Today was supposed to be Tractor Monday. Unfortunately, the tractor still needs to have the loader put on by the dealer so it won't be ready until the end of the week. I am so ridiculously excited about the tractor.
But I am also pretty excited about the greenhouse so instead of practicing my mad skillz on the manure pile today with my new 'tor, I worked on greenhouse assembly.
I ordered the greenhouse from a little place in New Hampshire (local is good) and went and picked up the kit on Saturday. I had to take a minor detour into Vermont to visit my favorite brewery (local AND environmentally conscious) but that's only part of what made the day so great. We also stopped at a Cabot Creamery (local and delicious) outlet and bought a pound of Vermont cheese. But wait! There's even more!
(Just a small aside: I drove through Woodstock, Vermont, and was completely blown away by its beauty. When I win the lottery, I am so moving to Woodstock, Vermont. It is quite possibly the most perfect little town in the whole country. *sigh* I love Vermont.)
Finally, back in New Hampshire, we arrived to pick up the greenhouse and I was very impressed with the display model. I went with an econo model and I was worried that the materials would be shoddy. Oh no, the greenhouses are top notch. What makes them so affordable is that I provide the labor! The kit comes with the ribs and film and detailed plans and then I provide the foundation, the framing for the end walls, and the labor to cut and assemble the pieces.
So today was Greenhouse Monday, aka Cutting day. It took me four hours of work, in sunny mid-thirties weather, to measure and cut about 150 individual pieces of wood to the specified dimensions. I used a table saw for ripping, a miter saw for nice 90 degree cuts to length, and a jig saw for the curved bits.
Frame assembly begins on Wednesday with paint following soon after. I need the tractor to clear the snow from the final site as well as light grading, so that will likely wait until next weekend.
I cannot recommend this greenhouse manufacturer more. The owners were super helpful and accommodating. The plans are easy to follow. If you have the tools already and a modicum of ability not to cut your fingers off, you can't beat the price for the quality of the finished product.
6 comments:
I'm looking forward to seeing the finished product. We have a greenhouse that is an eyesore, but entirely framed in steel. I think one of this summers project will be to reface it with something other than corrugated plastic pieces, old windows and plastic.
Is Woodstock Vermont *the* Woodstock.
whereses: pocketses in which hobbits may be hiding rings
"whereses: pocketses in which hobbits may be hiding rings"
DP, I hope you don't think me too forward when I say that your word verification made me totally worship you. It's like you were speaking directly to my soul. Only for a moment, then it passed.
And no, *the* Woodstock is in New York.
My greenhouse is the hoop style with a 6 mil plastic film over it. Very much NOT a permanent structure, but a bargain at the price. In five years or so, when it needs a face lift, I will know a lot more about what I need. It will be interesting to see how it holds up. The demo model they had at the greenhouse place was 7 years old and looked amazing.
have fun with the greenhouse...and the tractor when you get it.
woodstock is beautiful...and SUPER expensive!
did you see quechee gorge? breathtaking!
I have to tell you, the fact that you know the difference between uses for different types of saws, AND how to use them makes me happy :)
The fiance is a mechanical engineer. You would think he might know these things? Nope. I will no longer be surprised by how common-sense retarded some engineers can be!
When you find or scrap out an old door (not a hollow core interior one!), save it for a work table. You can throw the door on the sawhorses and line up ALL your saws on the door-table. It'll be plenty big enough to hold long pieces of wood and it's fairly easy to pick up and move around. Your back will thank you!
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