Posts from — March 2010

My first spring project at the new farm is putting up the greenhouse we brought from off-island, so I can go ahead and start seeding. I’m a bit behind on that front. Most local growers have at least onions and tomatoes sown and sprouted. Fortunately for me, rates of growth this early in the season are so slow that a delay of even a few weeks in march isn’t a major handicap. The business of growing in earnest doesn’t take off until the temperatures rise further and the days grow longer. These recent few days of t-shirt weather make us all feel like we’re off to the races, but there are more frosts and chills to come.

The process of dismantling the greenhouse, transporting it across the ocean, and reassembling it has been for me a giant lesson in humility. At every turn I’ve needed help, and at every turn I’ve found it. Chelsea helped me with the first step, popping the hoops out of their original foundation. We wrestled with rusty bolts and bent sheet metal, laughing and swearing the whole time. My little brother did most of the heavy lifting with me, as did my father, stooping and shuffling as we carried over two tons of timber and hoop onto the truck one day and off again the next. My mom, organizer extraordinaire, helped me cram all the containers and hoses and boxes in like jenga pieces. On the island, my friends have pitched in to frame up the sides, improvise pipe fittings, and just provide company when I’m frustrated or overwhelmed.

Thus far, I’d say we’re about halfway there. My friend Chris and I put in the ridgeline yesterday, which is a piece of metal conduit that connects all the hoops along their highest point. I’m picking up the rollup sides at griffin greenhouse tomorrow, and I will hopefully spend the weekend putting on the plastic, well within my goal of finishing the house before the end of march.

The Palmer family declares victory over the box truck.

Bakehouse Farm has arrived.

It’s been a long time coming.