My Tiny DIY Greenhouse
Patrina
3 years ago
I couldn't find a standard greenhouse to fit the tiny space next to our summer house plus, the delivery times were 4-6 months. So, I made my own from old doors. It took a total of six doors (all solid wood) plus timber for the framing. Not perfect but my seedlings are now happily growing in their new home and my window sills are finally clear.
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Carolina
3 years ago
Anthony (Beano)
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Love or Loathe?
Comments (61)Hello everyone again! Thanks again for all the helpful comments- I am amazed at the interest that this painting has aroused. I have studied the painting very carefully and the line around the painting is caused by the pressure from the inner backboard, so that will have to be addressed. As to the origin of the painting, that remains a mystery, as does the artist themselves- all I know is that it was framed in Hull, UK. I got it for a very good price, but I did have to engage in a bit of bartering with the lady selling it, who looked like a possible descendant of the subject! The hat and pipe are mysterious, but if you look carefully you will see that the man also has his ear pierced, which suggests he is a gypsy- During the Victorian and Edwardian eras, the gipsies in the UK came mainly from Eastern Europe, particularly Romania, and engaged mainly in horse-trading. They were very much despised and mistrusted by the general populace, and were associated with petty theft. The Romanian connection could explain the hat and the pipe- evidently unusual enough for the artist to paint in the first instance. I am going to get the painting valued before we make a further decision- I am going to show all your comments to my wife in the hope that perhaps may have a change of mind! Thanks to all again for your helpful input...!...See MoreHow important is it to recycle, really?
Comments (42)There should be no such thing as waste. Everything is part of a cycle, which should not be broken. And we ARE part of the planet - which gives us our life and can easily take our life away! Even if you have children, it is possible to minimise the need to recycle. Think about value, quality and ethics rather than quantity. Start by not buying things that are not required to keep you alive and healthy; especially things that are not 'life-supporting' or that alienate you from the natural world. Think carefully and plan; - don't be feather - blown along by the mindless wind of the western world... Such a policy saves you money, or will help reduce your need to work (or exploit the planet by being part of this dangerous, unsustainable game called 'economic growth, no matter the cost'). Of course, being a vegan or vegetarian will really help, as will preparing and eating real food - rather than buying expensive 'rubbish' food from supermarkets or take-aways. You will have better nutrition, and it will save you time and money! Of course the by-products of the food you have eaten are an essential part of the ecological cycle and should not be incinerated or flushed away; they should be aerobically composted and returned to recreate soil fertility. If you can, try growing your own food organically. Then enjoy the extra taste, vitamin and mineral content! Paper or cardboard can be composted, as can vegetable trimmings. We cannot and should not attempt to evade the responsibility we all have to close the cycle. I have a neighbour (the same age as me) who cannot fit her fortnightly rubbish into her weelie-bin, yet I need not put out my bin for a whole year (and then it mainly contains types of plastic packaging that cannot be taken to the recycling centre). If you set out to live lightly on the planet by using recycled items or by trying to buy only good quality essential items (and mend them when they go wrong), there is less need to discard and waste the energy and resources invested in our purchases. As far as clothing (assuming you cannot make your own) is concerned, buying good quality, then not getting it needlessly dirty (by wearing an apron or overall) and of course not washing your clothes to death - are sensible policies which save water, energy and waste. Drink water, rather than be ripped off by buying rubbish in a can or bottle. Plain water is much better for your internal organs and keeping you healthy than complicated concoctions. Maybe filter the water and/or boil off the chlorine using your kettle first. If you want to avoid the hormones/antibiotics etc in tap water, then find an uncontaminated source. Most of the tap water we pay for is wasted - (it just ends up down the drain having not even done anything useful) - because we do not have spray nozzles or sensor taps. In our 1970's autonomous dwelling I fitted foot controls (used on trains) to the taps and you only pressed when you needed a flow. We also used mist-spray nozzles. And you do not need to wet your toothbrush as you have saliva in your mouth, - just rinse it after use! A well-designed waterless toilet (sadly its not easy to find out how to build one, as all the books give completely rubbish information) will cut your toilet water use to zero, other than for washing your hands. Collect water from your roof and use it in the garden and for other tasks, (we filtered it and used it for drinking in our 1970's house - tests by the water authority showed it was as clean as well water). By moving gradually in such a direction, we can change the world towards what is valuable for a sustainable life on this very special, tiny jewel of a planet. Even small steps are positive and valuable....See MoreWhat’s looking good in your garden?
Comments (347)Hi Sonia. It’s the plant with a name that I can never spell...but I’ll have a go.... tatrapanax papyfirus ‘Rex’ ???? Chinese rice paper plant. Or aka The Triffid! That’s easier to remember. 😉. Apparently they can send out suckers from the roots several meters away so my neighbours might get a few babies in years to come. Can’t argue tho, it’s a fab jungly looking plant. Here’s the proud mum!...See MoreShow us your gardens!
Comments (104)Sonia (and all), can I ask for your help pretty please?? I‘ve just bought 2 potted olives to put outside my door. They’re classed as young but the tallest is c8ft and the other c7ft and the trunk is quite thick with big crowns. The pots are 50 x50. I enquired re watering and was told to water at least 3 or 4 times a week During the summer and once in winter. I asked for the volume but was told no fast rule as just had to be kept moist and I can’t overwater (my concern) due to drainage holes (Although the pots aren’t on feet). Problem is how do I know if it’s moist at the bottom and I also thought young olives shouldn’t have waterlogged roots? They‘re also full of olives btw. Any help would be appreciated. I thought I’d try and take advantage of all the gardeners on one post!! I could go back to the company obviously but feel like I’m going back with contradictory advice just from the net and They’re expert growers.....See More
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PatrinaOriginal Author