I built my first bench

[just.wing.it]

Dude, hell yeah!!!

 

[parhamr]

Hope everything is moveable for the time when your own property becomes the focus of development. Your effort and planning deserves some permanence. Thanks for the behind the scenes role you played in Rendezvous.

I’m using good connectors that’ll make for a reasonable disassembly. My girlfriend and I aren’t planning to move for at least 3 years.

 

[River's Edge]

I’m using good connectors that’ll make for a reasonable disassembly. My girlfriend and I aren’t planning to move for at least 3 years.

Good to hear, life is often a process of adjustment to new opportunities.

 

[BigBen]

Another yard update! I’ve cleared and roughed out the foundation for my 8' x 16' greenhouse:

View attachment 217130

That’s 4" x 6" PT lumber.

More to come.

AWESOME!
Are you building a greenhouse or a cold frame?

 

[parhamr]

greenhouse or a cold frame?

Cold frame, really. Our winters are mild enough that I don’t need to heat it.

Though I am likely to use heating mats for root growth, so that’ll turn it into a slight greenhouse.

 

[parhamr]

Tada!


This was pretty tiring… and I still have a lot to do before it’s operational. The assembly time was about 10 hours and I had help from a friend for about 4 hours.

Next: electrical, gravel ballast, entry improvements, ventilation, shelving, temperature control, and a heat bed.

 

[River's Edge]

Tada!
View attachment 217862

This was pretty tiring… and I still have a lot to do before it’s operational. The assembly time was about 10 hours and I had help from a friend for about 4 hours.

Next: electrical, gravel ballast, entry improvements, ventilation, shelving, temperature control, and a heat bed.

Looking very nice. I have found an oscillating fan very useful in addition to ventilation. Helps keep healthy foliage in higher humidity within the greenhouse. I too use mine mostly as a cold frame with very little heat. Actually just a small one that is set to keep it just above freezing. Primary use for newly collected, recently repotted or cuttings and seedlings for the first winter.

 

[BigBen]

Yes, it sure is coming along nicely!!!
Looking forward to more updates.

I recently broke ground on my GH, as I am building my raised garden bed and utilizing some of that excavated soil.

 

[parhamr]

Two yards of 3/4" crushed and screened gravel

 

[RobertB]

Wow, what size and brand is that?

 

[parhamr]

Wow, what size and brand is that?

Palram Snap & Grow 8' x 16'

 

[atlarsenal]

@parhamr I assume the poly comes already attached to the framework?

 

[BigBen]

That's an ass-kickin' job you're doing there, Sir!!!
Well Done Bro!!!

 

[RobertB]

Palram Snap & Grow 8' x 16'

Really nice and congrats! I dont really need one in my climate but there is about 3 -5 random days a year where something like this would save my back! and its not even the bonsai, its the dam large outside tropicals and succulents.

 

[parhamr]

@parhamr I assume the poly comes already attached to the framework?

No. The polycarbonate panels slide into channels in the frame. It’s a well made kit—sophisticated but understandable.

Here are the instructions if you really want to see the details: http://www.poly-tex.com/content/pdf_files/HG8008_Manual.pdf

 

[parhamr]

My first winter heat bed is online and coming up to 74° F!


I’ve placed on it 48 Japanese Black Pine seedlings, a tray of Kishu cuttings, two Coast Live Oak, one Coastal Redwood, and one Pygmy Dwarf Cypress.



This is a 168-watt heating coil with built-in thermostat attached to the underside of a 3' x 5' frame using 1/4" hardware cloth. (The wiggles are to reduce slack.) Separating the trees from the coils is a 3" layer of pumice.

I’ll soon build two more of these beds and improve the electrical setup. It’s a GCFI circuit with 10 AWG cable, so don’t you worry

 

[cmeg1]

Nice!
Good job on them first season pines too.

 

[parhamr]

Two heat beds and a circulation fan are currently consuming just under 4 kWh each day. This should add about $0.48 to each day on my electrical bill.

 

[RobertB]

Well shoot, guess your pines are going to have a good year next year!

 

[BigBen]

Two heat beds and a circulation fan are currently consuming just under 4 kWh each day. This should add about $0.48 to each day on my electrical bill.

Excellent thread!
Being I'm in the process of building my structure (I'm still excavating approx. 1' down, by hand. I need the workouts, to keep in shape for ice hockey. LOL...).
I would like help understanding how you calculated your per day electric cost?

I just spoke with our electric company, and this time of year (10/1 - 5/31) the rep. said we pay .0711 per kWh, in addition to the "Basic Svc. Charge of .36, and I believe we are on the high side of the spectrum here on Long Island, but what-else is new... We pay through the nose for everything.
I don't think she gave me the correct info., and we don't retain our bills after we pay them.

Thanks again for sharing your Bonsai journey with us.

Ben