Hello Garden Gals and Guys!!!  I am SO excited about this week’s blog post.  I have two wonderful things to share with you.

Let’s start with this:

I guess a proper introduction is needed.  Garden people, this is Bernie. Bernie, welcome to Fat Earth!  I should say that Bernie did all the hard work of tilling and framing the garden with the rocks.  
Together we planted tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, watermelon, cucumbers, cantaloupe, basil and cilantro.  This picture doesn’t do it justice…it’s a really beautiful garden.  I’ll be posting more pictures of his crop as the summer goes on.  Congratulations on a beautiful garden, Bernie!
OK. Now I know you all have been wondering what the surprise is that I mentioned a few weeks ago.  No one left comments trying to guess what it is (boo! hiss!), but I am going to tell you now.  Are you ready?  Are you sure? OK.  Well, here’s the first picture:
Can you guess what it’s going to be? Don’t scroll down yet…that’s cheating!  Here’s the next picture:
I’m sure you can probably guess by now.  Yes!  It’s a greenhouse!  Here are pictures of the rest of the build:
And here’s the finished product:
As we started to put the clear panels in, it got HOT quickly!!!  After only about twenty minutes, this is what the thermometer read:
Yes, you are reading that right: 120 degrees!!!  We started the greenhouse early on Monday (Memorial Day) when it was a balmy 80 degrees, but the day quickly heated up.  When we had to install brackets inside, we took turns going quickly in and out of the greenhouse.  And we drank water….LOTS of it!
Here’s proud (albeit sweaty and dirty) momma with her greenhouse:
I covered the floor with composted manure and sand when we first started building. As you can see, some grass has broken through.  Time for another layer of paper and compost. 
I plan to have two raised beds on either side of the greenhouse with shelves above each.  That way I can start my seedlings in March (yay! No more rotating plants under one little grow light!) and also have lettuce and herbs and maybe onions and carrots growing through the winter months!  
This greenhouse is going to greatly boost my veggie production.  I must say a HUGE THANK YOU to my mother-in-law who bought this for me!  You are so wonderful!!!
Well, that’s all for now garden gals and guys!  Until next time….
Happy gardening!!!