RIBBON-CUTTING CELEBRATION
By Melanie Heisler
The weather was dreary, but spirits were high as PG staff, garden volunteers, Pacifica School District School Board members, city officials, friends, and family gathered on May 24 for the official Ribbon-Cutting Celebration (see above). Loretta, Melanie, and Melissa acknowledged all the help, contributions, time, and effort that brought the garden into existence. After a toast of organic sparkling apple cider, PSD Superintendent Jim Lianides cut the blue and green ribbon to officially open the garden gate. Inside, people toured the garden, sprouted the Giving Tree to life with donation leaves, and bought plant starts and PG t-shirts. Thanks to Foodtown, Pacifica Farmers Market, and PG volunteers for the delicious refreshments. And a big "thank you" to everyone for all the hard work and valuable contributions that made Pacifica Gardens possible.
HOW TO BUILD A GREENHOUSE IN FIVE DAYS
By Jeff Stine
On Thursday, June 5, Cas Lesiak, Wes Schultze, Chuck Iverson, and I met with Pacifica Gardens Manager Loretta O'Brien to figure out how to reassemble the pieces of our donated greenhouse (see above). Marj Davis took on the task of getting the materials we needed. By the end of the afternoon we had a plan, the foundation perimeter was dug, the corners were staked and squared, and the materials were ordered. On Saturday, June 7, the drain rock, lumber, and fasteners arrived. Cas, Chuck, and I laid drain rock in the foundation trench, then weedblock and gravel for the floor. Cas and I had to leave at noon, but Chuck stayed all afternoon and continued to work. He and Cas came back on Sunday for another full day of work. By the end of the weekend greenhouse marathon, the walls of the greenhouse were assembled, the 4x4s for the foundation measured, cut, drilled, bolted, then drilled again for the ground stakes. What an effort! On Tuesday, June 10, Cas, Chuck, Wes, and I leveled the foundation using a clear tube, water, stakes, and string. Here's how: We put stakes at the points we wanted level, tied the ends of the tube to the stakes, filled the tube with the water until the level came up the stakes a bit, then tied a string to the stakes at the water height at each end of the tube. Voila! A perfectly level line from which to measure the foundation height. By the end of the day, the greenhouse frame stood securely attached to a level foundation with potting tables inside, ready for us to attach the glass panes. Next time you're at the garden, check it out. Many thanks to Chuck, Cas, Wes, and Marj for making this happen so quickly. Thanks in particular to Chuck for his two-day greenhouse marathon. Thanks to Kate and John Halloran for donating their greenhouse. And many thanks to Pacifica Lumber for donating materials and delivery.
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