I love to hear stories about how a family puts a greenhouse to use. This family bought a large greenhouse to not only grow food for the family, but also to sell produce at the local farmers market. They will be the first to bring tomatoes to the Farmers Market in this small town in Idaho.

Lydia and Annie Barnett aim to be the first to sell ripe tomatoes at Dale’s Saturday Market. And they think they can make good on that goal in the next two weeks.

The two sisters got into the tomato business after their dad, local roofing contractor Glen Barnett, snagged a good deal on a 30-foot by 90-foot commercial greenhouse. The Moscow-based Seventh Day Adventist school was selling its greenhouses, so Barnett hauled the biggest one home. It came fully equipped with a heating and cooling system and drip irrigation, making it perfect for growing produce for Barnett’s large family.

Lydia, 20, and Annie, 19, being the creative types, hatched their own plans for the monster greenhouse. They planted several tomato varieties such as New Girl and Pink Beauty, and also included several cherry tomato types. Additionally, they’ve planted peppers and cucumbers, and experimented with sweet potatoes, melons and okra.

http://www.lataheagle.com/atf.php?sid=6184&current_edition=2009-06-18 

From The Latah Eagle, 6-18-09