Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: greenhouse

[Michael Barrett (mbarrett]

Local climate, and thus geographic location, and/or USDA cultivation zone have 
to be a factor on this thread.  Please include this in any responses.

Michael Barrett  
Shadowlake Village, 
Blacksburg 
in SW Virgina where the two gardens are getting attention as we approach last 
expected frost date and, according to the USDA, at 
http://www.ersys.com/usa/51/5107784/usda.htm  ,  the plant hardiness index is:  
5b-7a.  

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kay Argyle" <Kay.Argyle [at] utah.edu>
To: "Cohousing-L" <cohousing-l [at] cohousing.org>
Sent: Friday, April 10, 2009 1:23 PM
Subject: [C-L]_ greenhouse


> 
> I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has experience with a
> greenhouse, either as a community or personally. (I searched the list
> archive - nada. I'll be looking on gardening discussion boards for some of
> my questions.)
> 
> 
> 
> Our community has tossed around the question of what we can do for greater
> sustainability, and now there is an added concern about self-sufficiency in
> bad economic times. There has always been "wouldn't it be nice" talk about a
> greenhouse, but a few community members have now progressed to "we should".
> I'm not convinced this is a good, practical use of our funds, particularly
> in bad economic times, and am concerned about making sure we are realistic
> in our approach. (By the way, as one of the more serious gardeners in the
> community, I'm probably one of the people most likely to use it.)
> 
> 
> 
> Some questions to get started --
> 
> Cost, size, construction? How is it heated, vented, watered, etc.? 
> 
> What maintenance issues have you had? What cultivation issues?
> 
> Has the greenhouse made a difference in what you can grow, or how much, or
> how easily?
> 
> What have you found a greenhouse does well, and what not?
> 
> What would you do differently if you were getting one now? What
> misconceptions did actual experience with a greenhouse cure you of?
> 
> Was it a good purchase? Would you do it again? 
> 
> 
> 
> Considerations for a community garden -- 
> 
> If it is a community rather than privately owned greenhouse, how is it
> managed?
> 
> Did you have members with previous experience of greenhouses, hoop houses,
> cold frames, etc.; a lot of avid gardeners; or people with farming
> backgrounds? How important is knowledge and degree of motivation to a
> greenhouse's success?
> 
> Have people continued using it after the "new toy" aspect wore off? 
> 
> 
> 
> Any other advice?
> 
> 
> 
> Kay
> 
> Wasatch Commons
> 
> _________________________________________________________________
> Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at: 
> http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L/
> 
> 
>


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