A greenhouse made from salvaged windows

While I was in Bellingham last week—or more specifically, Ferndale—I visited the picturesque Red Barn Lavender Farm , which is run by a couple who grow 3,600 lavender plants, distill essential oils from the flowers and sell products made by their own four hands.

Something else Marvin and Lynn Fast made with their hands was the one-of-a-kind greenhouse you see in the photos above. Not exactly the kind of thing you get from ordering a kit, huh?

The Fasts collected secondhand windows and then built the greenhouse’s framing around what they had. I’ve seen the concept before but never such charming results. I especially like the height of the structure.

Marv is a retired math teacher, so I’m guessing he’s a bit more precise with numbers and measuring than I would be, but I’m scheming how I could pull this off (on a smaller scale) in my backyard.

The best resource I’ve found so far is this photo-illustrated tutorial on Instructables taking you through one gardener’s salvaged-window greenhouse construction, step by step.

Do you know of anyone in Spokane with an old-window greenhouse?

The Red Barn Lavender Farm was beautiful—and for dozens of reasons beyond the gorgeous plants that grew on the farm’s gentle hills. (By the way, the Fasts said they plant lavender on hills in western Washington to help drain moisture away from the plants. In eastern Washington, where we get less rain, lavender is usually planted in a circular way so that it captures whatever water it can get. Now you know.)

I love the look of lavender but have always avoided planting it at home because I didn’t want to invite excessive amounts of bees to my house (they love the stuff). Lynn assured me, though, that the bees gently buzz around the plants and aren’t aggressive. I guess they get sort of drunk off the lavender, huh?

One of the Red Barn Lavender Farm’s products is honey made by those bees. I tasted it while I was there—wonderful! I had expected it to have an overpowering lavender flavor, but it was very, very subtle.

Red Barn Lavender Farm (yes, there is an authentic, old red barn on the property) is worth a visit next time you’re on the West Side. Go here for directions to the farm or stop by their booth at the Bellingham Farmers’ Market, if that’s easier. They also sell their goodies online .

If you’re looking for lavender closer to home, check out the Fleur de Provence Lavender Farm at Green Bluff; Garden Gate Lavender Farm in Medical Lake; and the Pend Oreille Valley Lavender Festival , held every July in Newport. Did I miss anyone? I thought there used to be another lavender festival close to Spokane, but I can’t find any information on it. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?