Nasty, cold and yet wonderful WIND!!!

High winds mean-Open it up!!!             11/23/12

 

The wind is blowing out of the west at 24-30  and gusting higher.  This is the direction that will put the most strain on the framing of the hoophouse. We have woods at the road then a straight shot up to the house. The hoophouse runs north and south and is clear of the front of the house.  It is also to the east about a hundred feet/30 meters so this west wind is hitting it hard.

By opening the window to the south and the big door into the shed (if faces north) we take most of the strain off the hoops and save not only the strain on the joints but also the plastic covering above that might rub against the kinks in the overhead hoops. 

When the weather system named Sandy was raising havoc on the east coast we had high (50 Mph plus) winds here in the ‘thumb’ of Michigan.  Those were the winds that bent a half dozen of the framing members about 10 degrees at the eastern joint.  The hoophouse probably slid over 2 or 3 inches at the top purlin.  It is waving about today but nothing structural seems to be effected. 

On a windy, cloudy day here-without the sun shining at all the hoophouse interior it is still 10 or 12 degrees Fahrenheit warmer inside than it is outside. This gives me hope for making it through the winter without any freezing inside.

The summer and fall crops-minus the carrots and broccoli, are gone including the tomato plants.  We are working on ripening the tomatoes we harvested green and will be using those until Christmas or so. Seeds are still coming in on the radishes, beans, peas and some of the lettuces and spinach which we harvest and store every couple days.

The ground has to be turned before I can go ahead and build some tables inside. I have laid out for a work area with a brace running up to the top on the southern third of the hoophouse. This seems to be the area of most vulnerability to stresses caused by the elements. The design includes tables. They will be working tables and also an inside composting area. I am trying to keep track of the temps of the soil so I can find out if I can bury a worm farm near the bench.  Electricity and water will be run to the other end with a stop at the work area.  Lights might also be in this area as it is already dark for most of the day.  We are less than a month from that turning around and I expect that about the first of February we will have to open the hh on some days to let some of the heat out!

Another project was to move some of the tools in the barn so as to have room to work on the garden tractor. I didn’t pay too much for it, however it needs a battery and a starter before it is turned loose on the snow! So it is off the landing pad and into the shed tear it apart and replace the needed items. I want to add a couple of bright lights so I can work in the dark. Might have to to make sure the drive is clear in case we would need it to get out of here!

The last project worked on today is the pump room/root cellar. This little 8×8 ft. room presently holds the pressure tank and the computer controls for the household and outside water. I think I can insulate this room, including the floor, and have a root cellar that I can easily use year around.  I will need top and bottom moveable vents and also this room will have a big 4 foot double door into the sprouting house.  Shelves and bins need to be built but this is a great winter project.

This sprouting house has the frame up already and the cover will go on about the first of the year. It will be heated- air and benches, as that is what determines the sprouting of all next year’s transplants.  I will make benches out of some of the pallets (freebies) and then put either heat tape or used waterbed heaters under some mattresses filled with water.  The water will hold the heat and transfer it upwards into the medium that the seeds will be started in.

The change of seasons has happened here and with yesterday being a record high of 63 degrees F. and today’s high being 35 or so-well, that’s is just a nose curler! However the outside water lines are drained, the summer tools are put in the barn. I have to move a bit of chips, rake on the drive to knock some of the hills and valleys out of it, and stack some of the eastern and western pallets. I am staying even although I don’t know when I’ll be able to get ahead!

I love being able to write down these ideas and observations and get feedback from all the friends on OD and also FB.  Thanks to all from South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, India, Norway and all the fine people in this hemisphere!

Be well; peace…dan

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