Today, the greenhouse was officially completed! We put out fresh straw and alfalfa hay for nesting and set up a forage of strawberries and a variety of nuts. It was another beautiful day in Cle Elum and everybody got to enjoy the sun from the greenhouse. Negra is not much of a fan of winter, so it was particularly nice to see her basking in the sun.
Thank you to everyone for supporting CSNW and the Cle Elum Seven. Today was a big success – the chimpanzees now have more options and an even better environment. And their reactions to the new space couldn’t have been more satisfying and heartwarming for all of us. The greenhouse was possible due to the generosity of many. Karen and Don Young first and foremost, those who gave during the fund-an-item portion of our Celebrate the Seven auction: Kathy Cochran, Pam Lehnert and Marc Warner, Jack and Linda Butcher, Margaret Parkinson and Karen Creason, Tiffany Diamond, Mary Murray, Sharon Stuart, Wynn Kerr, Sabrina Hutchinson, Stephanie and Kurt Marx, Cara Wiseman, Desha Davis, Andra Artemova, Laura Schumacher, Sue Bartlett, Barbara Schell, Dot Rothfus, Karen Lucht, Kelly Wolff, Julie Harding, Susan Harper, Scott and Wendy Sedlacek, Rob Bellefeuille, and Laura McGinty. Big thanks also to Jim Spencer, John Spencer, Brian Osborne, Poppoff Inc, Calvin Beedle Excavating, Attic Breeze, Zac Devore.
Hooray! We were happy to help – such a great fund-an-item. So excited for them, they get to bask in the sun all through winter 🙂
Yay!! Thanks for the great video! It’s wonderful to see them enjoying the warmth of the greenhouse area…especially Negra! 🙂 I know that Jim, John & Brian were happy to help with the construction! Thank you so much to you, too, JB!! According to Jim, the greenhouse wouldn’t have happened without all of your hard work on this project! 🙂 It’s easy to see that the chimps love their new “sunroom”! 🙂
The greenhouse looks fabulous!!! I can tell it’s fully “chimp-approved” by all the comfy reclined-snacking and sun-bathing taking place. 🙂 Forgive me for not fully-understanding the design, I assume the materials are super insulating, so I understand how they work in winter. How does it function in the summer time? Do you remove the panels, or do they, in essence, switch roles and provide insulation that repels the summer heat?
This truly warms our house. Felicity I think they remove the panels in summer.
It’s obvious it has the stamp of approval of the most important critics. They all look so happy and content nesting and sunning. Seeing Negra enjoying the sun and nesting was a real treat! Thank you for always trying to improve the lives of the chimps. They certainly deserve it!
The panels will be removed in the summer, which can be done in stages as it gets warmer. We get a ton of wind here in central Washington, so it will double as a wind block during spring! We, both humans and chimps, are all so excited!!
If they could, I know the chimps would say thank you to each and every person who made the greenhouse possible! To JB for the idea and plan, to all the folks who put hand-to-shovel and -saw and helped build, and to all who contributed resources. Having a small greenhouse of my own, I am well aware of how much more comfortable their space is now, even when the bright sun isn’t shining. You’ve probably at least doubled the number of days per year where being ‘outside’ will be comfortable for them! Such a wonderful accomplishment!
But – LOL – where will they get snow to eat now? 🙂
Ahhh…………. fresh DRY straw and hay to nest with, “life is good”.
Love the shot of Jody holding her leaf of hay and going to the deck to nest.
A dream come true! What a difference this will make in the seven’s lives and their caregivers! Glad that I was part of this. On and forward!!