Monday, October 17, 2011

how to build a greenhouse in 28 easy steps

so...i've been busy these last few weeks building a tiny greenhouse in my little suburban yard. i'm not sure what i'm going to plant in it yet (currently there's just some sweet potatoes in there), but it certainly has been an adventure so far. i'll go through step by step so you can gain a full appreciation for the process:

1.) decide to build a greenhouse (...why did i do that again?)
2.) gather scrap wood and make a (umm...tentative) plan
3.) discover wooden frames that jake and i failed to make a fence out of last year. perfect!
4.) zip tie the frames to our 4-5ish foot tall fence (sturdy stuff, yeah)
5.) spend a week or so trying to figure out how to build the roof
6.) spend an entire day building a shed roof (so, basically just a slanty slab)
7.) get some clear plastic sheeting and grab the staple gun
8.) cover everything you have so far in clear plastic sheeting
9.) wait for jake to get home so he can help you lift the rickety roof
10.) brace the roof
11.) put the roof on (yes! at this point, it actually looks like some sort of structure)
12.) what the heck, Giant Wind Storm, what're you doing in my neighborhood? get outta here!
13.) umm...found the roof in my neighbor's yard after the windstorm...maybe i should rethink this
14.) zip tie the roof to the fence (which forms the back wall of the greenhouse)
15.) decide to build the front wall (and door)
16.) get SO ANGRY at woodworking...nails are stupid. :(
17.) remain grumpy
18.) ask jake for help (grumpily)
19.) spend hours trying to finish the front of the greenhouse
20.) throw the hammer on the ground and storm away
21.) aaaaand...finish the front wall
22.) should i brace the door?
23.) nah
24.) attach the door
25.) rest for a couple days
26.) attach clear plastic sheeting to the back and the front of the house
27.) DONE! (and it actually works...it's warm in there!)
28.) well, for now.