Greenhouses for potters and sculptors

Now, we can’t all live in North Carolina, where a new initiative called EnergyXchange uses landfill gas from a former mica mine converted to landfill to fuel two glass furnaces and a pottery kiln, and to provide heat to four greenhouses, and a craft gallery, but we can all learn to use our greenhouses effectively to limit the amount of harm we do to our environment and to improve our lives.

1 – black plastic tanks. These tanks, which can be either fish tanks or water butts, depending on the size and shape of your greenhouse, can be filled with rainwater and left at one end of the greenhouse in full sun. Because they will soak up the sun’s rays, the water in them will always be warmer than the outside temperature which means when you come to water plants, whether indoors or out, they won’t get the shock that comes from tap-cold water chilling their roots.

2 – using the light. Greenhouses are great for potters and sculptors as they are full of ambient light which makes their work easier – it also means they don’t have to turn on fluorescent lights to see detail in their work, so saving the planet. Greenhouse shelves are a good place to store unfired pottery until you have enough to fill a kiln.

3 – fighting the seasons. Many of us suffer from winter blues, and a small proportion of us actually develop Seasonal Affective Depression – which is caused by the lack of daylight and creates a catastrophic drop in serotonin levels, serotonin being the compound that causes a feeling of wellbeing. Working outdoors increases serotonin levels, but can be horrible in winter. Working in the greenhouse allows you to experience the daylight without being buffeted by the gales and rain!