Roger's Travails

Well folks, the greenhouse is no more. Last Thursday the jet stream was positioned directly over my house and the dome was getting ready to take a trip so I had to remove the plastic. Actually, it was a hot day so I propped open the door. For reasons that I can not describe I had decided to face the door to the West and this wind (50 mph sustained, 75 mph gusts) took hold of it and tore it right off. The now open doorway allowed the wind to pick up the dome, tearing the 12" tie downs clear out of the ground, and moved the dome 3 feet before my plants and water tubs caught it. All this happened before I got home. I wrestled with the door for a while in hopes that I could save it, but I wound up having to cut it free and then had to frantically cut loose all the plastic (triangle by triangle) while my wife did her best to hold the dome down. It took 45 minutes to cut out all the plastic and get the dome to settle down.

What's left? The frame survived and the plants look like they're going to make it, though the cabbage is mowed in half! I saved the door as well. An interesting observation was that even in this high wind, the 3.5 mil plastic I used didn't show any signs of tearing or shredding. I had to cut it free with a knife. Improvements I will make this summer: much longer tie downs! I will also design and build hinged flaps that can be opened to allow air flow. I will position these openings so that high winds will be able to blow through the dome rather than getting caught by the dome and lifting it. I will listen to my elders and put the door in the Northeast this time.

Offered by Roger.