tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53465492904709602182024-03-19T03:00:24.568-07:00A Place to Grow by Dana O'BrienA place to grow plants,
A place to grow spiritually,
A place to grow children...
Building community one shed at a time. A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-73995744154252176432017-01-19T15:30:00.000-08:002017-01-19T15:30:59.763-08:00Find That Sacred Space, and Find a Friend<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpdBU_U8pIYDXXAkYAKpiIsdDp8zut9_fHB7FGyIJb0Zh-4QUPRGjd0ZRGiWNQS55nNl2y8xSLxNzqxaq2mCm2VN0P59v40eecI2k82uC083z7ZRweV2RAmcrnx2napzgcOmdjPbkCPk/s1600/Recycled_Greenhouses_She_Sheds_20160301_008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLpdBU_U8pIYDXXAkYAKpiIsdDp8zut9_fHB7FGyIJb0Zh-4QUPRGjd0ZRGiWNQS55nNl2y8xSLxNzqxaq2mCm2VN0P59v40eecI2k82uC083z7ZRweV2RAmcrnx2napzgcOmdjPbkCPk/s320/Recycled_Greenhouses_She_Sheds_20160301_008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">As more and more women are recognize that they need that sacred,
quiet space to retreat to in order to shed the stresses of the day, the she
shed movement is growing ever more popular. Where men have their “man cave”
filled with televisions, stereos and video games, women are using their sheds
as places to create art, meditate or even to just unwind and take a nap. In
this ever increasing busy world we live in, it’s more important than ever to have
a place to retreat to handle life’s daily </span><span style="font-size: 18px;">stress</span><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Author Erika Kotite recently published the book "She Sheds, A
Room of Your Own," talking about this growing movement. A Place to Grow
was lucky enough to be featured and Erika even put one of our She Sheds on the
cover. Creating lifestyle spaces that make a difference in people’s lives is
what we specialize in and we are so grateful for Erika’s work. She did a
beautiful job of showcasing several of our other sheds and we are honored to be
chosen for her book! Feel free to pick up a copy here <a href="https://www.amazon.com/She-Sheds-Room-Your-Own/dp/1591866774">She Sheds, A Room of Your Own</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">One of the cool features of the outdoor lifestyle structures we
produce is each of our sheds is unique to each customer because of the
materials used to build them. We are passionate about re purposing construction
waste and turning it into and functionally artistic lifestyle spaces. Finding
unique materials such as vintage windows and doors and bringing them together
with reclaimed wood and corrugated metal is truly a passion of ours. We even
have a huge inventory for our clients to choose from. It’s really fun to wander
through our showroom and pick and choose which windows and doors represent your
vision. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">We truly enjoy co-creating these spaces with our clients, and are
grateful that through the process of developing something custom and intimate
just for them, they become our friends too.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">I look forward to
sharing more with you soon.</span><br />
Dana O'Brien<br />
www.RecycledGreenhouses.com<br />
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<br />A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-6097193732202452582015-04-22T22:00:00.001-07:002015-04-22T22:00:44.326-07:00Earth Day holds a special place in my heart...as it truly is a time to celebrate our earth and all she gives us! Each year on April 22 we get to celebrate through events that are held worldwide demonstrating support for environmental protection.<br />
Earth Day was first celebrated in 1970, dating back to 1969 when peace activist John McConnell proposed a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace. This was followed a month later by a separate Earth Day that was founded by Gaylord Nelson, a United States Senator, as an environmental teaching event first held on April 22, 1970. Nelson was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom Award in recognition of his work.<sup> </sup>Earth Day went international in 1990 and organized events in 141 nations. Currently events are held in more than 192 countries worldwide. Numerous communities celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of activities focused on environmental issues.<br />
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My personal belief is that we all need to honor, care for and connect with our Earth. It seems that there is a movement to make this a priority with several children's grassroots organizations sprouting up (pun intended) such as the <a href="http://www.outsidenow.org/">Outside Now School</a> that we recently donated a reclaimed wood potting table to. Their story is that a little village of families wanted to create a different way of educating their children, a way that immersed them in the natural world as a source of learning, in a way that a child's natural curiosity is extended with questions that guide them, a place where people of all ages pass forward their stories and talents.<br />
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Another children's organization that has a similar philosophy is <a href="http://wellspringchildrenscenter.org/">Wellspring Children's Center</a> where they have a garden and farm for their pre-school children that features a full garden with live chickens and rabbits, a painting studio, a Dress-up room, and group and individual reading nooks. The students have freedom to explore, question, and discover at their own pace, under the guidance of qualified, experienced teachers. Christian teaching, nutritious, mostly organic meals, and family-centered activities help foster healthy children with strong family bonds and values. “I believe every child is born with a Divine spark. Our job is to provide the environment for that spark to become a full blown fire. We consider it a privilege to partner with parents as they seek the very best for their children, and equip them to face life’s challenges.”– Susan Crook Wellspring Director.<br />
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The children getting the benefit of participating in the growing of the organic foods that they harvest and subsequently eat is powerful in many ways. I recently took a tour of their gardens and was delighted to see hay bale gardens, something I had not seen before. The garden/farm is a magical place for children to grow and learn. After watching my children grow up while attending much more structured public schools, it makes me wish that this movement had been happening then. While we have always had a garden at home while our children were growing up, it would have been a wonderful reinforcement to have had a garden/farm program for them to learn and grow in!<br />
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Enough looking back, looking forward at this next generation of young children that are learning to care for our Earth that will then grow into adult stewards of our precious Earth, now that makes my heart happy!<br />
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Happy Earth Day from me to you.....<br />
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Dana O'Brien<br />
Owner, A Place to Grow<br />
<a href="http://www.recycledgreenhouses.com/">www.RecycledGreenhouses.com</a><br />
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<br />A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-82451381083200004742013-11-22T17:29:00.000-08:002013-11-22T17:29:48.646-08:00Gardening is on the rise...with the local food movement growing. But gardening can have more of an impact on those who practice it than just the harvest at the end of the season. Most who garden, will express a deep connection with the earth. They are drawn to gardening because tending to the soil is calming, because feeling the earth in your hands is playful, and this type of "work" can replace an aspect that is missing in our technological lives today. As James Jiler, the founder and executive director of Urban GreenWorks says, gardening "allows people to connect to this primal state". Gardeners of all ages and backgrounds can tell you this pastime creates a beautiful connection with our Earth!<br />
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Besides this relationship, there are many other benefits to gardening that seem to be a little more tangible. Gardening has been found to reduce stress, even better than other leisure activities in many studies (CNN Health). It provides an outlet and allows our mind to wander in "effortless attention" rather than being pulled in a million ways at once. This aspect has been tied to relieving symptoms of depression and other mood disorders. As you might have guessed, gardening is also a form of exercise. It gets your blood flowing and you could even work up a sweat! You also have the added bonus of being outdoors in the sunshine which is always a mood booster. <br />
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Finally, it comes full circle. As gardening allows us to connect to our Earth it allows us to build a strong connection with the food we eat. "When you commit time, effort and money to caring for your plants, you naturally feel a stronger connection to the food they produce than something you just plucked off a grocery store shelf" says Mary Mazzoni, Assistant Editor of Earth911. This goes a long way to improving our nutritional values and our everyday food choices. Not to mention the fruits and veggies that will grow in a home garden will often taste better and be packed with more vitamins than those from the store. <br />
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Gardening is an all around good! It gets us in touch with our Earth and lets us enjoy the fruits- and veggies- of our labor, while promoting a healthy lifestyle.<br />
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Here's to wishing you a happy harvest and the motivation to get out and garden!A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-34966829953396255482013-11-12T19:27:00.000-08:002013-11-12T19:27:10.659-08:00Reduce, Reuse, Recycle... the "3 R's" of going green. At A Place to Grow we focus heavily on the <u>reuse</u> part of that saying. By finding a way to re-purpose materials from other buildings, houses, or commercial stuctures is a great way to lessen our environmental impact and add a special touch to the structure being built. <br />
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A large part of our recycled greenhouses is the wood we use to construct them. In our case we have chosen to "reuse" and build the greenhouses from reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood is a great option and even better, allows us to stay true to our pledge of sustainability. So what exactly is reclaimed wood? It is any processed wood that is taken from its original implementation and used for some other purpose. This is where our job gets interesting. We search for pieces of barns, warehouses, or our special favorite, wine flavor sticks in an effort to build our greenhouses! <br />
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There are many advantages to using reclaimed wood. First and foremost, it lessens our negative environmental impact. This is achieved because it lessens the demand for new lumber, slowing deforestation. It decreases the amount of material sent to the landfill and there is less energy used to create new supplies. Secondly, reclaimed wood is usually harder and better quality because it has been harvested from an old growth forest instead of young trees. This aspect is great for building because it results in strong, reliable structures. Thirdly, is the look. Reclaimed wood normally has a worn, antique look to it that is very hard to come by with new lumber. This appearance allows for a very unique creation with each added piece. Finally, reclaimed lumber can come with a special story attached. Whether it came from an old ship yard, a family home, or a winery the story passed along with the material gives it character that you cannot come by any other way. <br />
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Reclaimed wood is an easy and fun way to build sustainably, and we can't wait to hear more of the stories that these pieces tell!<br />
<br />A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-85825502361525691182013-11-07T15:52:00.000-08:002013-11-07T15:52:36.752-08:00This year...as we rush toward the holidays, the time seems to be going faster than ever. There is the overwhelming feeling of constantly having to play catch up just to stay in the same place! It can be exhausting! In the midst of all this hustle and bustle at the start of this November, I was struck by just how important it is be full of thanks. All too often, Thanksgiving day only serves a small reminder once a year for us to remember what we're grateful for, when really is it so important to remember how much we have everyday!<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Author Melody Beattie sums it up perfectly, "Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow." </span><br />
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This has inspired me, as I hope it will you to move forward <em>practicing gratitude. </em>Practicing gratitude, while seemingly tedious at first, has been found by multiple studies to be linked with more creativity, a healthier immune system, and even a stronger heart! It can strengthen your relationships with spouses, family and friends. Practicing gratitude can bring focus onto priorities and help you thrive. <br />
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Even though it may seem like this week has been particularly hard, or you are not where you want to be, or that no one else could possibly have it worse than you do, it is important to stay grateful. Because whether it is as big as the new job offer you just received or simply the fact you were able to get out of bed this morning, everyone can benefit from practicing gratitude everyday. <br />
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<em>A Place to Grow</em> is thankful for our opportunity to offer our services to the community while learning and sharing these experiences with everyone we meet! What are you thankful for?A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-3230887253239702852013-11-05T15:00:00.000-08:002013-11-05T15:00:40.718-08:00Fall is upon us...you can feel it in the air! This year it seemed that summer kept us bathed in sunshiney warmth until late October, but with daylight savings time rearing its head, the chill and the colder temperatures are back. However, as it turns out, fall and winter are excellent times to begin a flourishing vegetable garden! <br />
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Fall and winter gardening is an easy and productive way to replace essential nutrients that have been used up in the soil. And of course in a few months you'll have your hands on some delicious vegetables! So what are the best crops to plant this time of year? <br />
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Early Maturing Crops: (Mature after about 30 days)<br />
-Broccoli, Mustard, Spinach, Leaf Lettuce, Chives, Radishes<br />
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Mid Season Crops: (Mature after about 60 days)<br />
- Leeks, Turnip, Winter Cauliflower, Perennial Flowers and Herbs<br />
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Late Maturing Crops:(Mature after about 90 days)<br />
-Carrots, Parsnip, Rutabaga, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbages<br />
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Listed here are just a few examples, but there are many vegetables that thrive during this season!<br />
A key to the success of your fall/winter garden is to plant at a time when the roots can become established before an intense frost can occur. This can vary greatly, depending on where you live or even year to year. <br />
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There is no time better than the present to begin your fall and winter vegetable garden. Not only does this technique benefit the soil, it allows for color and diversity in your garden. As Robert Frost puts it simply, in his poem Blueberries, "Who cares what they say? It's a nice way to live, just taking what nature is willing to give"<br />
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Happy growing!A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-52574072994110210692013-10-31T15:02:00.000-07:002013-10-31T15:14:40.838-07:00Blending Together Ideas...Is something we try to do often at A Place to Grow. It seems that everyone has something beneficial to offer! So today, in honor of <span style="color: orange; font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">Halloween</span> and the blending of ideas, I thought I would share one of my favorite fall crafts. The Succulent Pumpkin Planter! A perfect blend of the Central Coasts love for succulents and this season's symbol, the pumpkin. Though today is Halloween, don't worry, these decorative planters are the perfect accent for all of autumn or even year round. <br />
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In order to create this fun and easy twist on the typical Jack O' Lantern, here is what you will need:<br />
<ul>
<li>A Pumpkin- Mix it up! Any shape, size, or color will work. </li>
<li>Serrated knife and scooping spoon</li>
<li>Potting soil</li>
<li>A variety of succulents</li>
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The process is pretty simple. First, cut a circle around the stem of the pumpkin (as you would a normal Jack O' Lantern). Remove the lid you have just created and begin scooping out all the seeds and gooey pumpkin insides. Then fill the inside half way up with soil and place in the desired succulent. Fill in the empty space inside the pumpkin with more soil, if needed. You're done, your very own Succulent Pumpkin Planter!<br />
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Enjoy spending time with your family and friends as we head into the thick of the holiday season, and remember use it as a chance to get creative with all you grow in your garden!<br />
<br />A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-82155479331618611132013-10-29T12:48:00.000-07:002013-10-29T12:49:23.843-07:00Creating Sacred Spaces...is one of the things I enjoy the most about our unique outdoor structures. We recently installed a greenhouse in Paso Robles and the new owner asked politely if we would mind "participating in a blessing of the greenhouse". Of course we would love to, what better way to learn and grow with our community?<br />
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We began by forming a circle, holding a candle. The color of the candle was pink, a representation of Tibetan Pink Quartz which signifies peace, joy, intuition and protection. We lit the candle and passed it person to person while reading the following blessing prayer "To the divine spirit, in lighting this candle we summon love, harmony, peace and prosperity into this house. May we be blessed with good health, happiness, success and abundance. May those that visit feel peace and love. We decree that this house be shielded from harm, illness and misfortune. Thank you for bringing light, love and energy into our hearts, this room and our endeavors. With tremendous gratitude, we thank you." We then let the candle burn for one hour in the structure.<br />
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It is these moments that continue to remind me of why I chose this path. Each and everyone of us has a sacred place, a place that is highly valued, important, or greatly respected. Whether it be the end of a hiking trail, the dinner table, a sun-drenched shore, or in this case a newly created greenhouse. It is place we can be satisfied and peaceful just being. The idea of sacred spaces reminds me of a quote by John Muir, a well-known naturalist, he says "Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in where nature may heal and give strength to the body and soul". We agree, and could not be happier that we at A Place to Grow have a hand in creating those sacred spaces.<br />
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We look forward to sharing and creating sacred spaces with you all!A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-25568995901510158032013-09-05T09:21:00.000-07:002013-09-05T09:21:00.096-07:00A Leap of Faith...is what I did last month when I left my government job of 23 years and transitioned into A Place to Grow, Recycled Greenhouses! I have been in turn exhilarated, blissful, terrified, panicked and completely happy since I took the leap!!<br />
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Leaps of faith are just that, you leap and trust that your faith in what you are doing will carry you safely across the bridge to the other side. Wikipedia defines it this way "A <b>leap of faith</b>, in its most commonly used meaning, is the act of believing in or accepting something intangible or unprovable, or without empirical evidence."<br />
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My leap of faith was that as I chose to pursue something that means more to me on a deeper level and that benefits others in the process. It fulfills me at a soul level to help others create their places to grow. I look forward to throwing myself completely into this next phase of my life! In the meantime if you feel compelled, please visit the following link to cast your vote for A Place to Grow, Recycled Greenhouses as we have entered in the Martha Stewart American Made Contest that recognizes businesses across America that are finding innovative ways to do business!<br />
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<a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/americanmade/nominee/80173#">http://www.marthastewart.com/americanmade/nominee/80173#</a><br />
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I look forward to having the time to share my passion for gardening and sacred spaces with you!<br />
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Thank you!<br />
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Dana O'Brien<br />
Owner<br />
A Place to Grow, Recycled Greenhouses<br />
<a href="http://www.recycledgreenhouses.com/">www.RecycledGreenhouses.com</a><br />
Dana@RecycledGreenhouses.comA Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-72263718296094391522013-06-12T22:13:00.001-07:002013-06-12T22:13:40.557-07:00As Summer Solstice is rapidly approaching...it makes me yearn for those long, lazy days of summer spent in my garden and reading good books! The reality is that my garden takes a lot of my time and attention and is completely worth it!! I will be planting my pumpkin seeds soon so that I have pumpkins by Halloween!<br />
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As the end of the month approaches we are installing one of our glass houses at a home in Cambria that she will use as an outdoor room for relaxation. The structure has such a great feel to it, I will be sharing photos of it next week after we install it.<br />
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We are moving our business later this month to a facility that has a reclaimed wood business that we will be able to collaborate with! So many positive and exciting changes going on right now!<br />
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Happy Summer Solstice to you all.....<br />
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Dana O'Brien<br />
Owner<br />
A Place to Grow<br />
www.recycledgreenhouses.com<br />
805 704-1155A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-28631897020229256302013-04-28T20:34:00.001-07:002013-04-28T20:54:50.123-07:00I am happy to say.......that we installed our creative outdoor structure at <a href="http://www.sagelandscapes.net/">Sage Ecological Landscapes & Nursery</a> in Los Osos, California to be used as a cut flower kiosk!!<br />
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This unique structure was built out of predominantly re purposed materials that were collected from throughout the Central Coast of California! The following is a list of the materials and where they came from:<br />
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The back wall and side windows/doors came from a house in
SLO that was designed and built by a Cal Poly Architecture graduate in the
1960’s and are made of redwood. They are one of a kind.</div>
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The French doors came from Solvang and the front windows
from a cabin in San Miguel. The corrugated metal on the roof came from an old
farmhouse in Nipomo. The redwood siding is old growth redwood murch from a
garden retaining wall in Atascadero. The fence
boards are from a house in SLO.</div>
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We have taken all of these unique materials and re purposed
them into this functional artistic flower kiosk for Sage!</div>
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Stop by and check it out, it is truely an example of functional art!!</div>
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Happy growing!</div>
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Dana O'Brien</div>
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A Place to Grow</div>
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www.recycledgreenhouses.com</div>
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805 704-1155 </div>
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<br />A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-22454343200310096412013-03-31T21:26:00.002-07:002013-03-31T21:26:26.493-07:00Easter marks the time for me to look forward to...getting my raised beds ready for the spring planting of all things salsa- tomatoes, cilantro, onions, jalapenos you get the picture!<br />
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In order to get my beds ready for planting I have a little work to do. First I need to wait until my soil is no longer soggy then pull out any weeds that have grown over the winter as I let my beds rest. While the beds were resting, I have added a 1/2" or so of compost and raked it into the top 2' of soil.. I then aerate with a garden fork Assuming my compost has the right amounts of green-nitrogen rich grass clippings, vegetable and fruit rinds from the kitchen versus carbon-rich brown materials such as leaves from the yard, dead flowers from the garden and shredded newspapers, then the ph should be pretty neutral. You can always test your soil to make sure you have a neutral ph before you plant.A trick when adding fall leaves to your compost is to rake them up, put them in a large plastic trash can and weed whip them until they are broken up. You want to do this otherwise they will create a moisture barrier in your compost pile/bin and take much longer to break down. <br />
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After the soil is ready, I test the drip irrigation to see if anything needs to be repaired before I plant. Planting is the last and the best part!!<br />
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I don't think I can wait till July for my tomatoes to ripen!!<br />
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Happy Easter Everyone!<br />
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Dana O'Brien<br />
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses<br />
www.recycledgreenhouses.com<br />
Dana@Recycledgreenhouses.com<br />
805 704-1155 <br />
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<br />A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-8719220151166991332013-02-23T20:56:00.001-08:002013-02-23T20:56:58.234-08:00We won first place today....for the Best Booth at the North County Home Garden & Gourmet Expo at the Paso Robles Fairgrounds! We had a fantastic day filled with wonderful people looking for their own Places to Grow! If you didn't make it by today, come on by tomorrow, Sunday, we will be there from 10-4!<br />
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Best to you,<br />
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Dana O'Brien<br />
A Place to Grow Recycled Green Houses<br />
Dana@RecycledGreenhouses.com<br />
805 704-1155A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-52009444303360001042013-02-22T21:48:00.000-08:002013-02-22T21:48:00.859-08:00Our First Home Show is tomorrow....at the Paso Robles Event Center at the Fairgrounds! It is the North County Home, Garden & Gourmet Expo and should bring out a large crowd! We are excited to showcase our trade show booth and show people the different types of places to grow! Come on out and see us!<br />
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Dana O'Brien<br />
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses<br />
Dana@RecycledGreenhouses.com<br />
805 704-1155A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-18048333342554631112013-02-15T18:58:00.001-08:002013-02-15T18:58:48.554-08:00As we are heading into spring....I found this article on what we need to do in February to prepare for spring! It gives us guidance for each of the zones so happy reading and here's to having an amazing, organic, growing season!<br />
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<a href="http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/gardeners-do-list-february?cm_mmc=facebook-_-OrganicGardening-_-Content-LearnGrow-_feb">zone by zone to do list</a><br />
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Happy Growing!<br />
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Dana O'Brien<br />
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses<br />
Dana@RecycledGreenhouses.com<br />
805 704-1155 <br />
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<br />A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-41023450730702454842013-01-19T15:34:00.002-08:002013-01-19T15:34:37.712-08:00With the New Year Comes the Opportunityto reflect on the year that has just passed and celebrate the accomplishments while ruminating over those things that didn't quite go as planned. I am happy to say that we built three places to grow and started our first donated unit! We are also much anticipating our first Home Show which is taking place on February 23 & 24 at the Paso Robles Event Center-here is the link for more information:<br />
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<a href="http://slohomeshow.com/cm/home_show/PasoHomeShow/Attendee%20Information/Attendee%20Home.html">North County Home, Garden & Gourmet Expo at the Paso Robles Event Center</a><br />
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We hope to see you there, please stop by and say hello at our booth!<br />
<br />
Dana O'Brien<br />
Owner<br />
A Place to Grow<br />
Dana@recycledgreenhouses.com<br />
805 704-1155 A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-43131687787514482112012-11-09T19:48:00.001-08:002012-11-09T19:53:56.994-08:00From Play House to Green House....that is our most recent project! We had not thought about the possibility of converting an existing structure into one of our green houses however this project came to us and we couldn't be more excited about it! We are taking a 200 square foot playhouse and are shoring up the foundation, removing the roof and replacing with the transparent polycarbonate material that is 99% UV protection and lastly adding in windows and doors selected by our client and carefully designed to provide the eclectic look she desires!!<br />
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Check out the before pictures and stay tuned for more pictures as we progress through the project!<br />
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Dana O'Brien<br />
Owner<br />
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses <br />
Dana@Recycledgreenhouses.com<br />
805 704-1155<br />
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<br />A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-33896873973905587712012-10-28T19:47:00.001-07:002012-10-28T19:54:42.160-07:00Gratitude is such an amazing thing...especially when you are grateful for a gift from complete strangers! So there I was having a Sunday afternoon full of errands and trips to many stores. While deep in working on our latest project (more information to come!) I received a call from "Bob" whose wife "Joann" had found my wallet in a very busy parking lot!! Bob found my business card in my wallet and gave me a call and I will be forever grateful to he and his wife for this! <br />
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It is with a full heart that I share this story of people doing the right thing for the right reason and I will always believe in the goodness of people and their capacity to "do the right thing"!!<br />
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Have a wonderful evening and know that we are all connected :)<br />
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Dana O'Brien<br />
Owner<br />
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses<br />
Dana@Recycledgreenhouses.com<br />
805 704-1155A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-5914824292239495582012-10-17T18:55:00.003-07:002012-10-17T18:55:34.267-07:00Double Digging.......I had never heard of "Double "Digging" before reading this article from Organic Gardening Magazine. Check it out, I am now a believer and will be busting out my shovel to prepare my garden for next Spring's planting!<br />
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<a href="http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/double-digging-why-do-it?cm_mmc=facebook-_-OrganicGardening-_-Content-LearnGrow-_-doubledigging">http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/double-digging-why-do-it?cm_mmc=facebook-_-OrganicGardening-_-Content-LearnGrow-_-doubledigging</a><br />
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<br />A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-35633861704771915442012-09-12T19:17:00.000-07:002012-09-12T19:17:46.286-07:00Our First Donated Green House...is in the planning phase! We met with the Director, Mary Kern, of the San Luis Obispo Montessori Children's School and came up with the location and dimensions for the soon to be green house. The green house will be approximately a 9' x 9' structure with a unique entryway which is the result of it being designed to fit the space that they have available. Ms. Kern is hoping to get some parent participation in the purchasing of some of the wood materials. We are also going to re-purpose some fence boards as exterior siding below the windows.<br />
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There is a lot of enthusiasm surrounding this first donated green house! Ms. Kern already has a garden at her school however without a green house last year they had to hand carry their tomato plant seedlings to her brother's green house. Needless to say she is very happy to have their own "Place to Grow" at their school!<br />
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In late February, the Montessori school children plant tomato seeds and then later sell the tomato plants as a fundraiser to support the school's art program. I can hardly wait to see this project to completion so look for updates and pictures with a ribbon cutting before Thanksgiving!<br />
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Dana O'Brien<br />
Owner<br />
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses<br />
Dana@recycledgreenhouses.com<br />
805 704-1155 A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-64595674044375704822012-08-30T20:49:00.001-07:002012-08-30T20:49:14.804-07:00A Place to Grow Happiness...that is what these glass houses are about whether they are artist studios, green houses or even a Pilates studio what matters is that you use them to do something that makes you happy! I just took these pictures of the Artist Studio as it is getting finished out. They have hung the chandelier, put in wood flooring that was left over from their home and finished out the interior walls with pine siding. After checking out the swap meet and several antique stores they found a work bench, cabinet and cool door knocker which they installed above the door! The back wall is prepped for the tile mosaic which is soon to come. I saw the picture of the mosaic and it is a picture of Yosemite featuring El Capitan, the river and a beautiful meadow, talk about a place that will inspire happiness!<br />
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What makes me happy is that Lori and Jeff are happy with their Place to Grow!!<br />
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If you want a Place to Grow of your own just give me a call and come look at our supply of windows, we have some really cool windows and doors in stock right now! If you can't come by, let me know the type of window you have in mind and I will send you some pictures of the windows we have in inventory.<br />
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Let's Grow!!<br />
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Dana O'Brien<br />
Owner<br />
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses<br />
Dana@Recycledgreenhouses.com<br />
805 704-1155<br />
<br />A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-45852000339486982782012-08-23T21:41:00.002-07:002012-08-23T21:41:48.857-07:00This article I just read got me to thinking...about places to grow. The article is about planning a beautiful vegetable garden and talks about designing your vegetable garden to be "as beautiful to look at as it is productive." This reminded me of our greenhouses and how they too are beautiful to look at and yet functional as well, I consider them to be "functional art". In fact wouldn't a glass greenhouse round out any garden? Check out the article, they have some pretty good ideas on planning your vegetable garden!<br />
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<a href="http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/plan-beautiful-vegetable-garden?cm_mmc=facebook-_-OrganicGardening-_-Content-LearnGrow-_-5+garden+tricks&ref=nf">http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/plan-beautiful-vegetable-garden?cm_mmc=facebook-_-OrganicGardening-_-Content-LearnGrow-_-5+garden+tricks&ref=nf</a><br />
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Happy gardening!!<br />
<br />
Dana O'Brien<br />
Owner<br />
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses<br />
Dana@Recycledgreenhouses.com<br />
805 704-1155A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-88938769643413428632012-08-02T06:54:00.001-07:002012-08-02T06:54:48.080-07:00Creating places to grow.......give me such fulfillment! These glass houses are what I consider to be "functional art". We have just completed our first artist studio! This is a 6'x8' glass house that will be used by a friend of mine to carve wood. My friend intends to mosaic the back wall of the studio with a mountain scene to complement the location of it in their backyard nestled between a pine tree and a manzanita bush! Their three waterfall pond provides the perfect background music for this creative space.<br />
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As I have mentioned in earlier blogs, A Place to Grow doesn't mean just a place to grow plants, it can mean a place to grow creatively such as this artist studio. I am so happy to be able to create this place of beauty so that my friend can carve her things of beauty and so the cycle goes.<br />
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In what way do you want to grow....<br />
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Here's to "growing"!!<br />
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Dana O'Brien<br />
Owner<br />
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses<br />
Dana@Recycledgreenhouses.com<br />
805 704-1155A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-80540385887519685582012-07-24T05:33:00.000-07:002012-07-24T05:35:31.132-07:00I was just wondering about organic fertilizers...<div class="date-header">
when I ran across this blog which really broke it down and clarified it for me!</div>
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<a href="http://organicgardening.com/blogs/dougsorganicsolutions/2012/05/09/choosing-organic-fertilizers/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Choosing Organic Fertilizers">Choosing Organic Fertilizers</a></div>
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<i><b>Please define organic where using superphosphate is concerned. Also when using 10-10-10. Thank you.</b></i><br />
<img alt="blog-doug" class="alignleft size-full wp-image-211" height="80" src="http://organicgardening.com/blogs/dougsorganicsolutions/files/2011/08/blog-doug.jpg" width="80" />Superphosphate
is a synthetic chemical fertilizer that is not approved for use in
organic agriculture. It is manufactured by treating mined phosphate rock
with sulfuric acid. It’s toxic to the microbial life of your soil.
Because it’s water soluble, it can also contribute to phosphorus
pollution of waterways.<br />
If your garden soil lacks phosphorus, it’s better to apply it in the
form of bone meal, rock phosphate, composted poultry manure, or compost
made from yard waste and kitchen scraps. These organic materials release
phosphorus to the soil slowly as they are broken down by soil bacteria.
Fish emulsion and liquid seaweed fertilizers offer a quick phosphorus
boost.<br />
The ratio 10-10-10 describes the quantities of nutrients within a
fertilizer but doesn’t reveal whether or not it’s organic. That said,
the vast majority of fertilizers with a 10-10-10 analysis are synthetic.
The three numbers represent the percentages of available nitrogen,
phosphorus, and potassium in the fertilizer.<br />
Gardeners who are in the habit of regularly feeding their soil with
rich compost often find that they have no need for additional
fertilizers. If necessary, you can supplement compost with complete
organic fertilizers that blend natural sources of nitrogen, phosphorus,
and potassium, as well as micronutrients such as iron and calcium.
You’ll know which products at the garden center are organic by their
“OMRI Listed” label. <b><i>—Doug Hall</i></b></div>
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Tags: <a href="http://organicgardening.com/blogs/dougsorganicsolutions/tag/compost/" rel="tag">compost</a>, <a href="http://organicgardening.com/blogs/dougsorganicsolutions/tag/fertilizer/" rel="tag">fertilizer</a>, <a href="http://organicgardening.com/blogs/dougsorganicsolutions/tag/fish-emulsion/" rel="tag">fish emulsion</a>, <a href="http://organicgardening.com/blogs/dougsorganicsolutions/tag/liquid-seaweed/" rel="tag">liquid seaweed</a>, <a href="http://organicgardening.com/blogs/dougsorganicsolutions/tag/manure/" rel="tag">manure</a>, <a href="http://organicgardening.com/blogs/dougsorganicsolutions/tag/nutrient/" rel="tag">nutrient</a>, <a href="http://organicgardening.com/blogs/dougsorganicsolutions/tag/phosphorus/" rel="tag">phosphorus</a>, <a href="http://organicgardening.com/blogs/dougsorganicsolutions/tag/superphosphate/" rel="tag">superphosphate</a><br />
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I don't know about you but I'm sticking with my compost as once again it is the top choice for our gardens!!<br />
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Happy growing!!<br />
<br />
Dana O'Brien<br />
Owner<br />
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses<br />
Dana@recycledgreenhouses.com<br />
805 704-1155A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5346549290470960218.post-48626452543642463312012-06-26T06:56:00.001-07:002012-06-26T06:56:03.125-07:00Here I sit daydreaming about my garden...Wondering what kinds of root vegetables we will plant this winter to use in the soups we make. Definitely leeks and parsnips and being of Irish descent (well himself is) I figured we had better plant some potatoes! I was doing a little research and ran across this article that really zeroes in on why growing organic is not only important, but also necessary to keep the intricate balance of nature. <br />
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<a href="http://www.slowmoney.org/?p=648&option=com_wordpress&Itemid=170">http://www.slowmoney.org</a>.<br />
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It really made me think about all of the changes that need to be made and are already being made to insure that the food we eat is safe and nutritious. I hope you take away the same feeling of a need for a tremendous shift, as I have, and a new appreciation for our soil. In the meantime I'll be planting some potatoes!<br />
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Happy Gardening!<br />
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Dana O'Brien<br />
Owner<br />
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses<br />
Dana@recycledgreenhouses.com<br />
805 704-1155A Place To Growhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07836003496335568453noreply@blogger.com0