Thursday, January 2, 2014

Making a Mini Seed Starting Greenhouse Part 1 or Pride Comes Before a Fall

I really wanted to start my own seeds this year.  Once before I used heat mats and grow lights.  This worked well, but with our recent move I don't have things quite set up yet.  My dad offered to let me start my seeds in his greenhouse, but I really wanted to do this myself.  

I scored this little metal fold away shelf at a garage sale for cheap.  This way I can take it down, fold it up, and store it away in the heat of the summer.  All I needed now was the plastic to create my greenhouse!


I look sooo happy, don't I?  Maybe a skunk was passing by.   Hahaha! 

So I went and bought some thick plastic/vinyl and some grommets.  The plan was to put grommets in the plastic at intervals around the greenhouse and use zip-ties to fasten the plastic to the shelf.  Sounds like a dream, right?  Easy-peasy.  (foreshadowing....)



I *did* think far enough ahead to consider sinking the feet into the soil so the shelf won't tip over in high winds.  Therefore, I won't want to wrap the plastic around the feet.  



I was so proud of myself for thinking this far ahead.  Really, I was.  

Well.  It is true.  Pride comes before a fall.  I was about to fall, just didn't know it yet.



Happily-Happily I grommeted away.


I laid out the plastic.  Laid the shelf upon it.  Grommeted all around at the junctions where I meant to tie it off.  






You can laugh.  I know I did!


And then came the zip-ties.  In they went.  And out they went.  Nothing to grab onto.  Nothing to loop around.  They just slipped right on through the hole.  Zoop!  Zoop!  Through the hole.  



There's the fall... and I asked my husband to help me figure out what to do.  

At first I thought I could just weave some twine or rope in and out of the holes and between the metal bars.  This might have worked, but Ran suggested I use washer to back the grommets.




And it worked.

Woo-hoo!  Disaster diverted!  And here is where we come to a coffee break.  It's been a bit cold, so I decided to finish tomorrow.  Oh yeah.  Hold tight my baby seeds, your palace will be ready before you know it.  hehehe!  

Plus, my dad's seed are already sprouting in his greenhouse.  I'm so eager to get this going!

2 comments:

  1. That's a great idea, can't wait to see what you grow.

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  2. Hi! Thanks so much! And thanks for visiting my page. I'm having lots of fun looking for pictures for your scavenger hunt. So much fun!! <3

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