To continue our heat duct tunnel report from February 15th: The forms were removed after the recent large pour. Workshop participant Cara Pirello and construction crew member Jeff Buderer transport the wood panels from the project site.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
A wider view shows the concrete of the outer wall after form removal and workshop participant Kirsten Lynge assisting with the project.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
The interior walls of the tunnel were painted black with a concrete pigment. This will help to generate heat after the tunnel roof is enclosed with a membrane. Pictured here are Dave Tollas and Cara working to complete the painting.
[photo & text: Colleen Reckow]
Now, the heat duct tunnel interior walls are black. The floor painting is in progress and will be finished in the near future. Another upcoming construction step is to insulate the left wall pictured and backfill to help prevent heat loss.
[photo & text: Colleen Reckow]
Posted by sue on March 10, 2010 4:20:10 PM MST
The greenhouse report continues from Monday: the first crops were planted yesterday!In this view, Nadia Begin inspects the recently installed membrane from the greenhouse interior. Three planter boxes are prepared currently. A fourth planting area will be constructed at the ground level on the far left.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
With the seeds and seedlings spread out and a plan drawn up, the planting team, lead by Bambú Ransom, got dirty. Our soil is comprised of: one part silt, two parts compost, with added peat moss in the top layer.
[photo & text: Colleen Reckow]
Workshop participants Cara Pirello, Astrid Sonne, Daniel Reiff, and Kirsten Lynge planted the chard and lettuce area with a rotation for timed harvest in mind.Jeff Buderer planted dill seeds among strawberry seedlings.
[photo & text: Colleen Reckow]
In the future crop are cucumbers, carrots, summer squash, and more. Tomatoes were planted with marigolds to help prevent leafhoppers and borage to stop tomato worm. Many small loquat trees are currently stored in the greenhouse, but will be soon planted around site.
[photo & text: Colleen Reckow]
Posted by sue on March 3, 2010 9:31:41 AM MST
Since our last report on February 22, our new greenhouse was prepared for planting. In just the past week, the planter boxes were finished, the soil mixed, and the membrane installed.After installing one end panel of the membrane, the construction team carried the next panel into position. Planter box work continued as well.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
The membrane, in specific, is a Polymax 5.2 oz clear woven greenhouse covering with added UV inhibitors. The end panels feature zippered openings for access.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
The frame required a few final touches before full enclosure and the third planter box is almost complete in this photo.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Last Thursday, the largest section of the membrane was installed. Here the team (front to back: Nadia Begin, Cara Pirello, Jeff Buderer, Astrid Sonne, and Kirsten Lynge) unrolls and secures the membrane.Workshop participants Kirsten Lynge and Otto Vervaet secure one corner. In the future, these long sides will roll up to allow for passive ventilation.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Now the greenhouse is prepared for the 2010 growing season. On Wednesday, we will continue our report on the greenhouse and details about our first crops.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Posted by sue on March 1, 2010 3:31:12 PM MST
Continuing our report on the greenhouse construction: A lot of progress has been made since our last report in December, with the help of the new workshop and construction team.The frame is entirely in place, as shown in this first photo.
Next, work began on the large planter boxes.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Leaving only one end of each planter box open, the team can easily fill the boxes with wheelbarrows. They are transferring aggregate, soil, and compost from the truck to the planters.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Pictured here is a closer view of that process as well as the workshop members involved.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Aggregate was collected near the greenhouse to line the bottom for drainage.Processed compost was sifted and collected from the agriculture department.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
The compost will be mixed with soil and added to the planters in preparation for growing food in the greenhouse. But first, the boxes were lined with plastic. In the near future we will report on the greenhouse membrane installation and further progress.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: Colleen Reckow]
Posted by sue on February 22, 2010 11:39:03 AM MST
After meticulous preparation, the pour of the heat-duct tunnel walls and the last section of the tunnel roof, happened on Thursday, February 11. 2010. The concrete was ordered from off-site, also a pump truck with a very long hose to access the lowest section of the forms first.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: sue]
Concrete was poured into the sloping form on the west side of the tunnel about half-way up, then the east side about half-way up ...
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: sue]
... then the upper half of the west-side, followed by the upper half of the east side of the tunnel wall forms.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: sue]
The pour of both walls are completed and now the last section of the tunnel roof is poured. Here we see new workshop participant Ikue Saitou helping to finish the surface of the roof slab.
We will continue this report with the removal of the tunnel wall forms.
[photo: Chihiro Saito & text: sue]
Posted by sue on February 15, 2010 10:24:36 AM MST