Fran's Farm Journal : The latest project

A Porch Greenhouse :
Last year I tried to make a Greenhouse from heavy plastic and saplings. The wind blew it to pieces. I tried to figure out how I could have a place to keep my plants in the Winter. The cats like to eat them in here. Some plants could make them sick or even kill them. I have been looking at the porch with renew interest . Windows on the North, East, and South sides and the west side is up against my old mobile home . This might work. What would need to be done to keep plants happy and thriving? I don't want them to freeze. First the little bit of clutter need to come off . Also that old refrigerator. I advertised it on Freecycle locally and had people tell me they want it . When I reply they don't answer back. I don't understand the mindset of people like that .
Once the porch is cleaned off, swept and mopped, I can go to work on forming it into a nice greenhouse. I believe the walls are insulated but the floor is not . Therefore I posted a Wanted ad on Freecycle for an area rug to keep the floor less cold . I think I will put plastic on the outside of the windows instead of inside because I am putting up 3 shelves on those 3 sides with brackets . The bottom shelf will be the widest. Sunlight will reach all the plants from early morning until about 2 or 3 when the sun is no longer on that side of the trailer. The door needs a doorknob and lock . The door that goes into the trailer is okay and fits tightly. However, I need to figure out a form of heating without using too much electricity. There is a ceiling light but it is fluorescent and does not give much heat . There is an electric outlet where I could plug in a lamp at night just to keep the room from getting below freezing. Perhaps gallon jugs with hot water in it at night, and use the water to water the plants the next day ? I have an electric heater if we should have terribly cold nights . They won't last long, here in WNC though . I thought about leaving the trailer door opened and letting the heat from inside go out there . But, I would need a new screen door. One with a barrier to keep the cats from climbing up and taring the screen like they have this old wooden screen door. AJ only has 3 legs but he can climb it pretty fast. There he hangs by his front claw until I either back up to him and he climbs on my shoulders or I just take him down and hug him. Several of the cats know how to open the screen door. Pumpkin , the big yellow tabby, will sit on his haunches and balance himself, and with his front paws will open the door for me, especially if I have my hands full . I say : " Thank you Pump." and he goes away happy . Around the bottom outside of the porch is heavy black plastic . I think I will secure that, and then make an area about 8 inches from it . Using boards or even a roll of felt paper nailed to posts , or some old chicken wire I have around here . I can fill the space between with leaves. There are lots of leaves still on the lawn . That too will help keep the floor warmer. Once all the shelves and plastic, and everything else is in place, I can bring out the plants. I like to start new plants from slips (cloning) and also from seeds . On the back wall will also be shelves or book cases and these will be for my gardening books and magazines or more plants, or even for things to sell . I hope to have enough plants to sell and pay for the door knob, plastic for windows, felt paper and new screen door. My son may buy the screen door , as he's remodeling my home . I will keep you posted on how this project comes along . Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks from Fran's Farm .

Fran's Farm

Self-sufficiency farming on a small scale . Expert advise on gardening, raising chickens for eggs, goats, preserving the produce and much more. If you have a question about small farming, ask and I will do my best to help you with the answer . Got a problem on your little farm? Let's see if we can solve it . Do you need to link up with groups specializing in an aspect of your farm that you are really interested in expanding your knowledge and outlook we'll help you search . Wildlife, wild plants, herbs, survival in emergency situations , and many more related items. In the home, using natural products to clean. Cooking healthy . Vegetarian cooking . Canning, etc; Making do around the farm with what you have, also called, Yankee Ingenuity . And, interesting ways to make a little cash . Watch this website grow with all kinds of knowledge you can use on your farm . Thanks for checking us out . I will keep this updated at regular intervals. Please check back. Fran