Saturday, December 6, 2014

Let There Be Light & the Beginning of Something

Handy Steve salvaged windows from a dumpster-destined-four-season-room and installed three so far in our green barn. He trimmed them out in salvaged barn wood and wow, the improvement is dramatic!



He is also creating us a space to propagate wildflowers illuminated by all this new light. It's brilliantly bright! The space is so enjoyable to work in and will be even more cozy once we install the salvaged wood stove sitting off in the corner. The amount of stuff available for free and in perfectly good condition is everywhere, if you just want to look. It's a fun game and so good for the planet.


We are working on organizing this space so that we can put all those pots in the boxes to use! We collected an entire bin of wildflower seeds this summer and fall that we are propagating for planting and for sale.


We want to stay away from peat since it's mined from bogs (destroys wetlands) and are giving potting soil with coir (from coconut husks) a go.


It looks like something is happening here, doesn't it? (Expect much more on that particular topic in future posts!)


Here's what is planted so far. There are many, many, many more to go. The nice thing about propagating wildflower seeds is that they are adapted to this climate and all they need is to set outside so they will stratify in their own preferred ways. A certain period of rain, freezing and thawing enables seeds to break dormancy when the conditions favor growing in the spring. Easy!


4 comments:

  1. What a wonderful place to be---I would love to be there with you. I am most alive when communing with nature. :) If I weren't married to a city boy I would be trying to do all that you are doing, along with rescuing myriad four-leggeds. :D

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    1. Hi Angie! Thanks for commenting and catching up with us. We popped over to your blog and love your communes with nature and your fantastic quilting! Have fun this December and keep those four-leggeds warm. :)

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  2. Great job on the windows!! It makes the perfect potting shed now--Salvage material is most times better quality than one can buy these days!
    I was thinking of Steve last week because I took advantage of the Black Friday special at Lowes and got an oscillating saw for 1/2 price! It is very easy to use.

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    1. Sondra - Steve got a laugh out of this one! He's glad you like your new tool. :) You are so right about the quality of salvage materials!

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