Greenhouses, do you need one?


Today is a very good day. The weather is perfect but even more important than that the book I have long sought finally arrived; Masanobu Fukuoka's One Straw Revolution. This gem is one of the most important works anyone concerned about becoming self-reliant or just simply in growing healthy food could own. It is out of print. I got my copy via mail from Australia, thanks to the Internet and a fine, free service bookfinder.com. Copies are hard to come by and can be expensive, but the knowledge and awareness inside is worth the price. You may want to ask your local public library if they can get it on interlibrary loan, at least then you can read it, which is all that actually matters.

I've spoken often about climate and its impact on food security. This week we'll look at one method of reducing the weather's impact on your family's food. Greenhouses come it all shapes and sizes and where the growing season is short they can extend your season considerably. You may prefer a passive solar greenhouse that, depending upon your location, will enable you to grow herbs and vegatables year round. Or you may enjoy the benefits of having a greeenhouse attached to your home and one that can act as a sunroom as well. The attached greenhouse can increase the warmth of your home during the winter months

You can buy a prefab model, or have one installed or you can construct one yourself. There are many choices and your first step is to determine your needs, the space you have available and want to commit to this structure and how it will fit into your overall garden design. Whatever you decide the addition of a greenhouse can improve your self-reliance as it gives you a jump on the food growing season.

I have not yet, built one, but one day will. I plan to grow my tomatoes in yet from start to finish, not all of them, but about 5 plants, just to guarantee a supply. In fact, next year I'll probably install a temporary 2x4 built plastic model just for the tomatoes. You see it isn't necessary to undertake a major project in order to gain a little more growing time. So decide what you want to do and what resources you have to do before building or buying anything.

The copyright of the article Greenhouses, do you need one? in From Field To Table is owned by Bob Ewing. Permission to republish Greenhouses, do you need one? in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

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