A New Arm

Well some days I feel like I am in need of a new arm... but today the greenhouse received a brand new arm :-)

An actuator arm... that is!

Troy had to reinstall the old windows so they would open outwards, to accommodate the actuator. The lovely chippy paint will get a paint job when  the weather gets warmer.

The arm worked like a charm and did it's thing when the greenhouse heated up today...Allowing cool air to flow in.

If the greenhouse gets to warm, the exhaust fan has a thermostat and will kick on too.

Chomping on Chives

The chives in the greenhouse have been up for about a month... I always look forward to this tasty spring treat! Along the base of the chives...volunteer Heirloom Forellenschluss lettuce has come up.

The garden chives are about 3 weeks behind the greenhouse chives....We will soon be harvesting these too!

And on a Happy Note... Garlic has decided to spring up too!

Planting in February

After days of rain, the Sun finally decided to peak out...It was beautiful and abnormally warm for this time of year.  I took advantage of the weather and planted a few garden goodies, pushing the limits and testing seed hardiness for my growing zone.. 

Who says you can't garden in the Winter?

Radish seeds are amazing. After soaking, these little guys unfolded overnight and begged to be put in the dirt. 

The main garden is still under snow, but the soil in the greenhouse is totally workable.

I also planted a few squares of beets in the greenhouse too.

White Sugar beets were planted in one of the cold frames. The seeds are covered with vermiculite to make it easier to identify seeds from the weeds. There are a few Spinach and lettuce starts in this frame as well, and they should really take off after February 15th.,  when the daylight hours are up to 10 hrs. again.

Dirt under my nails!

 Dirt under my nails in January.....Priceless!

 Cleaned out the raised beds inside the greenhouse today...

Little starts came out and enjoyed fresh daylight and cool, fresh, air!

It feels so good to be gardening, when there is still snow on the ground.

Winter Harvest

The greenhouse is unheated and still needs a ridge cap installed,  it get's pretty cold in there. The only winter goody growing inside the greenhouse at this time, is a handful of  tattered American Flag leeks. 

The dirt is still soft, making  it easy to harvest. 

Let me tell you, nothing compares to the smell of  pulling up a fresh veggie out of the crisp, sweet, earth in the middle of winter. 

This fragrant Leek will be added into our dinner tonight....Yum!

Downright cold

The Polar Vortex has arrived and with it, temperatures in the single digits... 

It's just downright cold!

Sadly, my little greenhouse is unheated, everything in it has now come to a freezing halt!

We were lucky enough to harvest 5 lbs of green peppers from the greenhouse, the night before the cold snap arrived.

Time has come to let the garden and the greenhouse rest...

In the meantime, we will bundle up, throw another log on the fire and dream of Spring!

Still Harvesting

 Although the greenhouse isn't heated, it still allowing us to harvest vegetables much later in the season than we normally would. At this time, we are still able to harvest Tiny Tim cherry tomatoes and have Yolo Sweet Peppers and Banana Peppers still on.

In comparison, the peppers in the garden have been done at least 3 weeks earlier.

I am enjoying the fact that we can extend the harvest to some extent!

Finishing touches

The finishing touches have been made on the greenhouse... A wooden walkway made from recycled barn wood has been added.

Along each side of the walkway, new flower beds have been put in,

 inside...all the shelving has been painted.

Enjoying another finished project....and

all the new beautiful flowers!

Tiny Tim's

Tiny Tim is chugging along in the greenhouse and is happily putting on tomatoes :-)

Coffee Date in the greenhouse

I love Sunday mornings..

Sunday mornings in the greenhouse with my honey and a cup of coffee is even better! A great way to start my Mother's Day!

I think our North Idaho, Vitamin D deprived bodies have been craving sunshine....The greenhouse is the perfect happy place to enjoy each others company ...My heart is HAPPY!

We took a few moments to enjoy the the peace of Sunday morning before we were off and running! 

Today was set aside, to get yard work done at the soap shop, hauling wood, and helping Nana & Papa get their garden tilled.  A busy day indeed!

Soggy Sunday

A soggy Sunday today, but I am happily playing in the greenhouse... My second planting of lettuce starts were out-growing their pots, and itching to be planted. They have already caught up in size, to the first planting that was directly planted in the garden, earlier this month. 

For fun, I am planting these in the raised beds in the greenhouse. 

They will be replaced by pepper plants once they have been harvested.

Looking forward to our first fresh salad of the season.

It shouldn't be to much longer now!

In the greenhouse this week

Cabbage, Broccoli, Onion & Lettuce starts are about ready to be planted in the garden.

They sure are enjoying their time in the greenhouse.

I also picked up this cute little Tiny Tim Tomato plant at our local grocery store....

It had me at hello...with that cute label and blossoms! 

Lucky for me Tiny Tim is an heirloom.  

Finished flooring

On Sunday, Troy added old Barn wood flooring in the greenhouse...No more gap under the door...woohoo! 

Raised beds were also added inside for winter gardening. I am hoping to get them filled with compost and garden dirt by the end of the week.

We also added a cute little salvaged sink in the front corner... I am loving this wonderful new space!