And a quicky update on that job. I declined. :) It'd be nice to have everything on one big parcel of land. But, since I'm blessed to have 2 chunks of land, I'll figure out a way to merge the two. And enjoy doing it, rather than working to just buy land.

I finally went and poked around the old (run down) buildings on our commercial property. Dh and I walked the property and he doesn't have any plans for this area and in fact, has decided to (privacy) fence it all off. So, I may actually start capitalizing on all of the buildings....and space. The soil is rich, rich, rich...it was an old on-site farmers market with established asparagus beds and I really don't know what else. We had A LOT of trespassers and produce thieves our first few seasons there.

Anyway, right now, my focus is on the greenhouse. It's rougher than I remembered, but I'm hopeful that I can be planting in it after Christmas.

Ok, here we go....the white house that it's attached to is vacant and another project for another day. The brick walls of the greenhouse go up to just below my shoulder. There's plastic on the inside and outside, glass in the middle. The roof, is that clear plastic rippled roofing stuff. No longer clear. It's started to break down. Not only does it have holes but it's no longer transparent.
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll121/woolfoodmama/003-4.jpg

The front door to the greenhouse. lol.
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll121/woolfoodmama/004-1.jpg

Oh, look, the plants are trying to get IN.
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll121/woolfoodmama/010-3.jpg

The planting tables...still finding life even after 5 years (or more) of no use. this is a pretty good shot of just how bad the plastic is...it was a full sun day when I took that picture. Unfortunately they didn't staple the plastic, rather it was framed right into the greenhouse. It's full of debris and old leaves. It's replacement will be the bulk of my work.
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll121/woolfoodmama/007-2.jpg

treasure that thieves didn't find...or want.
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll121/woolfoodmama/009-4.jpg

I think I'll just look for a replacement heater. Firing this up kind of scares me. I'll jerk it and take it for scrap iron I think.
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll121/woolfoodmama/008-3.jpg

There are 2 other outbuildings available to me...Currently empty. Well, the bigger one wasn't empty so I didn't go into it. something was living in it. It banged around when I opened the door, so I shut the door and added a live-trap to my list.
http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll121/woolfoodmama/006.jpg

http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll121/woolfoodmama/005-1.jpg

The wood is sound but has some funk in it. Or it could be smelly old dirt too. I'll vacate out that dirt. But bacterial or fungal wise, I wonder if I should spray down the wood. thoughts?

the floor is dirt with concrete pavers and I probably won't change that.

Wow....just wow. Too cool!!! And what a lot of work. But good, honest work.

Thanks. :) I am excited to get started...but it's just too hot yet. If i start now, I'll get frustrated.

I was just glancing back through the pictures and I think knocking back the weeds will be the worst. I think I'll wait until a good frost to do that. I hate weed wacking tall (juicy) plants like that. wet and messy. ew. I can handle dry and messy tho. :p

man, that is so incredible, Katie!

I can't wait to see the transformation of your diamond.

yea..that is amazing...a lot of work but i can't wait to see what you do.

It's definitely a big old chunk of coal right now, huh? :hahaha:

I'll try to be good about keeping a photo journal....I'll need ya all to coax me along. :) Also, I often get waist deep into a project and then think darnit, why didn't I take more "before" pictures. humph.

You could hire someone to bushhog around it fairly cheaply. It is hard to do it this time of year. Yes PLEASE photos. :)

I think I need to hire someone to bushog my backyard :rolleyes:

It's atrocious right now - and we have a party in - oh - five days???

:vent: <sigh>

Not a chunk of coal. More like - um - an antique gem that needs some new cuts and polishing :)

That is so very neat, and inspiring! What was the smaller building used for? Any ideas?

Are the asparagus beds still producing? So cool if they are.

Rhea

The beds are still producing asparagus. They're nearly 100 feet long. White and green asparagus. BUT I have to get the theft under control or they won't urvive much longer. Plus they're SO over grown. Thieves harvest all season long, not letting the plants go to seed. So every year, there's less to harvest. Or they're taking that much.

The small building was used as a hothouse for maturing plants. There are windows on the 3 sides south facing. (I couldn't get through the weeds to get photos from that side) Inside, it's insulated with cardboard which the old timer used as his gardening journal. It's really cool and I'd love to preserve it some how. scribbles like "march 1956, 48 tomato plants" all over the place.

The taller building. Not so sure. There's a ladder up to a top trap-door and a ground floor full size door. Maybe a hayloft or grainery of some sort.

This is an awesome place, Katie!!
What do you mean thieves? People or animals? If people, maybe put up a sign that says something like, " Please don't steal our asparagus, if you NEED something to eat, please ask and we will help you but please don't steal the asparagus ;)"!
What a gem indeed!! oh and the journal.. that is a gem too :).

So cool! So much history. Are you gonna maybe fence the land to prevent theft? I like the sign idea...plus, once you're there more often and keep the grass fairly low I bet theft will go down.

yeah i bet whoever is taking it thinks it has been abandoned. If they see you cleaning the beds out and actively taking care of it, you may not have much issue

mmmmm asparagus :D Asparagus, cabbage and brussell sprouts are my fav veggies-- oh and potatoes :)

Tracey, the thieves are people. Signs are a good idea.

I think I'll start with signs and if that doesn't do it, I'll stretch a fence on the east side. The other 3 sides are already covered with various obstacles.

I have to find someone with a bush-hog now..

:drop: Color me jealous! I cannot wait to see how you transform it. I can't believe you have been keeping this gem a secret!

lol. Sorry i held out on you. ;) I just couldn't deal with it until now actually. I kind of had to pretend it wasn't there.

Up until now, my children were hugely dependent...now that the youngest is closing in on 5 years old and likes working at my side instead of on my hip. This is finally a practical project, yk.

Ah, it is going to be grand. :) You guys can't/wouldn't consider moving to that land? Is it in a busy area? Will you open up a stand again? :D

Ah, it is going to be grand. :) You guys can't/wouldn't consider moving to that land? Is it in a busy area? Will you open up a stand again? :D

I would love to have that work out...live on that land. Unfortunately, the house is less than 75 feet from a state highway. It's all zoned commercial tho, because its on the highway. There isn't a suitable building site on the back 1/2 of the property because a creek actually defines our south border. It's all flood plain. It floods the banks and creeps up the "yard" by 20 feet every spring. It recedes quickly but it'd take a lot of fill to get a building permit.

Wouldn't it be fun to re-open the stand? I'll have to see how good of a gardener I can become. So far I'm failing miserably. :p