Traude Karia GH365 Eco-Greenhouse Part Six

I had a chance to visit the Traude Karia GH365 Greenhouse recently and was pleased to see that it was beginning to sprout some greenery. Traude's grandson Nathan showed me some of the initial seedlings at various stages. Although still a bit sparse, it's the start of what will be a 365 days a year process. Nathan also noted that they would begin by planting in stages to allow maturation to occur at reasonable intervals. There was a variety of tomatoes including one that was not only blossoming but also had several small green tomatoes coming along. Additionally, Traude had a range of her herbs getting started including oregano and rosemary. In that their greenhouse has a much larger growing area (18'x24') than my initial prototype (14' x 18') they will eventually be able to have a veritable bounty of fresh vegetables and herbs. Also with the 16 foot glazing span, they have the opportunity to hang baskets and troughs for additional produce taking advantage of the increased vertical space.

My own greenhouse is jam-packed at the moment with some 30 or so primarily beefsteak tomatoes in large pots just beginning to blossom as well as at least 36 or so tomato starters for sale in small 4" starter pots in about two weeks time. These are all primarily Borghese plum tomatoes. Also my wheatgrass business is booming at the moment. I grow it, harvest it at it's prime, juice it using a special electric juicer with a wheatgrass auger, pour it into 1 oz. lidded cups and freeze it. My customers are primarily nutrition centres and health (organic) food outlets. Further to that I have plenty of tender Buttercrunch lettuce and spinach for salads, broccoli and green peppers just either germinating or as small sprouts as well as herbs such as parsley, oregano, rosemary and sage.

Traude Karia GH365 Eco-Greenhouse - Part Five

Traude's GH365 greenhouse is now ready for planting. The circulation pumps have been installed and the circulation systems have been tested. The planter tables are 'good to go' with the sand, root-zone tubing, landscape fabric etc. installed.

This has been a warmer than usual winter, however, as I can attest with the continuing operation of my original prototype, it has nonetheless been a bit of a challenge. We have had much less full sunny days than normal. As I've often said, as far as the greenhouse is concerned, I'd prefer 25 below celsius and sunny to 15 below and cloudy.

The January issue of 'Northern Ontario Business' has a feature 'Green Report" article on my GH365 greenhouse project on pages 31 and 32. Check it out. I've had several calls and a number of emails as a result of the article written by Ian Ross when he visited me back in October. Rick Prior of the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre brought my project to his attention.

Stay tuned for the last 'blog' posting on Traude's greenhouse when I will also post photos of a generous flourish of green, which of course was the object of the exercise.

Traude Karia's GH365 Eco-Greenhouse - Part Four

Despite a few delays waiting for electrical inspections and such, we are now nearing the final stages of installations. The electrical and most of the plumbing components are completed. We are now preparing to install planter tables with the root-zone heat tubing. Once these are in place, the heat-retention wall, radiant floor and root-zone tubing will be connected to the pumps and other heated water circulation components.

The first full test is always a bit intense. A GH365 greenhouse is much like a living organism. All the systems must function smoothly and be compatible. We have been creating a unique facility i.e. one that allows living plants to grow and flourish whether it's frosty white with snow outside or scorching under the heat of the summer sun.

Soon the lighting fixtures, ceiling fans and other finishing touches will be in place. Then for Traude, her grandson Nathan and his wife Susan, the fun begins. Growing things!

Traude Karia's GH365 Eco-Greenhouse - Part Three

As we come to the end of September, I reflect on what is my favourite season, which doesn't come every year. And that is "Indian Summer". It always seems a blessing to have summer extend into autumn. For Traude Karia's greenhouse project it has also been a blessing. I think we may have lost no more than a half hour due to inclement weather. So we've made excellent progress. In fact we have now completed the solar system installation (solar collectors on the roof, solar thermal hot water tank and the connections thereof) as well as most of the electrical wiring including the panel box.

As the inevitable colder weather begins to arrive, a third blessing, which a GH365 greenhouse provides, is the ability to continue growing greens, including 'green medicines' in Traude's case, for the benefit of all. It's truly like having "Indian Summer" all year round. Wonderful!!

Traude Karia's GH365 Eco-Greenhouse - Part Two

Pete Silvaggio of Precision Millwork and his crew have been working hard and the project is progressing well. The structure has been cladded, the roof shingled and the south glazing (16 mm polycarbonate) was installed yesterday.

I must say, with the sweeping 16 foot vertical span, the building looks magnificent. I think some bypassers must have thought we were building a church. In a way we are. As Traude said, it will be a "Temple of Greenery".

Soon we begin the solar, electrical and plumbing components installation. I'll keep you posted.

Traude Karia's GH365 Eco-Greenhouse

Green Growers Maxim #6 -- Everyone likes to be touched with affection---even Mother Earth.

We have begun construction of the next GH365 Greenhouse --

Traude Karia's GH365 Eco-Greenhouse.

A word about Traude Wedding. She is a lady full of energy and life, seemingly ageless. Traude is also a specialist in "green medicine" i.e. alternate remedies through the judicious use of often common plants and herbs. So for her, a year-round greenhouse makes a lot of sense.

At this point, the site has been levelled and prepared with a solid gravel base; the continuous concrete footings have been poured; framing has been started; the north heat retention wall is nearing completion and the roof joists are in place.

Traude's greenhouse will be larger than my original prototype at 26 ft. x 26 ft. and a south glazing vertical span of 16 ft. It will look quite magnificent and will incorporate several improvements. As an example, the heat exchange unit, hot water tank and other mechanical, plumbing and electrical components will be in the preparation room allowing more growing space. The solar collectors will stand more upright at 18 degrees off vertical to be more effective during the coldest months and to shed snow better. The 16 ft. glazing span allows for a much larger greenhouse (growing) area of 26 ft. x 18 ft.

I will keep you posted on a regular basis as Traude's GH365 Eco-Greenhouse takes shape.

Spring Thaw

Green Growers Maxim #5

'The month of May is when you win or lose your war on weeds'.

The winter of 2010/'11, has been a challenging one up here in Northwestern Ontario for a year-round greenhouse due to the inordinate amount of overcast weather. Last winter had an overabundance of sunshine and was reasonable short. This winter was the opposite. And yet, even with the electric back-up shut off, my GH365 greenhouse performed quite well. Certainly the tomatoes weren't as vibrant as last winter but they survived and I picked fresh tomatoes until a couple of weeks ago. At that point, the older ones were simply not productive enough and had to be replaced with new seedlings for a more efficient use of space. Now I have about 80 to 90 tomato plants coming along from about 3" to 8" in height and all looking very healthy. There is a mix of sub-arctic plenty, beefmaster and sweetie cherry.

The best performers were the broccoli, lettuce, spanish onions, parsley and wheatgrass. Basil has only now in the last month or so begun to show vigorous growth. Marjoram, Rosemary and Oregano in 9" pots, brought in from outside in September, continue to do just fine.

As a small diversion from updates on greenhouse activity, I thought that since today, April 13, '11 marks the fourth year since I returned to my homestead from Southern Ontario, I'd show and tell you a bit about the setting here. My newly renovated log house is set on 160 acres which is about 50/50 fields and boreal forest. Additionally, through a deep gorge that cuts into that forest flows the Whitefish River through my property. And I'm fortunate in having one of the most beautiful sections of the river with a series of spectacular waterfalls only a 15 minute walk from the house and greenhouse. I took that walk today and have posted a photo of my house and the South Cascades.