We don’t have children because the tomatoes would get jealous.
Beth here.
At House Made, we are very protective of our tomatoes. If other vegetables encroach upon the Designated Tomato Area, they are ruthlessly chopped back, or, in extreme cases, yanked out altogether. During the summer, the dog is put on squirrel and mouse patrol to keep them out of the garden (a job she has taken to with vigor and a surprising amount of understanding). And now, due to some scrap lumber, remedial carpentry skills, and a few nice weekend afternoons, our tomatoes have some cold frames to get them off to a great start.
This is my first real building project. Usually I am the brawn and measuring behind a project and Merideth does all the cutting and putting together. This is because she has difficulty with anything approaching math, and I have difficulty with all saws outside of the reciprocating family. But for this project, I did it all as I figured straight lines weren’t imperative. While the tomatoes like to be protected from cold, they are not as concerned with aesthetics.
A key goal for me in this project was minimal storage. We have a one-car garage for storage, and Christmas takes up half of it. Now, we could cut down on the ornaments, but who’s going to tell Tiny Tim? Is it you? Later in the summer, I’m not going to want these cold frames in the garden anymore and I needed to get them out without damaging plants, so all four sides separate from one another and will be able to be stacked flat against a wall.
I used all wood from other projects around the house, only needing to buy hardware to get these up. Note my use of a gate lock to hold up the lid when I need to get to the plants. I’m especially proud of that.
My tomato seedlings ship at the end of March. I can’t wait.
jaxter said,
March 19, 2008 @ 2:09 pm
Impressive use of remnant materials! Have to love getting the scraps out of the way, and the tomatoes will be so happy.
Gene said,
March 19, 2008 @ 2:57 pm
Way to reuse! Maybe one of these years we’ll have a garden again.
Lisa said,
March 19, 2008 @ 3:51 pm
Getting rid of ornaments? Not you! That is some nice green grass in the back of the photo!
brit said,
March 19, 2008 @ 8:56 pm
nice work! I envy the tomato plants. of course I envy the sun too…
Foxcroft said,
March 20, 2008 @ 9:37 am
Cold Frames! We still have snow on the garden and that’s after 5 days of above freezing temperatures. We TALKED about starting some tomato seeds indoors this week. I am jealous.
-Mike
Beth said,
March 20, 2008 @ 10:27 am
Jaxter – And we looooove happy tomatoes!
Gene – At least there’s always the farmers’ market.
Lisa – Beautiful, lovely grass. And I love all the ornaments.
Brit – If it makes you feel any better, it was cloudy yesterday.
Foxcroft – Yes, but because we don’t get heat, we have to start tomatoes in March/April so that they fruit at the same time as the rest of the country. I’m not complaining about our temperate climate, just trying to make you feel better about snow.
Chris said,
March 31, 2008 @ 1:36 pm
you have serious love for the tomato…now can you tell how to grow grass in the shade behind my house?????
RiseyP said,
March 31, 2008 @ 3:55 pm
Anyone else notice the happy rainbow in the first photo?
Beth said,
April 1, 2008 @ 5:46 pm
Chris – Step 1: Give up. Step 2: Move to California.
Marise – I know! I put it up over the less fuzzy but rainbow-less picture option.
Margaret said,
April 8, 2008 @ 5:08 pm
First of all, the grass is gorgeous! Much better for Dixie to play on and for you
girls to lounge about on. Secondly, Beth, the cold frame is inspiring AND green.
So proud. So lots of spaghetti sauce for fall canning! I think I can arrange a
trip just after that occurs!
Fondly, Crash