New Greenhouse Owner Series - Guest Blogger Shannon Walker

Hey, everyone! This is Shannon - I'm a member of the Yoderbilt team and Angela's best friend...since FOREVER. We started Kindergarten together! They are truly family to me! So working with them every day has been an absolute dream.come.true. 

Here's something FUN that I wanted to take you along on! I have ALWAYS wanted a greenhouse. When I was twelve, I spent many summer days up the road at a beautiful farm of one of our neighbors. It sat upon out town's hill looking over into the next little community. It was breathtaking. 

Mr. and Mrs. K were an elderly couple who loved all things garden; I fell in love. I had always grown up with gardens around me, but what I experienced on their beautiful farm, changed me. If I went missing {and, I did more than once}; my parents knew where to find me. 

Mr. K would give me plant clippings often. I decided I would have my own greenhouse. I arranged a corner of my dad's METAL building with no true source of sunlight into a space for my plants. I was SO proud. For the FEW days they survived, it was glorious. And, then painful. I put that greenhouse dream on hold. 

Well, since Angela and Travis built their very first greenhouse (under that front yard shade tree), I've wanted a Yoderbilt greenhouse. But, due to a different career path, I literally had no time to enjoy one. My work hours were crazy. When I officially joined the team in January, my goal was to have a greenhouse by fall as I was still pretty busy transitioning from my own business to the team on Yoderbilt. I thought by then that I would have my new schedule mapped out and be settled in. Well, I have, and I am! 

Guess who has a greenhouse coming??!?! I am BEYOND thrilled and want to take you along my journey as I'm new to it too! I have spent a lot of time in Angela's and learned so much from her, but I still have MUCH to learn. She is so encouraging as she tells me she still learns every day. 

But, like you, I have all of the questions too! I knew I wanted to get a jump start on the fall rush, and I can happily report that my greenhouse is almost ready, and we are waiting for our foundation work to be done. I am going with Travis's recommendation of a weed barrier and about 3 inches of clean gravel. There are all different types of variations you can use, but that's the way Angela's greenhouse is set up, so I'm going with that. It's simple, allows for excellent drainage, and it just works! 

I will start posting pictures at the time our foundation work gets started. And, I'll take you through the process from that point on. Today, a little push mower should arrive so I can keep my greenhouse area neat and tidy. 

What color combo do you think I got? Hopefully, I'll be able to post that soon as it is driving down my driveway!

AND all of that to let you know that I understand what it feels like now to be at the point of being a greenhouse owner. Finally, I have ALLLLL the questions that you do! So, I will pop in and update you as I go. Just picking out my spot took me FOREVER. 

I am also their photographer - so plan on an overload of pictures too!  I will say that because I'm a photographer, I am a VERY visual person. So, I've ordered fun stuff for the inside, including a sweet chandelier! Next to my lawnmower (ha!), I have a list of favorite things I will share too!

And, feel free to ask me any questions along the way. If I haven't figured it out yet, I have the greenhouse pro sitting next to me most days. 

xoxo,

Shannon

What is the Ordering Process of a Yoderbilt Greenhouse?

Where do I start? That is a question we hear so often! There are SO many choices in making our greenhouses your own , but we try to make the process as EASY as possible for you! 

We often have those that would love to have one of our greenhouses, but still have so many questions and aren't ready to order. That's totally fine! We've all been there.  If you'd like, give us a call, and we can chat! That one phone call will often reduce your questions by obtaining information on the product and the process. No pressure. Simply information gathering. 

We have those that KNOW they are going to get one; they are just in the planning phase. That's fine too! It is still beneficial to walk through your options and get a plan in place. Doing this often helps you know exactly what you want when you are ready. Again, no pressure, just gathering information for when you are ready. 

We have those who KNOW they want one but aren't ready for delivery quite yet. That's fine! This year, we implemented a PREORDER process, and it has worked out so great.  Again, you give us a call, and we walk you through the options, what you need versus what you don't need for what you have in mind for your greenhouse. Again, zero pressure.  You place your order (when you are ready), you pay your deposit and tell us when you are ready for delivery. The remaining balance is not due until you are ready for delivery. For example, you can order today and tell us you would like delivery scheduled for somewhere around the 3rd week of November or around the 5th of December - whenever you are ready.  Or, it could be a gift, and you need it on a more specific delivery schedule. We can work with that. This option allows those that KNOW they want one soon but may not be quite ready yet. This option will enable you to get on the build list and helps you plan out the process over a more extended period. 

We have those who KNOW they want to order today, and they do! Again, a simple, no-pressure phone call will make that happen.  We get as excited as you do when we hear how excited you are!  

This summer, we've seen a significant uptick in people wanting to grow their food. They know they want to add one of our greenhouses into their daily life. They may not want to utilize the cash they have on hand or want to use a different option. We do have a monthly payment plan option available. You can also phone in to learn about the details and see what your monthly payment would be.

 

There are SO many options, but so many ways to make the task stress free and enjoyable.   We strive to not only serve you but serve you VERY well. We want to help make that dream of a greenhouse a reality with a greenhouse that stands out above the competition, is of the utmost quality, built to last, and adds beauty to any setting. 

We are open Monday-Friday, 8 am to 5 pm, and look forward to each and every call!  479.849.4385

Zinnias - Why You Should Have Zinnias in Your Garden

Let's chat about a fun, gorgeous, easy to grow flower that if you don't have in your garden or gardens plans, you should! Zinnias have always been a favorite of many gardeners!  It's at the top of the list for me! Their variety assortment is gorgeous and fun; they are easy to grow, seeds are inexpensive, but also easy to collect, save and share, and they will give you loads of bouquets from late spring/early summer until the first frost of fall.

So, what makes this little seed have such a powerful punch? The list is endless. As mentioned above, I think two key elements, if I had to narrow down the long list, would be they are SO easy to grow and they produce a bountiful harvest week after week from the first bloom until that first frost. 

I'm going to list a few things that make this a tried and true flower that almost all commercial and home gardeners love or will come to love...

• They LOVE hot weather. Living in the south, this is definitely not always the case with every pretty plant. But, the hotter the summer gets, the more they seem to shine! 

• They require very little maintenance. They don't have a lot of problems, but if you have Japanese beetles in your area, they love them as much as the gardeners do. So, if you tend to have these critters in your area, plan on about a month-long attack at which time you can cut back their destruction after they've left, and in a couple of weeks, your plants tend to come back for the remainder of summer. Also, as the nights tend to cool, you can sometimes get powdery mildew if your plants are planted close together, not allowing a lot of airflow. There are remedies for this, though. 

• If you want a bounty of fresh flowers that continue to have large blooms - consider successive planting. About every two weeks, plant another small crop in your space, and you will continually yield optimal flowers.   

• The pollinators LOVE them. If you have zinnias, you will see countless bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. It's a win-win. 

• Do you want a fresh bouquet or bouquets all summer long? Plant zinnias, as many as your space, will allow. That will give you the benefit of sharing with someone else.  

• They are FAST growing. That is a crucial component as to why successive planting is such a benefit to this particular plant. 

Yoderbilt Greenhouses - The Story of Us

It's been such a humbling experience that so many of you have discovered our family business and taken steps to improve your gardening ability and experience. Every day we have the opportunity to speak with so many of you - it's a joy for us!  

After leaving corporate America in 2007 for a slower-paced life, we settled on a farm in Arkansas.  In 2011, we began looking for a greenhouse to be more self-sufficient.  It was something that we wanted to enjoy with Olivia.  However, we found ourselves extremely disappointed in the available greenhouses. They all came in kits, lacked quality, and were very unattractive, no matter how high the price was. That spring, we set out to build a greenhouse under a shade tree in our front yard.  We had no idea that ALL of the work that went on under that shade tree would become a thriving industry leader for greenhouses.  We are currently serving a seven-state area with plans for expansion.  For that, we thank our loyal Yoderbilt customers.  

I got tickled and Oliva gave up on us. ha! 

Today, Yoderbilt strives to build the greenhouse that their competitors don't - a fully-assembled, quality-constructed, made-to-order greenhouse that will stand the test of time. We hope our story inspires you to write one of our own, and that we can be a part of it.

Beginning a Garden - The In-Ground Garden Bed

And, last, but not least in our gardening series, the in-ground garden bed.   This is the most traditional of our garden bed options.  There are many advantages as well as a few disadvantages to this option.  

For many, this is the only type of garden bed that they will consider as it has been the tried and true garden choice for their family for generations.  If you have the right equipment and enough space, it just makes sense.   Some of the tools you will need to make this a feasible option are a tiller, a tractor with a tiller, a sod cutter, or a sharp spade.   

Some advantages include using the existing soil.  It is always advantageous to take a soil sample in for testing and amend the soil as recommended.   Another advantage is that it is the most economical if you have the equipment to set up the garden plot, as mentioned above.  It can be less permanent,  requires less watering, and is typically much easier to irrigate.  

As with the other options included in this series, there are factors that must be considered when implementing this option.   You must choose the right location.  This should consist of a somewhat level site that will provide good drainage and be 6-8 hours per day in the sun. It is preferable to have it near your house for the sake of convenience.   

This type of bed may require more weeding and the addition of nutrients throughout the garden season.  But, when maintained regularly, these obstacles can be kept in check. 

This is a great way to grow a garden and makes the most sense for so many!  

Beginning a Garden - Container Gardening

This is one of our favorites, and we've used it for years! Container gardening is often the unsung hero of gardening.  It seems like the trend has been moving toward raised beds, and there will always be the traditional in-ground garden.  But, IF you haven't tried container gardening - YOU SHOULD! 

There are so many benefits, and honestly, only a few things could be viewed as a bit difficult; but, not something that should cause you to shy away from it. There are so many vegetables and fruits that thrive in pots and smaller garden spaces - a container allows for quick and easy garden set-ups that can yield an abundant harvest with minimal effort.  

There are countless reasons you should try this type of gardening or even add it to your gardening plan. Some of those include: if you are limited on outdoor space, the convenience of having fresh vegetables and fruit right outside your back door (or, front, in some cases), there is no need to prepare a garden bed or build raised containers, easy access for harvesting and watering, can be moved around and relocated, on the less expensive side of other options and probably my favorite......NO WEEDING. 

Here are a few things to consider:  

• Choose a location that, like other garden options, will receive at least 6-8 hours of full sun daily.
• Collect your containers. You can use some you have on hand, purchase to match the aesthetics of your patio or porch, collect them from friends or family or collect containers that may not necessarily be intended as a garden pot, but would work just as well. 
• Make sure your containers have holes in the bottom to allow for proper drainage. If they don't - drill some. It's an easy fix, but is a critical factor.  
• Use an excellent purchased potting soil or mix one of your own. It needs to be a lightweight, high-quality mix.  
• Containers require watering more often. Check the soil moisture every day as they usually require at least daily watering; however, on days with higher temperatures, they may need watering in the morning and evening to keep the plants well hydrated. 
• Fertilization can assist in your harvest in a big way. Often a soil-released fertilizer works perfectly.    
• Mulch can be added to aid in moisture retention.  
• Select vegetables and fruits that thrive in a smaller space such as strawberries, peppers, tomatoes, lettuce, swiss chard, kale, herbs that thrive but aren't too big such as melons.  The list goes on! 

Whether you term it an urban garden, a patio, or a porch garden - if you are limited by space, this is a perfect alternative to try! It is well worth the effort and is an enjoyable space to visit daily. 

Beginning a Garden - Raised Beds

You are ready to start your garden - but which bed option do you go with?  There are many options!  This series will focus on raised beds,  container gardening, and the traditional in-ground garden bed.   

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We are going to start with the ever-growing popular, raised bed garden;  and why this should be an option to consider.  To a traditional gardener, a few years back, this seemed like a compromise to conventional gardening - almost like you were cheating in the way of life of gardening.  However, since it is becoming more and more popular, even the most traditional gardeners now agree, this is definitely a garden to consider.  And, so many are diving in wholeheartedly after they experience just a season with raised beds.  

There are so many reasons why raised beds have gained such popularity.  Some of the main reasons are that you can pretty much make them fit any space, place them anywhere, use a multitude of materials, gain better control, and have a fruitful bounty.   There aren't too many negatives to this garden plan if done correctly. 

Let's explore a countless list of reasons as to why this option should be considered.  First,  the most crucial aspect of your garden is often determined to be the soil.   If you live in a place as I do, that soil in your backyard has a very high concentration of clay.  That is clearly not the most nutrient-rich source in which to plant in. Every area of the country has a different soil base that often has to be worked at in a hard way to be overcome to garden effectively and efficiently in it.   But, with a raised bed, you are in complete control by choosing each aspect you add to your beds, and you can amend as needed.  You can achieve optional soil quality with somewhat minimal effort. With soil that is of high quality, the starting point of your garden will put you in a position to have a successful gardening experience and produce an abundant crop. Of course, other elemental issues come into play in a critical manner, such as sun, water, and drainage.  But, your soil is of utmost importance and is the area that most avid gardeners will invest the most in. 

Then there is the simple but important aspect of the look of the garden or the aesthetics.   You can spend your days looking at Pinterest and planning for that dreamy garden.  But you CAN make it happen!   A huge positive is that you can create that beautiful small space that produces a prolific harvest.  It is so much easier to maintain than acres and acres of traditional garden space.   They are often on the more compact size, but not always.  It's entirely up to you, your imagination, your budget, and your available space. The area can be as large as your imagination and budget.  But, a small scale raised bed garden can be every bit as swoon-worthy while doing what gardens do best, grow your food and florals in abundance.  

Easier maintenance is a definite bonus to raised bed gardening.  The elevated height makes access much easier for those who may have difficulty bending, stooping, and kneeling.   Due to how they are built, you can often sit on the edges, and as long as the raised bed is not over 4 feet across, most can reach easily into the center from both directions.   The recommended height is usually at least 10 inches, but it can be as little as 6 inches.  However, you can keep adding to the height until you are content with it.  Just keep in mind, additional height will often mean more garden soil needed to fill.  

You can typically begin planting earlier in a raised bed due to the fact the soil warms quicker than a traditional garden when springtime arrives.  It allows you to garden earlier, but you can often garden later in the season as it's easier to cover crops when the cooler temperatures start arriving. 

Another positive is that you don't have to own heavy equipment such as a tiller to use all season.  When raised beds are correctly installed, weeding is so much easier and is often done by hand or a simple tool like a hula hoe.   As mentioned above, the overall maintenance is a definite benefit.  But, only needing a few simple tools makes it easier, lends for better storage, and is much more cost-effective. 

The list could go on and on as to why raised bed a regaining so much popularity. But, the primary reasons are outlined above.  You can always start with one and add to them as you want and as space allows.  It's a great way to jump into the garden or switch your typical garden plan with one as the positives outweigh other options.   It's something to consider no matter where you are on the experience spectrum as a gardener.