What Greenhouse Dreams Are Made Of

Like many Americans in the spring of 2020, Caleb found himself without a job for several months. We had questions and concerns about the future. Everything had changed so quickly. What was this new life supposed to look like? Would he to return to work? And how long would all of this last?

Despite the uncertainty, we decided that we were going to use this time for a project we had been dreaming about.

I had often wished to have a greenhouse. A place where we could start seeds, house seedlings, and extend our growing season. We both agreed that it would be a fun idea, but quickly decided it would take waaaay too long to build. There were other projects that should fill our time instead.

But that all changed on March 17th of last year. We suddenly found ourselves with more time together than we could've ever hoped for. I was shocked when Caleb mentioned that he wanted to start on the greenhouse. We began planning right away.

When we bought our farm, the previous owners left a bunch of junk behind. We found a pile of old windows laying on the floor of our chicken coop. They were covered in dust and cobwebs, but after a quick inspection, we found they were intact with no cracks. Score! We had a reason to clean out the barn AND got free windows for the greenhouse. Caleb was also lucky enough to find a cart of damaged lumber at Lowe's for half price. We were able to cut and salvage the good lumber. Let me say, it pays to be married to a carpenter!

We started by digging out the location beside our garden. Next we built a cement block foundation. Then Caleb framed up the structure and put in the windows. We added the roof and door; then started on siding. After the siding was in place, we primed it and Caleb started on the electrical work. He added a light fixture, outlets, light switches, and a fan. Next we put in a waterline and spigot. Then finally, we painted the siding in a lovely barn red to match the other outbuildings.

The project took several weeks to complete. We worked through rain, cold temperatures, and mud. To be honest, not every day was fun! Some days we thought "why are we doing this?"

During the project I was still working part-time. I couldn't wait to come home and help with the process. I was always anxious to see what Caleb had accomplished while I was gone. He often surprised me by adding special touches like window boxes and custom shelving. He even added a bar for hanging baskets that can be pulled up into the ceiling. I am still blown away by his creativity!

Tucker was with us throughout the whole process and was very cooperative when we had him pose for silly photos. Other than that, he honestly didn't contribute too much. In fact, I spent a long time cleaning red paint out of his fur and cleaning up muddy paw prints he left on the windows.

Finally we got to my favorite part of the process: decorating and moving in the plants! It was so much fun bringing this space to life. It truly is a dream come true and I am beyond thankful for what God has provided for us.

When we finally finished, Caleb suggested we name it "The Little Red Greenhouse." And so that's what we now call it.

We're still learning how to regulate temperature, control humidity , and properly care for plants throughout the colder seasons. We're by no means experts! But we're having fun figuring it out and spending time together.

We hope you enjoyed this post and are inspired to start a dream project of your own!

Thanks for reading,

Caleb, Abby, & Tucker