tricky keeping them from stretching and wind on them to keep them strong.
I am hoping the mini greenhouse works...fingers crossed. Thanks for the barrel tip, I will check that out! I think I know whar you mean...I remember reading something about water baths in the greenhouse for heat. I am dreaming of such a greenhouse too;) a wood stove heated one would be dreamy!! Manifesting for both of us haha!! <3
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I had to invest in some lights last year. It made a huge difference but we are on solar so it's a bit of a drain on our energy. I look forward to seeing how this project works out, It could give me a lot of ideas (and courage to try it myself). My fingers are crossed for you.
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Nice work... I don't have a garden but I'm planning this... Now I'm in the process of collecting information and getting ready to move on and live off the grid, thank you.@karenfoster
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Good idea @karenfoster they look very comfortable there. I wish you success
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i tell you what - a green house within the greenhouse!? BRILLIANT.
part of me wishes i could spend all summer travelling to see some of y'all, and help out in the gardens. maybe next year!
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Hehehe brilliant or a disaster! We shall see 😂
Oh my, I would love to have you visit! That is a cool idea, so many peeps I want to meet too! <3
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look at it this way - share your disaster with us, and we will help you feel better. and give you some pity steem as a consolation! LOL
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Hehehe brilliant or a disaster! We shall see 😂
Oh my, I would love to have you visit! That is a cool idea, there are so many peeps I would love to meet from here <3 <3 <3
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I am amazed by your idea, keep on working ..
Sorry, there's something that makes me wonder, what's this chicken? they look very cute, i have never seen and this chicken is not in indonesia ..
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I understand the whole real estate thing, where to put what and will it survive or thrive? I don't have a greenhouse (yet) so my options are house or cold frame. I start much later being Zone 4a because if I get too many things started, I run out of lights. Not enough light = weak leggy seedlings. I can't put them out if it's too cold and there's not time for them to harden off, as there's no heat in a cold frame. Such dilemmas!
But I envy you the greenhouse! And your little asparagus was so cute!
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weldone .and a chalenging topography for seedling area. thanks for sharing. I am lucky found #Doyougrow, I shall use it, and hope enought crowded there. thanks again.
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