hobby greenhouse association

We make a commission through sales if you click on affiliate links in this post.

Have you always dreamed of owning a greenhouse? But you are overwhelmed with all the decisions to be made and learning how to properly grow in one? Maybe you already own a greenhouse and just have a few questions you would love to ask someone with experience.

There is a solution. Become a member of the Hobby Greenhouse Association.

A lot of people think that you buy a greenhouse, set it up in the backyard, and voila you have beautiful plants growing with no problems. Not so. I am not suggesting that this is a torturous process but growing in a greenhouse is a learning curve. And it is a different process for all of us. Just consider all the different types of plants we are growing, not to mention our differing climates and plant needs.

A lot of people make the mistake of loading up their new greenhouses with every piece of equipment that they can find. Others go the opposite way and think that the greenhouse is the only piece of equipment they will need.

I suggest that when purchasing a greenhouse, you consider the ventilation needs, whether you will be having electricity or will be cooling your greenhouse without electricity. If it is the middle of winter, I suggest thinking about how you will heat your greenhouse. Will you use a gas heater, or heat it by taking it off the grid? Other accessories can be added as the need arises.

This is where the HGA comes in. The members who already have greenhouses are more than willing to share their experiences and knowledge on these types of concerns. They have been there and done that. But, don’t take that to mean you have to already own a greenhouse to join. All interested parties are welcome.

What will the HGA do for me?

Lots. You can go to the website and review the current newsletter. Or, you can even opt for receiving this by regular mail if you prefer. You can join discussions in the members blog area by asking a question or sharing a bit of knowledge that you think other greenhouse growers would find helpful. You can also submit a question by email to other members. Flowers as well as vegetables are discussed.

Current topics on the blog include pictures of a mystery plant that someone is trying to identify. Also, someone in Massachusetts is looking to connect with other greenhouse enthusiasts. There is a lively discussion about starting new plants. Also, a question with lots of comments is “How are your plants surviving the winter?” Of course, this question was asked last winter.

One of the neatest benefits of the organization is the round robins. The robins are focused on a greenhouse gardening topic including management (of the interior environment), vegetables and others. They consist of a packet of letters from each robin member. When one arrives, always by snail mail, the recipient writes a few paragraphs about how their greenhouse has done with the robin subject since receiving the last packet, typically a few months previously. Then he/she adds paragraphs addressed to each in the group, answering questions and/or commenting of what that person wrote in the last round. Then adds this letter to the packet, removing their last letter, and mails it to the next person on the list of about eight members. Then the person e-mails the coordinator with when the packet was received and when sent on. The description of the robins is from Tom Karasek, the President of the Hobby Greenhouse Association.

Discounts for Members

There is also a group of hobby greenhouse businesses that offer a discount to HGA members. All you need to do is find them on the list and ask for your discount. Advance Greenhouses has offered this discount for years.

How did this organization get started

In 1975 a gentleman named Wander Mall got a brand new hobby greenhouse. If you remember this was way before the internet and the information overload era. He found that there was just not that much information available on how to use the greenhouse. He decided that a club with a few like minded growers would be the answer. It would be a free exchange of information with people learning from others mistakes. He sent some letters to the editors and had a more than acceptable response. There was also a radio and TV show hosted by (Doc) George and Katy Abraham that promoted the newly founded organization. Membership quickly increased to over 1000 members. It seems like a lot of people had similar questions. And, I have got to tell you from my personal experience that there is not a group that is more willing to share their knowledge than gardeners. Of course, there are a lot of us with strong personal opinions of how things need to be done. We just can’t help ourselves.

The HGA today

The HGA continues to prosper today due to the many volunteers who have contributed their time and effort through the years. Of course, there is not enough room to personally list and thank each of them. But they know who they are.
If you are interested in hobby greenhouse growing, you will enjoy the camaraderie among this group. I suggest that you check it out today and join. Get your questions out there and get help from people who truly enjoy growing in a greenhouse. And, get your own greenhouse up and growing. There is nothing more satisfying.

Conclusion

In full disclosure I will tell you that I am currently the Vice President of this organization. And, we have participated in their member discount program for over 15 years. Tammy