Fall 2015: Greenhouse on Stilts

This is a pic of the garden from fall 2014.  The fence was put up to keep the deer away. Earth Box containers are elevated off the ground to reduce ground moisture. Tires contained sweet potatoes. White basket was a strawberry tower. This was the first year for Zipgrow hydroponic towers. Greenhouse in the background was used for storage and seed starting.

Unfortunately, the deer had tore up the greenhouse searching for wild strawberries over the 2015 summer. I repaired the greenhouse and decided that I should use it for the hydroponics. Originally, I had planned to make a 20x10x10 greenhouse which is why black plastic is on the ground, but I never got around to filing the permits. So, I wanted to cut to the chase and try to make do with what I had. Here, the greenhouse is elevated on top of a wooden frame which made it easier to level since the ground is sloped. This construction had the added benefit of placing the greenhouse higher than the sump without the need of digging a hole. The wooden frame is covered with clear plastic tarp which is overlapped by the greenhouse tarp. Clear tape is visible patching some of the holes. As an added precaution, plastic sheeting is hung inside the greenhouse to cover the patching if the tape peels away. A tarp zipper is used to repair the big rip in the door and replaces the original zipper as far as function.

It's not pretty, but its functional. ZipGrow towers are placed on top of a gutter system made from plastic sheeting. The greenhouse middle bar from the middle shelf is removed in order to bring the towers in easily (this works because the greenhouse is elevated). The upper bar of the greenhouse shelf is helping to hold tower stationary with the help of the ties (originally the hangers). A top bar (not shown) is holding the top of the towers in place. The plastic sheeting guides the drainage water into the sump where the pump then delivers the nutrient water to the top of the towers. Tubing with dripper lines can be seen hanging from the roof supports providing the nutrients to the top of the towers.  A fan is visible providing horizontal airflow on the plants (excess moisture was found building up on the leaves).

In the towers, southern collard greens seedlings are started. Near the sump, Earthbox planters contain cauliflower (They take up a considerable amount of room).