The 8 foot fence is probably the key, because it distracts the lazier vandals - and homeless guys usually won't trash a place that keeps them warm - though masculine housekeeping can be...masculine. Hope your luck keeps and you don't get any energetic vandals walking by. Best, Adam Honigman -----Original Message----- From: Jack Hale <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 15:09:03 -0500 Subject: RE: [cg] Greenhouses in comm gardens
Well, we have had a 20X40 hoop house covered with polyethylene on our grounds for 3 years. It is used by community gardeners raising seedlings starting around March 1 and running into June each year. We do have electricity, running water, and gas heating, thanks to the largesse of a local insurance company. We have never had any damage to the house except when a sharp edged table came in contact with the outside covering. I probably shouldn't say this, but we have never had any vandalism, even though we are on a very busy walking route to and from a local high school. We also have a larger traditional house (5800 square feet) covered in polycarbonate, also heated. We do have a problem with critters burrowing in, and sometimes some homeless guys spend winter nights inside. There is an 8 foot high chain link fence around the property, but young folks can climb it easily and the gates aren't very secure. One other detail - the poly house is double-walled - two layers of poly with air blown between them. It makes for wonderful energy efficiency and it eliminates the "flap factor" in the wind. The covering is very tight, and the little fan that inflates everything uses almost no electricity. Poly is easy to cut, but it is also easy to repair - they sell tape for that purpose. In the event of serious damage, the material isn't very expensive, and volunteers can install it. Good luck. Jack N. Hale Executive Director Knox Parks Foundation 75 Laurel Street Hartford, CT 06106 860/951-7694 -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, February 16, 2006 1:01 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [cg] Greenhouses in comm gardens A Greenhouse, without a fence or protection in a public park already known to have have knuckleheads stealing and tagging is risky business. It's just too much fun for the more feral local teenage guys, sociopaths and losers, to break glass/polyvinyl and tag the remaining pieces. If you have a secure place in the park ( like in a fenced service area) with good sun and access to electricity or at least a space where photvoltaic panels won't be smashed or stolen then I can see having a greenhouse would be viable - otherwise, and I'm sure other folks on this list will say it's doable, though I don't know how - otherwise I think it would be throwing away your hard earned dollars. Regards, Adam Honigman -----Original Message----- From: Janet Parker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thu, 16 Feb 2006 11:37:12 -0600 Subject: [cg] Greenhouses in comm gardens Dear Friends, Here in snowy Madison, Wisconsin we are busy planning for the season to come! A gardener has been looking into building a polyvinyl greenhouse from a kit at a large community garden with 110 families in a city park. Any stories to tell from your experience or ideas of what might work? Some concerns on our minds are: - vandalism (the site is unfenced, and tagging and theft have been problems there) - limited usefulness (no electric runs to the site, so heat for seedlings in spring won't be possible) (photovoltaic solar panels have been suggested to power automatic ventilation for summer) If you have ideas or tips you can share with us, please drop me a note with your phone number and a time I can call you. Or reply to the list. Thank you! Peace, Janet Parker CAC Community Gardens 608-246-4730 ext. 218 1717 N. Stoughton Rd. Madison, WI 53704 www.cacscw.org/gardens [EMAIL PROTECTED] ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden ______________________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: https://secure.mallorn.com/mailman/listinfo/community_garden
