Tree Brewing

The brewery craftily (see what I did there) placed a satellite mini-brew house in the path towards our favorite coffee house, so, a few mornings at eleven, we found ourselves magnetically pulled in there to replace our java.

It's a tough old life.

The fire followed us.

Yes, it's the year of the wildfire here in British Columbia and what started off on Monday afternoon as a 37 hectare fire in Kelowna, boomed into a 430 hectare fire or larger over two days. Here's a shot of the smoke from the side of Lake Okanagan.

Back

A week off the greenhouse, and a wonderful trip to Kelowna full of the usual stuff. I'll post a couple of pictures starting with the obligatory mug shot.

Put the wood in the hole

The door, the fiddlesome frame is complete, and installed. Just a couple more trim pieces to add, sanding, cleaning and a paint job to go.

Funny though, "trim" pieces tend to be 2x4's on a greenhouse project and we're at that stage where there's very little wood left, which is a good and a bad thing.

Looks like we will be able to achieve a "within budget" cost of less than $250 for the total project and in reality, when the excess spending on a couple of items is taken into account, the real cost of the completed greenhouse will be around $230.

Even More Vents

It rained yesterday, which was very welcome and today, Karen was out there painting the vents that complete the creek side of the greenhouse, one side, completely done.

I struggled today, working slowly on the door and it was frustrating for some reason and to add to that, wood was not cooperating at all, in fact, I think it was laughing at me.

Typical of any project I suppose, it's the last ten percent that becomes annoying, yet, we must press on and finish this thing, but for now we're stopping and drinking a few loaves in a can.

More Vents

Four of the vent frames have been constructed now, I make them, Karen masks and paints them.

Air quality has improved somewhat in Gibsons, but distant forest fires still are having their effect. After our greenhouse efforts yesterday we strolled up to Persephone once again and enjoyed growler hour and agreed that the weeks are flying by far too fast.

The Red Planet

The coast has an odd orange or sepia tint this morning, it is obvious that the wildfire up in Sechelt has not reduced overnight and the firefighters and water bombers will be having another busy day.

Full of muck, good muck

The first planter, stained, lined and filled.

Details

Small details, a vent with three 8x8 blocks, wood frame, metal screen. One piece, with two, maybe three more to construct.

I told you that things would take longer as we get closer to the end.

Getting Jiggy with it.

Cut door in half, remembering what Graeme Wright told me about cheap circular saws and their bias. Create a jig, with A and B surfaces. Drill holes, install dowels (expensive little buggers) and then glue and clamp.

Another example of one detail taking a bit of thinking and a fair bit of time.

One Mile.

Down Reed Road, to the right, to Stewart Road to the end and then the dirt path to the brewery, one mile on a hot day, a nice walk after a few hours work on the greenhouse.

Our reward?

Several beers during "growler hour" and some conversation with old and new friends on Canada Day.

Reason...

We all should be thinking about learning how to grow our own food, everything in the world seems to becoming more fragile, so just teaching ourselves the little things will help a little.