The Greenhouse:

From a Vision to Life

Introduction

Have you ever thought of something that you would like to do, whether it be trying a new hobby, learn a new language, try a new cuisine or, build your very own furniture? Yet, you put it on the back burner and tell yourself that you will get around to it someday? I am very guilty of it, and my Pinterest boards are evidence of the things that I am "planning" on getting around to. Well, I am proud to announce that I can finally delete the "DIY Greenhouses" vision board that I had created many moons ago. Thanks to the research and motivation throughout the semester I have accomplished a dream that I have had for years. My final project consists of multimedia to showcase how I was inspired to step outside of my comfort zone and bring a vision to life by building my very own greenhouse.

I grew up eating on the healthier side, eating take out was a rare occasion. With a mom who is a nurse and dietitian, you can imagine that fried fast food was a no-no in our household. We had our own vegetable garden and would purchase the fruits and veggies that we did not grow from a local farmer. When I left home, my first instinct was to eat as much fast food as I could. I soon realized that it was not all that it was made out to be. I felt sluggish, bloated, and lazy whenever I would eat fast food. I decided to start eating healthier again and I noticed that I had more energy to get through the day. That inspired me to want to learn how to grow my own vegetables, which I have not exactly been successful at, that is until now.

At the beginning of the semester, I was focused on plants, I pondered on the topic of their health benefits. As I researched more into the topic, I found myself lost down some rabbit holes that had nothing to do with the benefits of plants. I wanted to push my inquiry further and learn about something that I could benefit from and hopefully be able to teach others about. There are so many interesting topics to cover when it comes to nature. So as one could imagine, I was thrilled when I came across the Wardian case. The case was used in the late 1800s and early 1900s to transport live plants. I was fascinated with the history of how the first greenhouse came about and how it quite literally moved an entire plant kingdom.

I was so inspired that I decided to recreate a miniature version of the Wardian case that Dr. Nathaniel Bagshaw Ward had invented after an accidental discovery. By sticking to the "accidental" and "discovering" theme. I decided to draw and then paint on a blank page without planning it out. I discovered that allowing myself to be creative on the spot gave me a sense of peace and freedom. Below is a visual presentation of the mini Wardian case that I built.

Accidental Discovery

Designing, Creating, and, Accomplishing

As I moved forward with my projects, I decided to focus on greenhouses. Since my inquiry topic was plants, I thought it would be interesting to do more research on creating the perfect greenhouse to keep my plants alive. I know my mom will be happy to see me planting, growing, and eating vegetables that I have tended to. So, from project two and onward, my portfolio is basically a step by step documentation of how my greenhouse house went from being only an idea to a physical object. I enjoyed every bit of the process and decided to showcase my favorite parts of the process for my final project. It includes three things that I enjoy, designing, creating, and, accomplishing.

DIY Greenhouse - Significant Object

While the original idea of building a greenhouse came from the Wardian Case that I recreated in the slides above, I ultimately decided to base the design of my greenhouse off of the image to the left. I first sketched rough plans and then decided to tweak the design a little to add my very own touch and match the vision that I had for the greenhouse. Once I felt confident that my sketch was ready, I decided to take it to the next level and use Sketchup to sketch a 3-dimensional image of the greenhouse that I had planned to bring to life. I then moved on to a more in-depth research study that was an essential part of ensuring that I have a successful functioning greenhouse. I used my GoPro and tripod to record my backyard for a day and observe the sun pattern to decide on where to place my greenhouse. I was able to record from sun up to sunset by setting up my tripod and GoPro on my back deck with a time-lapse setting of 30 seconds, which means the GoPro captured a frame every 30 seconds. Since I would be recording over 7 hours I knew I had to use a setting to speed up the final video. I believe that was a very important part of my final project, as, without proper research, my greenhouse could turn out to be a failure.

Below are two videos of the design and research process: The 3-dimensional sketch that I created of the greenhouse on Sketchup (be sure to have your sound on for the full effect) and GoPro footage to observe the suns pattern in my backyard.

The Process

I decided to explore OBJECTS that I will need in order to create the SPACE that my plants will need to survive the winter months. I went to Lowes to pick up the materials that I needed to build my greenhouse. Just like when baking a cake, the ingredients that the recipe call for are not that great on their own, but once mixed together and baked, they are marvelous! Once I put these objects together they would end up being the perfect SPACE for my plants. I created a collage of the OBJECTS that are needed in order to build my greenhouse.

And then the magic happened! I finally got to start building my greenhouse. I had never worked with wood before so it was a challenge, although I did have a helping hand. The old saying measure twice cut once was proven to be true for this project. Along with working with wood for the first time, I also worked with power tools for the first time. The materials I used were 3 by 2 lumber which actual dimensions are 2 ½ inches by 1 ½ inches, clear polyethylene UV resistant greenhouse plastic film, power tools, and hardware to put it all together.

I started out by measuring and cutting the 3 by 2s to length per the blueprint that I made on sketchup for freewrite 3 to build the frame of my greenhouse. Once I had cut the wood to length, I assembled the pieces and stapled the plastic onto them. Finally, we put the sections together and assembled the hinges in order to open the roof flaps to access my plants. It was most certainly the most challenging yet rewarding project. I hope I have inspired other students to experiment outside of their comfort zone.

The Forbidden Greenhouse

It is a beautiful bright day (L/W 1) at Springdale Gardens. The air is crisp with a slight chill (COLD 1) It is evident that fall is slowly approaching. Debbie Dots and Betty Bumblebee buzz (SOUND 1) around the gardens to enjoy the last bit of summer (L/W 2). Debbie stumbled upon Springdale Gardens back in Spring when the flowers were in full bloom (SMELL 1) she has called it home ever since. The two insects love to explore the large variety of plants that are offered at Springdale, however, there is one spot that they have been warned to stay far away from, Mrs. Dawn’s old greenhouse (SIG) (INQUIRY) that is tucked away behind the main store. Word has it, whatever goes into the greenhouse, never comes back (STORY).

“I’ll race you to the picnic area” Debbie shouts to Betty as she flies toward the area filled with families who are enjoying lunch (INTERFERENCE). The two love to buzz around the picnic tables to see what treats they may find. “Hmmm, pineapple is my favorite” (SMELL 2) Betty mumbles as she lands on a slice of the juicy fruit. “Now be careful there” Debbie warns Betty, “Remember we have to stay clear of the humans otherwise we may end up in a dark place.” Debbie ignores her friend and flies over to a little child with frizzy (TEXT 1) red hair and freckles. She is attracted to the child’s nails, they are painted just like her wings, red with black spots (HANDS). The child reaches out her hand for Debbie to land on. Something about this hand feels different Debbie thinks to herself as she examines the child’s sticky fingers (TEXT 2). “Hmmm, marshmallow bits; oh no I’m stuck” Debbie shouts out to Betty who is being swatted away by the child’s mother. Debbie still does not understand why people reach out their hands for her to land on, yet they always try to swat her bumblebee friend away. Betty shouts back to Debbie with fear in her voice “We need to get out of here, they have a fly swatter.”

All of a sudden, it is pitch dark (L/W 3) “I am caught!” Debbie whispers to herself in a panic as she tries to free herself from the child’s sticky fingers. The child starts giggling (CHILD) as Debbie struggles to get her last leg free. She finally manages to free herself and starts to fly away. The child screams and starts to chase her, “Come here ladybug”. Debbie flies toward the fertilizer (SMELL 3) pallet that is located near the forbidden greenhouse. Whenever she is being chased she knows that the fertilizer pallet is where children usually stop chasing. A while later Debbie finds herself wondering awfully close to Mrs. Dawn’s greenhouse. The fog inside of the greenhouse sparks her curiosity. She is not able to see through the thick hazy plastic (TEXT 3) walls that surround the rotting frame. It instantly feels like winter (COLD 2) (L/W 4). She starts to slowly make her way toward the entrance (THRESHOLD). She hovers just close enough to peek inside and see what all the fuss is about. A gust of wind, or at least what felt like the wind blows Debbie into the greenhouse, the door creaks (SOUND 2), and then slams shut (LOCK). It is dull (L/W 5) and moldy (SMELL 4) with no signs of life (VACANCY). The scene sends shivers down Debbie’s pronotum (COLD 3) She notices indents (TEXT 4) in the soil, they look like footprints of tiny insect feet that are walking about (FOOTPRINTS).

“Hello, is there anyone else in here?” Debbie shouts out, she senses movement but cannot see anything. Suddenly, she is caught off guard as she catches her reflection in the strangest wind chime (CHIMES) (SOUND 3) that she has ever seen. It is made of broken pieces of a mirror (MIRROR). Her reflection in the broken pieces makes it look like there are a hundred ladybugs with her. But she knows that is not the case. She is completely alone yet she still senses movement. “How are the pieces moving if there is no wind?” Debbie asks out loud. “I have to find a way out of here.” Debbie closes her eyes and starts to talk to her late mother (COMMUNE) Although her mother is no longer living, she talks to her when she needs advice, she finds that it helps her to come up with solutions a lot quicker.

As Debbie speaks to her mother, her eyes are fixated on a rusted watering can (RUINS) (OBJECT). She suddenly sees movement, the soil beneath her starts to rumble (STRANGE) (SOUND 4) as a Venus flytrap appears from the soil. It opens up, there is a foul smell (SMELL 5) almost like rotten eggs. A moth escapes from its trap. He flaps his dusty (TEXT 5) wings and repeatedly shouts “What time is it?” over and over. His voice is high pitched and sounds as though he has inhaled helium (ANIMAL) Debbie tries to calm the moth, “Are you okay sir? I can try to get us out of here.” He ignores Debbie and continues to fly in circles as he repeats (LITANY) questioning the time over and over.

“I am going to get eaten if I do not get out of here”. Debbie starts to panic. She notices a silhouette (BACKLIGHT) in the direction of the sun getting closer and closer to the greenhouse. She has a glimmer of hope that she will be saved. Mrs. Dawn appears, she opens the greenhouse door and throws a group of Venus Flytraps into the greenhouse, and then quickly slams the door shut. Debbie narrowly escapes the snap (SOUND 5) of the Venus flytrap, the question still remains, did she live to tell of her greenhouse experience or is she just a memory.

Formatting Specifications:

Formatting Specifications:
1. _X_ Copy and paste this rule sheet into the web page where you post Studio 1.
2. _X_ You should use an X to tick off all the rules as you follow them, leaving blank any rules that you are unable to follow.
3. _X_ Follow allof the rules outlined in this rule sheet in a way that makes them feel natural and necessary to the telling of the story
4. _X_ Use the parenthetical notations (IN ALL CAPS) to note where in the narrative you are following each rule; this is probably best done as you go though some students approach this task differently.
5. _X_ FOR PORTFOLIOS:Be sure to follow all rules noted in this rules sheet to avoid penalties.

Content Requirements to be Provided as Response to Your Genre Selection

_X_ Do notuse the words or any derivative of the words below anywhere in your paper: ghost, apparition, spirit, poltergeist, phantom, specter
_X_ Primarily presenttense narration
_X_ An object takes on great significance (SIG)
_X_ The question must be posed: “What time is it?”(Please put in bold)
_X_ Backlighting must be used (BACKLIGHT)
_X_ A reference to a story from long ago (STORY)
_X_ three references to the sensation of cold (COLD 1-3)
_X_ Fog, Mothand Marshmallow (Please put in bold)
_X_ An animal must act strangely (ANIMAL)
_X_ A mirror must be described (MIRROR)
_X_ A litany (LITANY)
_X_ Remnants/ruins (RUINS)
_X_ Concept of vacancy must be evoked or referred to (VACANCY)
_X_ A description of an object left behind(OBJECT)
_X_ Something ordinary becomes strange (STRANGE)
_X_ Someone tries to commune with the dead(COMMUNE)
_X_ A child/children laugh or sing (CHILD)
_X_ Interference (INTERFENCE)
_X_ Wind chimes (CHIMES)
_X_ A detailed description of a threshold (THRESHOLD)
_X_ Something is locked (LOCK)
_X_ Footprints (FOOTPRINTS)
_X_ Connects to Inquiry project in some way (INQUIRY)

Details

_X_ 5 references to lighting or weather (L/W 1-5)
_X_ a detailed description of someone’s hands(HANDS)
_X_ 5 references to smell (SMELL 1-5)
_X_ 5 references to sound (SOUND 1-5)
_X_ 5 references to a texture (TEXT 1-5)

Some Final Words

I plan to place my greenhouse in my backyard in the Spring 6-8 weeks before the last expected date of frost here in North Carolina. I will then plant seedlings that I will tend to until they have grown big enough to transfer into my garden. There is something so rewarding about taking a step back to admire something that you once dreamed about and then took action by designing and building it by hand. It is so easy to push things aside and get caught up in the hustle and bustle of life. We often forget that we only have this one life to live, so why not live it to the fullest! I encourage you to take the first step to achieve that one thing you have always told yourself you would get around to.

Sincerely,

Jessica Franco

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