Chapter II

That following week Michael broke ground on the greenhouse, digging a trench which would be the central passageway through the building-to-be. Michael and Nina were living with Gerry at the gold refinery while they found a new home in Providence, so in between working with Gerry in exchange for stay, he was walking back and forth to the garden, building foundations built with bricks that were lying around, and laying out the boards that would form the initial make up of the greenhouse.

It came time to raise the roof, and Michael put out the call for a group barn-raising on a Sunday afternoon. There were many preparations that were made before and during the day, but in the end it became a little too dark to actually place the roof that day. So it was called again for a week later. The roof was split into two sections to make it easier to handle, and although with a smaller group, the roof was lifted and placed, quickly secured in, and the four posts were kicked in beneath it in back, and small foundations were built around them.

With the roof up, Michael set to work framing in the remaining walls. Michael created a game for this project, the rules which were: recycled materials. He gathered wood from three substantial scrap piles: debris near the dumpster at the gold refinery, helping empty the downtown store Waste Not Want Not, and using some trim pieces that had been saved at Into the Wardrobe for many years. Gathering all this wood takes time, but it does not encourage the death of more trees. Michael developed the philosophy of a Crab, a “bottom-feeder,” who does not kill for his survival, but instead snatches meals that have recently passed, and sunk to the sea-floor. In this case, the boards are no longer a part of the money economy, maintaining no dollar value, but hold this greenhouse in place, and in fact have been cleverly organized into a quintessential shape, providing a controlled environment to shelter plants.

Fall 2009 was pleasantly warm, and provided many beautiful t-shirt days for Michael to carry out this work. Helping also to allow the manifestation was Trev, traveling from Connecticut to participate in this novel constructive process. As one well trained in seeing value where others see trash, Trev’s intellect blended seamlessly into the practical nature of what has been termed “Improvisational Carpentry.” These two found repeatedly “The Perfect Piece;” many of these scrap boards, once identified, may be lifted up, and happen to be the exact proper size, not even needing to undergo the “Raw Blade of Barry.” Respect for materials brings a magical connection with the creative process.

Working in rain, sun and snow, they hung the door on the Winter Solstice. Thereby sealing the largest hole, and effectively closing in the “Sunhouse,” which by now had grown into it’s proper name: the “Sheman Faktory.”

Throughout the Winter, Trev & Michael continued to seal up holes and refine the interior.

Michael also did an interview with EcoRI.org which generated a good buzz for the garden at that time. Fertile Underground entered 2010 with 7 huge raised beds, as the first Providence Community Garden with it’s own Greenhouse.

There are more details about the construction
archived on Michael's blob.