The Gardening Renovation Project
- garysjordan
- 22 hours ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 2 hours ago
2025-12-07
On Argh Ink I observed that doing anything means doing something else, first, and that something else requires the completion of another thing. The Garden Renovation Project is complete - that means that a bunch of prerequisites are done as well.
Step One - I needed horizontal surfaces to which to move garden units. I decided the easiest to empty would be the Third Unit. But before I could do that, I would need to clear Second Unit's top shelf.
The two small gardening units, Shirley and Cutie-Patootie, I moved to the right edge of the shelf. All of the small accessories were boxed with other accessories. The three Mason jars were emptied and stored with others of their kind. The three ring lights were stored as well, and their transformers returned to transformer storage. This shelf was now empty except for Shirley and Cutie-Patootie. With space now available, I moved Liam and Lillian from Third Unit's Top Shelf to Second Unit's Top Shelf and inactive units from Third Unit's Middle Shelf to Second Unit's Bottom Shelf. A few small items later, Third Unit had two empty shelves. Second Unit was done for now.
Step Two A - The swaps. First, the AeroGarden Aerovoirs had to be disconnected from every unit, or the floor would end up a puddle. In the case of the top six, the tank had to be removed (and filled, but not necessarily in that order) and moved temporarily to Unit Three. Joining them were four of the Harvests; Harvey, Harvey Too, Myrtle, and Crusie. There was no room for Seble nor Teresa. At this point, Sprouts 1, 2, 7, and 8 moved from their top shelves to the middle shelves
Step Two B - Reconfiguration. I had to remove Unit 1 Top Shelf Middle and Unit 1 Top Shelf Left. Middle came first because it uses the same poles as left and right, but an inch higher. Unit 1 Top Shelf Left was reinstalled still top left but now some 8" lower on the poles.
Step Two CÂ - Swaps again. Now that there was a top shelf again, Seble and Teresa were moved to Unit 1 Top Shelf Left from Unit 1 Middle Shelf Right. Sprouts 5 and 6 got moved from Unit 1 Top Shelf Right to Unit 1 Middle Shelf Right.
Step Two D - Reconfiguration again. Unit 1 Top Shelf Right now being empty, it was lowered roughly eight inches. Then Unit 1 Top Shelf Middle was reinstalled, also lower than before.
Step Two EÂ - Swaps again. All those Harvests on Unit 3 moved to Unit 1 Top Shelves. Then all the reservoir units were filled, reconnected, and tested.
Step Three - Tidying up. There was no mention of power supplies above, but every unit had to be unplugged and plugged back in. Further, they are plugged into power strips that are mounted to the left and right top shelves, complicating the reconfiguration steps. Shirley and Cutie-Patootie. relocated to the now-empty Unit 3 Top Shelf, along with an Alexa and my Christmas Tree.
If I had another set of shelving... I would have recreated Unit 1 rather than making adjustments. Both the middle and top shelves would be some inches lower than you see here.
You might notice the three fan/lighting fixtures at the top of the picture. The fans serve a vital function WRT pollination. Since installing them, I've noticed a quintupling of fruit from every plant.
On another note, Debbie on Argh Ink said:
I had DH move pots of nasturtiums inside before the frost and we are going to grow them all winter long because we can both enjoy looking at them and eating them. They seem bland and then develop a tang and are a lot of fun. We probably will have to plant more as the plants don’t last forever. I recommend them to Gary and his garden followers.
