I didn't think the growing season ever ended down there in the Promised Land! LOL

I understand you don't have a GH yet. This would be the ideal time for you to get one and get it built with your milder weather there.
Or maybe you'll have to take up knitting. Snicker. :)

It's been drizzling here off and on and in the 40's but I was outside all afternoon, constructing a new flower bed. I finished stripping sod, forked ten wheelbarrow loads of compost into it and moved around some bulbs and perennials.
Plus I roughed out with stakes where my new raised bed, vegetable garden is going to be in front of the greenhouse. I'm downsizing the veggie area and making it more formal and ornamental.
I don't stop gardening or doing some sort of project until the ground freezes or it's *really* miserable.

I plan on winter sowing. Probably not the 300 different containers that I did a few years back, though! That was way too many plants to try to plant come spring!

Necia

Wyndyacre shoo you make me tired after reading all that you have done today. Ole Dawg this is a good time to trade seeds that you grew over the season. I have been checking the seed sites. They are really nice to newbies over there.
I was taking down a thermometer off the pole in the GH and the antlers fell off and bonked me in the head. Ouch! Sherry I thought of you...... DH hung the heater today in the gh turned out good.
Have to call HF tuesday to find out about my door parts. Wish me luck. Than I can bother all of you on how to put them together. Barb

I expose my soul and you girls make jokes!

1eyedJack and the Dawg

time to start an ebay biz I'd say...make some cash to drop into your GH when you get it done :)

I'm sure you have a talent/skill that would generate some cash flow?

You mentioned that you did wood working somehere on here didn't you? can you build cutesy little shabby chic things that people want to buy? little bird houses? etc...the ideas are endless...

I don't think Ole Dawg is too worried about finding things to do this winter. He just wants to make sure we won't all desert him now that's he's become so dependent upon our enlightening conversation and sparkling wit! hehe

Seriously, winter time is when I have the most time to be on the computer and I enjoy trading information on GH's and propagation. I wish the Canadian GW forum was busier. I've been posting here for a few years but always disappear in the summer months.

Jack, there is DG (Dave's Garden) and there is a Yahoo Greenhouse group. (Hope I don't get dinged for mentioning the others!)

My season hasn't ended. With all the plants in the GH, the winter season has just started. The challenge now is giving everything just the right amount of water. I realized today that I have some plants that like dry/dormancy planted in next to some plants that do not. In the summer I tell people "You can't overwater." In the winter that changes to, "You can't underwater."

SB

Actually, your post has caused me to pause and reflect for a moment...

When I first joined this group, there was a group of GH mavens which included Cactusfreak and orchiddude and others...I'm sure they weren't the first generation, though. Then came Weebus and his generation. Then next is was Nathan in Australia, Chris in Iowa, and Mylu. Now we have you, Jack, Greenhouser, Wyndy, Wantabe, and the current generation of GW GH posters. I know I'm forgetting many other contributors, and I apologize for any omissions. It is interesting to me how people come and go from this forum. I wonder what happens to them...do they abandon greenhouse gardening? Do they get information elsewhere? Have they learned everything they need to know? Don't they want to "give back?" Do they feel that they no longer have anything to contribute?

Hmmm.

It would appear that none of you live alone with a three legged cat.
I just got turned down for a job that any fool could do and my age was the only factor they thought about. It is against the law, but try and prove it.
The person they hired did not have a college degree, was not bi-lingual. had never lived outside the US, Had not worked with students for the last 6 years.
She was someones' cousin.

Sorry for that last post, it has no business here

Sorry you're having a tough time ole dawg. I don't mean to be flippant when you're feeling low.

Never fear though, I think we'll all be here this winter to chat greenhouses and amuse each other. My GH keeps me sane in the winter-it's a nice place to go read a book in the sun amongst all my cuttings, seedlings and blooming cacti and geraniums.
And don't give up-I finally landed a job after 8 (!) years of gender and age discrimination in the so called non-traditional (for women) workforce. I start the new job on Tues.

IÂm really sorry to hear about that too Jack. ItÂs unfair, but I hope you donÂt let it get you down. I really do believe in that corny old saying that when one door closes, another opens. Maybe you should have introduced them to Dawg; anyone who takes in a three-legged cat is OK in my book.

(Barb, I am very sorry to laugh out loud at your misfortune of having antlers fall on your head, but I did.)

I like to use winter to study plants, figuring out mystery plant Ids, and decide which ones IÂd love to find next. I also love making things with my hands (never met a craft I didnÂt like) so long winter evenings are fine with me.

I enjoy reading other forums too (you canÂt have too many smart friends.) I have wondered about some of the same things Stressbaby brings up. The forums I watch seem to ebb and flow, and folks come and go as their lives and interests change. I hate to see favorite posters leave, but the nice thing is you never know who will wander into the room next.

If I wander off from this group, I am sure it will not be because I learned all I needed to know...!

Hey there Jack,
Well, it's happened. It's 59 degrees outside - winter is here I guess. I went out today and got my little GH all suited up for winter. I put some plastic on the outside north wall and got out my little heater. Got it all set up. She's set on 60, got to keep the Phals happy.

My little dogs are running around acting like Chimpanzees, the poor little things love this cold weather.

Bummer about the job Jack, but like Sheri said - where one door closes ..........

I'll be in and out to see what's going on ....LOL........I love this forum too!!!

I've looked and didn't find any other forums for GHs. Although starting another free one is possible and takes only minutes. I found none on Usenet although there are garden groups.

I spent a few hours outside today playing in my GH. It was like a summer day out there. :) I still have loads of plants in my sun-room to play with.

You sound like a lonely person and I can relate to that. All the close friends I had here have either passed away or moved away. I'm 6 miles from the nearest town.

You can check out Match.com or lurk around your local churches or coffee shops. :)

Now wait a minute Stressbaby, I am not gone yet. I do pop in and out as things change and I have seen the same as you. Its amazing who was here before and the chats with people over the years. So many have come and gone. I think most get bored or find their answers and move on to other things they like. I am a computer junkie so I will probably be here forever. It does get old from time to time and that is when I move around busying myself with other things, places, and projects. I love the greenhouse forum and remember the good ole days when Larry and some of the others had Tomato runs etc....

I am still here watching over the greenhouse, by the way, my growing season has not ended, it has just begun!

greenhouser,
Not looking for a wife UNLESS she is rich and old. Church?
I did that once after my divorce. The women were like piranna.
No, I may see if we have a local garden club.
My problem is lack of employment and that is because of my age. Not much I can do about that.
I am trying to work as a substitute teacher, but hard to break in. Once I have been in a classroom the kids ALWAYS want me back.

1eyedJack and the Dawg

ole_dawg

I thought perhaps just companionship, not necessarily a wife.

You may contact your Dept of Agriculture about any gardening clubs in your area. Surely they would know of any.

How far have you gotten on your greenhouse?

Orchiddude, what do you mean, "yet?" I am truly glad that you are still around! We need our orchid fix every winter.

I have also enjoyed this forum and continue to learn from all of you who most generously give of your experience not to mention take your time to help....MUDHOUSE and JACK as well as others, have been so wonderfully helpful to me during my trials and tribulations on the process to get my GH together...I hope that you never think of leaving here...I'll probably post an update tomorrow about my BIG DAY today...my eyes are fuzzy now....fading fast!!

So I must agree with the others here, the season is just beginning...the season of experimenting with my new GH, what to plant, how to heat/cool/water properly/etc etc...so much to learn and now I have the whole winter ahead to play with it and see what I can do...

One of the things I intend to do this winter is organize my plant tags...yet again!
I've done it a couple times in past years but they have spilled out of the large recipe type box into a pile and also filled an old porcelain pan in the GH. I envision a couple binders, with sections for shade, sun plants, bulbs, shrubs and trees, finally stored together and kept in the GH, handy for research.

And I want to draw plans of ALL the beds, with locations of everything labelled so I don't inadvertently slice into something or forget the order of the colours in that long row of iris when I'm digging them in the off season.

LOL Stressbaby, I am not going anywhere. I always put the "yet" on there so I have a loop hole just in case I need to run. :-) As long as yall can put up with my flower pictures, I will be here. This is really a great little forum.

Ole dawg...hang in there with the subbing, it might take you a year or so to get your feet wet but the jobs will come. My wife subs full time, everyday and it started that way after about a year. You might also look for an aide position. You will get something, just hang in there.

Greenhouser,
Not far enough.
{{gwi:292035}}
Observe the superstructure
{{gwi:292036}}
And the built or overbuilt in strength.

LOL

Of course it has not been elevated to its finished height, but lack of funds cramp my building schedule.

1eyedJack and the Dawg and the GH from Hell

OD,
I will never be able to hold out that long. I have in apps for 5 other jobs up here.
3 with the county and
2 with the school system. Unfortunately I AM NOT SOMEBODYS cousin. Not in this county at least.
My last management position where I was co mananager.
go to
Peacockbassfishing.com
Amazon tours.com
That was in 1998

Hey, I think your greenhouse is looking great, Jack! It will be wonderful (and roomy) when you have it done. Hang in there!
Sheri

Sheri,
Thank you, but it is way too narrow at 6.6 Lack of planing and not know what I was doing. I should have made it 10 feet wide. Anyway, History now. 6.6 wide by 15 long by 10 high at the center of the bow.
NEXT TIME I WILL GET IT RIGHT.

1eyedJack and the Dawg

Jack, peacock bass? I was just talking to my brother about a trip last weekend! It is on my "to do" list.

Jack,

The framework of your greenhouse looks very impressive. I can't wait to see your finished product.

By the way, I have a friend here to substitute teaches at several schools to get in enough hours. Is that something you can do as well? Good luck on getting a full time job.

Tj

ole_dawg

My HFGH is only 6' wide and I have shelves on both sides, path down the middle. 6'6" by 16' is wide enough by long enough to hoard loads of plants. LOADS of them. :) You wouldn't believe how many I have stuffed into my small HFGH. Your GH is twice as long.

This winter the north wall and ceiling has foil bubble insulation.

{{gwi:308978}}

StressBaby,
They are serious fish and if you are going you had better be in good shape. Fishing for them is work. The only people to go with are Amazon Tours. They are the Caddy of the sport.
Email them and tell Phil I sent you. It is not cheap. A week long trip now cost $4950.00. But they cover everthing once your hit Brazil. It is the trip of a lifetime and you will not regret it.
I will never forget my time there. It is a special place and Phil and Ruth are true lovers of the area and the people. They have schools and clinics for the local people. They are first class people. Phil's family were missionaries/pilots in Central and South America and Phil is a true Christian.
you would have a super time, I promise

1eyedJack and the Dawg

The Season hasn't ended it has just begun, at least the 2008 season. Now is the time to get that soil tested and start fixing it up for next year. I have already hauled in one load of manure and have 5 or 6 more to go.

I still have a ways to go to finish the 10 X 12 HFGH, but it does take time to get it the way you want it, I have a LOT of plans for it. I also have at least one raised bed to build. and I still have veggies in the ground to tend to. And I just dug my peanuts, should have about 5 lbs worth.

Don't give up you can start planning your growing season next year, it only gets better every year.

Here is a link that might be useful: HFGH in Progress