2023-02-12: Lots of Leakage in the Greenhouse

Sunday, February 12, 2023

High: 43.0

Low: 26.0

Rain

When I checked on the greenhouse this morning everything was covered in mud. There were puddles underneath the four window vents and other parts of the ground, and water inside the panels.

So, I decided to invest in some water sealing and insulation. I picked up a bunch of supplies and was able to apply clear gorilla tape on twelve of the side panels. Six of them are still inside because it's late, but I put the other six back on the greenhouse's right side wall. I clipped them back in and added four screws, which definitely added some hardening. I think those screws will help a lot with defense against wind. I am going to apply them to every panel.

I learned about EMT conduit. It's only about $8 for 10' of it, and you can hammer the ends to create a flat angle to attach it to the frame. People do this to add more stability to the structure. So I'll grab a few of those. I think I can also screw the bottom frame piece onto the foundation in a few places.

I definitely underestimated the amount of work and extra money the greenhouse is costing.

My plan for tomorrow (which is supposed to be mostly sunny and dry) is:

- Reinstall the 6 left side wall panels, with screws

- Remove the back and front wall panels, apply sealant tape, then reinstall them with screws

- Remove the ceiling panels, apply sealant tape, then reinstall them with screws

I am going to seal off the window vents at some point in the next two days. Poor design. You have to get on a ladder to open and close them, and they don't seal well. I think I will always have leaks as long as those things are not permanently shut.

I up-potted the citrus trees (yuzu and meyer's lemon) and put them in the crawl space for now. I also up-potted tulasi devi, and gave Her bamboo stakes.

I added some cardboard to the compost bins, mixed them around, and added water.