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.
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.
In what way do you want to grow....
Here's to "growing"!!
Dana O'Brien
Owner
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses
Dana@Recycledgreenhouses.com
805 704-1155
Capturing Rain From One of Our Sheds
These copper rain gutters are beautiful and help harvest rainwater!
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
I was just wondering about organic fertilizers...
when I ran across this blog which really broke it down and clarified it for me!
Please define organic where using superphosphate is concerned. Also when using 10-10-10. Thank you.
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.
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.
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.
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. —Doug Hall
Tags: compost, fertilizer, fish emulsion, liquid seaweed, manure, nutrient, phosphorus, superphosphateSuperphosphate
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.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.
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.
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. —Doug Hall
I don't know about you but I'm sticking with my compost as once again it is the top choice for our gardens!!
Happy growing!!
Dana O'Brien
Owner
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses
Dana@recycledgreenhouses.com
805 704-1155
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Here 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.
http://www.slowmoney.org.
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!
Happy Gardening!
Dana O'Brien
Owner
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses
Dana@recycledgreenhouses.com
805 704-1155
http://www.slowmoney.org.
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!
Happy Gardening!
Dana O'Brien
Owner
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses
Dana@recycledgreenhouses.com
805 704-1155
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Stained glass windows...
This past weekend we picked up some stained glass windows from a famous restaurant in Los Angeles called the Dal Rae Restaurant in Pico Rivera.
www.dalrae.com/about.htm
The stained glass windows represent the original owners who were brothers and raced surreys. The Dal Rae was their first million dollar horse!! There are two panels that have a horse and cart design and a third with red accent bevels. The two horse and cart design windows are approximately 54" wide by 20" high. I cannot wait to see how they will look in one of our glass structures!
There is another stained glass piece that was created by a local artist, Nita Overly, who owned the Sea & Glass Gallery in Cambria and Morro Bay. It is a Corn Stalk panel with Hopi sunburst, pottery and red clay. This is an original piece which is 55.5" wide by 20.5" high. This piece will be stunning in one of our original green houses!
Check out the pictures to the right!
Dana O'Brien
Owner
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses
Dana@recycledgreenhouses.com
805 704-1155
www.dalrae.com/about.htm
The stained glass windows represent the original owners who were brothers and raced surreys. The Dal Rae was their first million dollar horse!! There are two panels that have a horse and cart design and a third with red accent bevels. The two horse and cart design windows are approximately 54" wide by 20" high. I cannot wait to see how they will look in one of our glass structures!
There is another stained glass piece that was created by a local artist, Nita Overly, who owned the Sea & Glass Gallery in Cambria and Morro Bay. It is a Corn Stalk panel with Hopi sunburst, pottery and red clay. This is an original piece which is 55.5" wide by 20.5" high. This piece will be stunning in one of our original green houses!
Check out the pictures to the right!
Dana O'Brien
Owner
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses
Dana@recycledgreenhouses.com
805 704-1155
Thursday, May 17, 2012
What to do with all those tomatoes...
Here is an article that answers that question, you make salsa and can it for later! What a treat to have fresh from the garden salsa in the middle of winter! Hang on to this recipe because soon we will be wondering what to do with all the tomatoes in our gardens!
http://voices.yahoo.com/canning-homemade-salsa-8920149.html
Happy gardening!
Dana O'Brien
Owner
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses
Dana@Recycledgreenhouses.com
805 704-1155
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Everywhere I look I see windows....
every office building, every house, all have windows and they all are interesting and tell a different story. For example, I have a batch of windows to use in a green house that belong to a 4th generation family right here in San Luis Obispo! The house was built in the early 1920s and the windows have that old, wavy glass in them, very cool windows that will look amazing in one of my green houses!
Another connection I am cultivating landed a job renovating a Beverly Hills French Country Style home of which he is giving me the windows he replaces! I am still hoping to get the office building windows from Los Angeles which would be the basis for my standard green house kits.
Stay with me as I grow this venture....
Dana O'Brien
Owner
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses
Dana@recycledgreenhouses.com
805 704-1155
Another connection I am cultivating landed a job renovating a Beverly Hills French Country Style home of which he is giving me the windows he replaces! I am still hoping to get the office building windows from Los Angeles which would be the basis for my standard green house kits.
Stay with me as I grow this venture....
Dana O'Brien
Owner
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses
Dana@recycledgreenhouses.com
805 704-1155
Monday, May 7, 2012
How can you not feel like getting out in the garden...
when it's 80 degrees outside? I recently read this article about organic seeds and how they are getting a little easier to get as more people are becoming interested in them. The last paragraph gives you the names of a few organic seed catalogs, they also suggest looking in your own community first for a local seed company or seed saver exchange.
http://www.justmeans.com/Sustainable-Food-Starts-with-Organic-Seeds/44424.html
And remember if you need a place to grow, I have one for you!!
Happy gardening...
Dana O'Brien
Owner
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses
dana@recycledgreenhouses.com
805 704-1155
http://www.justmeans.com/Sustainable-Food-Starts-with-Organic-Seeds/44424.html
And remember if you need a place to grow, I have one for you!!
Happy gardening...
Dana O'Brien
Owner
A Place to Grow, Recycled Green Houses
dana@recycledgreenhouses.com
805 704-1155
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