My New Coldhouse!

Last autumn -- which, by the way, seems like a very long time ago -- I reported to you about the wonderful Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in Pocantico Hills, New York. I wrote about the greenhouse designed by Eliot Coleman, an expert on four-season farming, and how they are able to grow crops year-round. This notion inspired me to have a similar greenhouse constructed at my farm and it's finally nearing completion. The concept of this greenhouse -- or coldhouse, if you will -- is that produce is grown right in the ground in richly composted soil. The house is minimally heated, just above freezing, mostly utilizing energy from the sun. All winter long, cold hardy crops, such as lettuce greens, root vegetables, bunching onions, and brassicas (cabbage, broccoli, kale, etc.) can be successfully grown and harvested. Here are some photos of the progress.

Here are landscapers from Dom's Landscaping in Norwalk, Connecticut, loosening up the soil called the hard pan. This hard pan is great for building on but not so wonderful for growing in. These guys work hard, don't they?

This is Nick Brigante of Dom's Landscaping explaining the proceedings to my property manager, Mike Fiore:

Chris and Nick accepting a rather large delivery of nicely washed gravel:

These are the drainage pipes:

The drainage pipes are laid out and connected in a grid with the holes facing down. When water reaches the hard pan, it will rise into the holes of the pipes and then drain out of the coldhouse.

After the pipes were connected and the rest of the gravel spread out, the coldhouse was filled with yards and yards of organic compost, which we have been making right here on the property. The compost is about two feet deep. Jodi and Erika will now see that the compost is enriched with nutrients, following the very special Eliot Coleman and the Stone Barns Greenhouse soil recipe.

Comments

[Kathy]

Martha,
Your greenhouse---or coldhouse---sounds like a good way to enjoy produce all year round. I like this design inspired by Eliot Coleman. Thanks for showing the different stages of construction. It would be wonderful to have some of those cold hardy plants like those you mentioned---lettuces, onions, other root vegetables, and brassicas (Thanks for teaching me another new word!) right now. It makes me ready to plant in the spring.
Kathy

[Darryl Moland]

You do realize, Martha, that once gas skyrockets and the shipped in produce from afar is gone and the recession really sets in for good, then those of us who can't afford such luxuries are going to have to come and live with you on your sustainable farm, don't you? I hope you're ready! :-)

[Kathy]

Hi again, Martha,
I forgot to ask---what is the Eliot Coleman/Stone Barns Greenhouse soil recipe? I would like to use it, too.
Kathy

[deezie]

wow that is just beautiful!!! I would have one if we had the space here. Enjoy it
deezie

[PAULINE MUCCIACCIO]

Hi Martha,
When I first read Eliot's book I was amazed at what he's able to produce during the winter months. I also have Barbara's book, Garden Primer. I used many of his gardening methods myself over the years.
I think if gardeners change their mind set that once falls comes gardening is over; instead if they have the room on a smaller scale for a greenhouse, or use cold frames, they can garden year round. Glad you are posting pictures of the construction of the greenhouse as it progresses. Looking forward to the next installment!
Pauline Mucciaccio
PS
Could you post info. on type of material used in the construction of your garden fence the one that you posted in [behind the scenes] & did you do anything to keep critters from digging under the fence?

[Kathy]

Thanks to Pauline for mentioning the books by Eliot and Barbara. I'd like to find out more about their gardening methods.
Kathy

[Margie]

In my situation I have an in depth understanding of the first picture of the shovels and picks and the last of the wheel barrow.
I applaud myself regarding creative exercise moves. The theme continues with enthusiastic weeds.

[Carol]

Hi Martha,

I am green with envy! The coldhouse looks great and I'm certain that you will grow lots of tasty veggies year round. I had mixed lettuces here in NC until this past weekend. Our winter has been unusually cold but I still have a couple of dracena plants alive on my deck! I can usually plant my cool weather veggies early in my raised beds. It won't be long!

[Jan Erickson]

Hi Martha, WOW, what an inspiring blog! Oh, how I wish it was spring. It is really cold here in my area right now {20's & 30's} and I have been dreaming of spring all month. You have inspired me to to get started planning and building a greenhouse and cold frames somewhere on my property. Thank you so much for all you do. Jan

[Marie]

That looks like quite an undertaking! I have a notoriously black thumb! Not sure that I'd have much success on such a large scale, although I am going to try to grow some Peaches and Cream Corn in some containers in my back garden this summer so that my English husband can taste what "real" corn on the cob tastes like!

[angela]

I wonder with my very small and unheated greenhouse, if it would have been better putting the greenhouse right on the ground instead of building and putting it on a wood floor, and planting my winter crops into the ground in the greenhouse, or like I am growing them, in pots and window boxes. right now I have arugula growing very satisfactorily, so I'm happy about that. what a great coldhouse Martha will have, how exciting!!!

[bpfster]

That is a dream of mine to have my own greenhouse, but for now I will look at yours with envy.

[Andrew Ritchie]

Martha, Your farm is exceptional. I recall comments made by your friend Memrie Lewis about how you're trying to build a totally sustainable existence at Bedford: everything on site. You should write a book about Bedford and all its developments, from its rich history to its current status under your guidance. I'm sure you have a book in mind! Can't wait to read it!

Wonderful work.

-Andrew in Canada

[tiffany]

Ooo.. how beautiful this will be and already is.

[Carolyn]

I want at Coldhouse!!!

[Dianna]

Martha,
Another over the top project. I think something more sustainable is more realistic. How about something I could have in my backyard....coldframe, small greenhouse?

[Gayle Constantine]

Martha, Love everything you do, just wish we were younger. However, glad we have a person like you so we may enjoy the more genteel things of life... Gayle

[Micha]

Great Job. I get great joy out of looking at your photos. I cannot do many things any more due to poor health and it is refreshing to see your farm and remember my days of running, creating and smelling the new day. Thanks

[charles mckenzie]

Martha,What a fantastic greenhouse!You never stop amazing me.I bet one of the beneficiaries of all of those fresh greens will be that new flock of chickens. Please keep inspiring us,Charles

[Flora]

I so enjoy watching you everyday. I'm so envious of where you live, I live in the SW Arizona - not may gardens here- some HOT houses not by planning. Any suggestions on what to do when you don't have farmer's markets to visit for fresh veggies & fruits. ALL of ours are trucked and not very fresh. Love watching you anyway !!!

[Suzanne]

I wished i was on your show today i am going to start the challage to lose weight .... i wished i was on your show to recieve the gifts you gave today on january 23 i wished i was there to recieve these awesome gifts that you gave today.... Like especially a computer.... My computer is in crash zone....is there any thing you can do for me to help???

[GG]

December 2007 on your show you featured a wonderful lady that made her very own marshmellow which took 24 hours to set up and then covered it with a yummy chocolate. I have spent the last 30 minutes trying to find the receipe. Can you please e-mail me a receipe of this good eating delight. Thank you so very much for all your good ideas you have and help share. I watch you when ever I can. Thank you again GG

[Pam]

GG, here's the link... http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.fc77a0dbc44dd1611e3bf410b5900aa0/?vgnextoid=a4d203aad6ba6110VgnVCM1000003d370a0aRCRD&autonomy_kw=fudge%20covered%20marshmellow&rsc=header_2

[Kim in N.J.]

Wow Martha,
The cold house looks amazing. Ask, and ye shall receive. I requested a while ago to please describe and show us how you constructed your original greenhouse, but this is even better to watch one being put together before our eyes. I just have to have one of these on my property, smaller in scale, but it would be great! No more veggies and fruits "covered in oil" as you and Alexis put it.

I agree with our fellow blogger that a book about Cantitoe Corners is overdue!! I did do a little research on it and found out that Cantitoe was the Indian's wife I believe that had settled there many years ago. Well, Martha, you will have to fill us in on the rest.
Adios for now,
Kimberly

[Farmgirl Susan]

What a beautiful building! I'm really looking forward to reading more about it, and am especially curious to learn how you keep the temperature above freezing in there at night - and with such high ceilings, too.

Despite using a small heater and temporary drop ceiling (to retain more heat) in my 8'x22' greenhouse, it's still been getting down to 7 degrees F in there. Brrrr! Can't wait to see yours full of plants!

[Nika]

A commenter asked how s/he can do this in their own backyard (on a slightly more modest budget).

Martha is in a lovely position to have a beautiful glass cold house with an amazing foundation.

Its not absolutely necessary (tho great to have) and so you can use a plastic hoop house like Eliot does (in his book) - I have seen them made with scavenged wood.. the plastic is the more expensive part for some of us.

We, at Humble Garden (http://humblegarden.com), are doing this in a staged way. Last spring we built our raised beds. We had JUST enough money for that so thats where we are at now.

Next fall we will erect some supports so that we can put up a winter only cold house over our raised beds for our cold Massachusetts winters. (the plastic will be off most of the year, on in the winter)

It is a process (like all of gardening) but fresh mesclun in January is a HUGE incentive!

Nika
http://humblegarden.com