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• NAIL RAFTERS TO RIDGE BOARD.

• 1 pc. furring 40” long
• 8 angled rafters from Step 5

• NAIL ROOF ASSEMBLY TOGETHER.

• Roof base with ridge supports
• Ridge board and rafters
• 4 nails 2¼” long (to fasten ridge to its supports)

That’s it for the roof. Just a few more details and you can wrap up this project. But first, let’s check your handiwork. Get the house you built in Experiment 4 (whaddya mean you can’t find it?). If you worked with reasonable care, the roof overhang should just clear the exterior house walls. And the plywood roof runner should cover the tops of all the walls and the space between. They do? Way to go.

Now for the final steps:

• Glue aluminum foil to the entire underside of the ceiling.

Try not to wrinkle the foil, as it must reflect the sun’s rays into the garden when the ceiling is propped open.

•  Set the ceiling and roof in place. Swing the window side of the ceiling upward till it hits the back rafters (you will have to raise the roof slightly to clear the front rafters). Then cut a length of 1” x 2” furring to keep it propped open to its maximum. A small nail in the ceiling will keep the prop from slipping.

•  Tightly cover the roof with the plastic dropcloth; if there are any wood projections that could tear the plastic, saw them off. Secure the plastic to the underside of the roof with tape and thumbtacks. You can lift the roof easily by grabbing the overhang with both hands. Or you can insert a screw eye in the center of the ridge board. If you prefer that option, put a piece of tape over the plastic before twisting the screw in.

     When starting up your solar garden, try to place it high enough off the ground to avoid its being covered by snow. A picnic table or bench would be great. Orient the house so that the window faces south at high noon. Inside, arrange the coffee cans and potted plants as shown on page 31.