They’ve made bird houses an outhouse and now they’re working on a green house. Benny Dahlenburg’s construction technology class at SHHS likes to keep busy.
Their third 10 X 16 greenhouse is well on its way to completion, Dahlenburg said. It should be moved onsite this week.
“I had built greenhouses for myself when I lived in Klamath Falls,” Dahlenburg said. “I used that experience to help design the new greenhouse plans.”
Dahlenburg said the classes first greenhouse project was at Crawfordsville elementary and was funded by a prize won by a student.
“I knew the laws about what can be hauled over the highways so that had some impact on what size the greenhouses are,” Dahlenburg said.
A second greenhouse went to Holley School and a third is being built for a private landowner who is paying for materials and a donation to the classes annual ocean fishing trip at the end of the school year.
Class member Zec Perez said the class functions as teams, each dedicated to a specific portion of the project.
“First of all, we estimated the size and set up a materials list,” explained Forrest Burke. “Then, we bought the lumber and other materials.”
That materials list includes 2 X 4 studs, plywood, metal strips, nails, truss braces, screws and a special double walled plastic.
Pressure treated wood is used throughout.
The project started before spring break and includes several wood planting tables.
No nail guns are used, Dahlenburg said. The nails are driven the old fashioned way, with a hammer.
“We didn’t want to drive the nails in too far,” he said.
Class member Joe Reeder called the project, “Really fun, I really enjoy it.”
The greenhouse is constructed in two main sections, the wood bottom and the trussed roof with plastic. Manpower hoists the two units in place.
One metal door provides access and two electric fans help stabilize temperatures.
In addition to their greenhouse project, the class recently completed a major decking project at the Ed Nieman home and is scheduled to put up walls in the modular buildings being moved to the bus garage.
Class members include Mike Adams, Mike Allyn, Jared Brennan, Forest Burke, Larry Chase, Shawn Crites, Rex Dimick, Jimmy Dunn, Scott Lawrence, Zec Perez, Joe Reeder, Nick Reed, Chad Rider, Sam Rodgers, Robert Slay and Andrew Wilson.