Library class will help you craft your own greenhouse

As buds begin to form on the trees, and the green leaves of daffodils, tulips and irises push their way out of the cold soil, I’ve got only one thing on my mind: gardening! Unfortunately, the frigid blasts of wind rolling off the mountains remind me that it’s still a little too early to put seeds in the ground.

When it comes to gardening around here, time is a precious resource. Our growing season is short, so being able to use science to our advantage can mean the difference between a pantry full of tomato sauce in the fall and an empty cupboard collecting dust over the coming winter.

But who can afford a greenhouse? And what if you don’t have space to build one? Employing a handful of life hacks, we can make a miniaturized greenhouse that can sit in a window sill or be tiered on a shelf, giving your seedlings the boost they need to grow strong through summer.

Join us at the library for Crafternoon on Tuesday, April 19, at 3 p.m. as we make miniature greenhouses from simple household items such as egg cartons, craft sticks and plastic wrap. This is a perfect craft for kids, teens and adults interested in growing their own food. We will have supplies on hand for you to personalize your tiny greenhouse to really make it your own. Best of all, once you’re done with it, you can plant the pieces of the greenhouse directly into the ground or compost the container when you’re done! You’ll even have plastic wrap available to make another one, or experiment with creating an herb container to last all winter.

We hope to see you here on Tuesday.

Brenden Bobby can be reached at the East Bonner County Library, 1407 Cedar Street, Sandpoint, by phone at 208-263-6930, or email at brenden@ebonnerlibrary.org .