Best of both worlds - the old and new

Would you look at this beautiful place  - this is a “new build” - but it’s oak timber-framed, lime rendered panels and thatched roof.  Shame someone parked their hulking great van in front of it or you could see it better! 

Mike and Sandra have taken the best of the past in materials and skills and put them together into a beautiful, modern home.  What an honour to put up a Green Bug greenhouse here.  Better not let the side down then!

Mike works tirelessly on his garden.  I might sneak a little video tour of it when I go back so you can see it in all it’s glory.  Much of the work after moving here involves improving the soil condition but already some plants are really thriving.

It’s only a small greenhouse (2.2m wide by 2.75m long) to be tucked into a sloping corner of the garden. 

The slope is quite pronounced so I’ve had to put in about 6 steps in the foundations.  I lay sold concrete blocks on 6 inches of concrete and overlay with a wet concrete slurry to bind everything together. 

The inside in stages.

First I level off the interior (with spade, pick-axe and rake) and lay a weedblock sheeting down before levelling off with sand. 

To the sides of the timber I dug trenches which will take the foundations for the raised bed walls.

The foundations are in and hardening off while I lay the bricks to make the path. 

I left this overnight so the concrete to the sides could harden

And here’s the finished path with the walls for the raised beds.

It’s nice eh - looks proper old - in a good, heritage-style way.

Next week -I’m off to Herne Bay (Canterbury) to build the base for a 7m by 3.5m greenhouse - and my old friend Simon will be joining me.