The greenhouse is 16 feet wide by 32 feet long, with a eight foot long extension at the back which is used as a potting area. The outside of the greenhouse is covered in heavy duty plastic while lighter plastic is used inside, creating an insulating buffer between the two layers.

In early spring, the structure is heated by an RSF wood furnace with a fan. One duct runs to the front of the greenhouse so warm air blows into that portion of the building. Shirley has a small electric heater in the potting area both to heat that space and help keep everything warm in case the wood fire happens to go out during the night.

The growing season begins the second week in March, when Shirley plants her flower, tomato, celery, parsley, basil, and thyme seeds. She starts these in pots.

In mid-March, she also plants onions, red leaf lettuce, green leaf lettuce, Romaine, carrots and Swiss chard. These seeds are planted directly in the raised beds in the main part of the greenhouse, where she leaves them until they are ready to harvest.

Toward the end of March, depending upon whether or not the soil is sufficiently warm, Shirley plants her cucumber seed in the raised beds, too.

She doesn’t sow the green beans until approximately the third week in May. “They grow faster,” she explains. “I do find “Star Fire” tomatoes work best in the greenhouse for me,” she adds.