Category: Homesteading

Greenhouse Reinforcement

The biggest problem I’ve seen with the cheap metal frame / plastic covering high tunnel greenhouses is that water will pool up on the top, and the weight of the water will collapse the whole thing.

I’ve seen a few different approaches to preventing the plastic from forming a dish and holding gallons of water. We opted for a simpler route that has, thus far, proven effective. We bought three EMT tubes — metal tubes — to create a firmer ridge-line in the greenhouse. I had 1/2″ CPVC tubing from the low tunnel greenhouse. From being held in an arch over several seasons, it was permanently bent. We cut those tubes in half, and placed them above the ridge line tubes. The ends were then pulled under the next set of horizontal bars of the greenhouse frame. This holds them in place firmly. They prevent water from pooling — the last section of the greenhouse still does pool, so I will eventually add something else in that section. It is, however, a small enough weight that the greenhouse frame can support it.

Greenhouse Repair

Last year, we built a 26′ greenhouse in the garden. It took a few days to get everything sorted, and we tried a few different methods to adhere the thing to the ground without any stunning successes. As we disconnected our most recent attempt, our phones blared a weather alert. A severe thunderstorm was headed our way! Looking to the west, it was really close. Rain started to fall and thunder cracked. We ran inside. For the next half hour, we all stood at the front windows watching the greenhouse not budge in this storm. Until …

My lovely greenhouse went somersaulting across the yard and became impaled on a tree. We extracted it and checked it over — some bent metal tubes, a broken tube, and several holes in the cover. It was so late in the year that we decided we didn’t actually need a greenhouse for the year & left it as a project for early spring this year. We did, however, purchase a few sections of 10′ EMT last year in preparation for the repair. Well, it’s early spring!

Scott pounded the end of an EMT and bent it in the vice, then drilled it to recreate the broken bottom pole. We fastened an EMT to a few bent tubes.

He then cut a section of copper tube and cross-drilled it so it could fit across the two sides of a broken tube.

A little more bending and straightening, and we were ready to put the cover on again. This time, there are dozens of concrete blocks holding it down. It’s been up for more than 24 hours … so we’re doing better than last year! Tomorrow, we’ll move the started plants into the greenhouse.

Notes for Ohio Land Leases

OSU provides a summary of different requirements based on the term of the lease:
  • Up to 1 year –  Verbal can be enforceable
  • 1-2 years – Must be in writing and signed by both parties
  • 2-3 years- Must be in writing, signed by both parties, notarized,  and recorded in the county where the land is located
  • 3 years or more- Must be in writing, signed by both parties before two witnesses, notarized, and recorded in the county where the land is located

Legal references:

O.R.C. § 5301.08 creates an exemption for land leases under 3 years from notarization and recording requirements in O.R.C. § 5301.01

Ohio CAUV Notes

Land used exclusively for commercial agriculture can be valued, for property tax purposes, based on the gross proceeds from the agricultural use. To qualify, you need to have used the land for agricultural purposes for three years producing an average gross income of at least $2,500 (or, if you have 10+ acres, there is no income requirement).

Once you qualify, file DTE Form 109 with the county auditor. You need to re-assert the commercial agricultural use each year to continue CAUV status. If the land ceases to be used for agriculture, three years of “makeup taxes” are owed — however much you would have been taxed minus the amount actually paid.

2023 Hatch – Turkey Hatching

We’re setting up the incubator tonight to get our first dozen turkey eggs going.

I need to leave the incubator sit overnight to get the temperature and humidity regulated. Tomorrow, we’ll be putting the eggs into the incubator.

Notes:

General:

Pointy end down, may need to leave empty space between eggs so they fit

Temperature
Forced-air incubator, so set to 99.5 degrees F (monitoring for temps between 99 and 100 F)

Humidity
First 25 days, relative humidity 50-60%
Final three days, increase humidity to 65-70%

More Sprouts (and chicken chow!)

The tomato plants are starting to get big — still a few weeks before we can plant them outside, but we have plenty of healthy plants.

I had basically given up on the asparagus (they were older seeds), but I finally have five plants sprouted — this is part of my endeavor to get more plant once / harvest yearly stuff growing.  

And then there’s the chicken chow — this is Bocking 14 comfrey. It doesn’t go to seed, but provides a high-protein leafy food for chickens and turkeys.