Rock, Hoops, and a Whole Lot of Heat

It’s always a good week when you get to check a lot of tasks off your to-do list! This week we were able to get the hoops put together, level out the rock, and cut all the poles to size. It doesn’t seem like a long list when I write it out here in black and white, but when each task takes at least a day—and the pieces you’re working with are 30 feet wide—it makes for one big check mark when complete!

Of course, on the hottest day of autumn, we were out in full sun putting hoops together and trying not to burn our hands as the metal became increasingly hotter throughout the day. Once finished, we laid all the completed hoops out in the grass next to their corresponding poles. I told Brian that with the poles laid out in that pattern, you could easily see where greenhouse number 4 is going to go. He said, “Does it make you want to put up number 4?” I don’t think this man realizes that I just had a baby a couple of weeks ago! Nevertheless, I want to get the interiors of these greenhouses perfect before we even think about starting greenhouse 4.

Brian spent a couple of days leveling the rock—and guess what! We needed another tri-axle load. I scheduled the rock delivery for Friday and even put up signs showing where it should go. It was dumped at the first sign, not inside the greenhouse. Don’t worry—it was only tons of rock to move! Thankfully, we have a tractor. If you’ve been out to the nursery and seen our other six greenhouses, you might remember that Brian moved all the rock that makes up those floors one wheelbarrow at a time. So, if you ever wonder why I insist he uses the tractor for everything, this is why!

On Saturday, after working at the nursery all day, we came home and decided to cut all the pipes to the correct length. My dad and I measured everything to ensure we’d have 8 inches of fall—important for proper gutter drainage. We have a basket that straps to the front of our tractor (see a theme here?), which lets me raise Brian up to the tops of the poles. This way, he doesn’t have to run up and down a ladder literally 27 times. We used a heavy pipe cutter my dad had on hand, and although it was super heavy, it got the job done in record time.

Next week, we’ve rented a lift that’s scheduled to be delivered on Monday. As long as the weather cooperates, this greenhouse will really start to take shape!

Sarah