Backyard Greenhouses: Anyone Had/Built One?

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Hey! I'm trying to figure out what would work for our family for a greenhouse.

We need something to suit the following:

*Want to grow year-round veggies & fruits. Specifically, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, lettuce, cucumbers, onions, etc.

*We have mild winters up here in Washington state

*The two main purposes are to save $ on the fresh groceries, and feed our family healthier foods (organic, fresh, pesticide-free, etc)

So I'm no green thumb. I can't believe that I have kept the 3 houseplants that I own alive this long, but they're doing great!
Since this is to save money, I really can't afford those beautiful professional ones that cost a grand or more. We have 10 people here, and most are able-bodied and fairly handy, so I'm thinking we could build something! We do have space for 8'x8' I'm thinking, or 6'x8', or anything near that.

There are TONS of websites on greenhouses and do-it-yourself, and of course I have no clue where to start.

Does anyone have some suggestions? What's worked or hasn't worked for them? Interesting new products on the market?

Thanky!!

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[d_squared431 0]

Quote

Hey! I'm trying to figure out what would work for our family for a greenhouse.

We need something to suit the following:

*Want to grow year-round veggies & fruits. Specifically, tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, lettuce, cucumbers, onions, etc.

*We have mild winters up here in Washington state

*The two main purposes are to save $ on the fresh groceries, and feed our family healthier foods (organic, fresh, pesticide-free, etc)

So I'm no green thumb. I can't believe that I have kept the 3 houseplants that I own alive this long, but they're doing great!
Since this is to save money, I really can't afford those beautiful professional ones that cost a grand or more. We have 10 people here, and most are able-bodied and fairly handy, so I'm thinking we could build something! We do have space for 8'x8' I'm thinking, or 6'x8', or anything near that.

There are TONS of websites on greenhouses and do-it-yourself, and of course I have no clue where to start.

Does anyone have some suggestions? What's worked or hasn't worked for them? Interesting new products on the market?

Thanky!!

Have you looked at those pre built sheds? They are about 500 and then you can turn it into a greenhouse. The sheds I'm talking about you have to put together but it comes pre assembled the roof,floor,walls,etc. Takes two people to put it together but only takes a few hours. Had some friends do that and the live in Tahoe. Same type of weather.

TPM Sister#130ONTIG#1
I love vodka.I love vodka cause it rhymes with Tuaca~LisaH
You having a clean thought is like billyvance having a clean post.iluvtofly

[ACMESkydiver 0]

I'm looking at those here online. Just trying to figure out which way to go!

Looks like I can construct a 'hoophouse' kind of thingy with PVC piping and some 6mil plastic. That might work for our purposes...however there is one lil' roadblock that I forgot to consider until just now:

-the homeowner's association.

Rat-bastards are always killing our fun! Of course, only the neighbor to my left and right can see our backyard, and I don't think either of them will care at all.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Here's a website that looks promising! --> http://www.stretcher.com/stories/02/02jun03a.cfm

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[Gene03 0]

Howdy Jaye,

Try this one.

Rodale's Solar Growing Frame.

ISBN 0-87857-305-4

Hee,Hee.


It's late, I'm tired. Forgot this.


And while we're on the subject, look what this man is doing.


www.growingpower.org

“The only fool bigger than the person who knows it all is the person who argues with him.

Stanislaw Jerzy Lec quotes (Polish writer, poet and satirist 1906-1966)

[jdthomas 0]

you can buy green houses, maybe costco, sams club or harbor frieght has them already to go and you just assemble.
My friend is tottally into this stuff, he is one of those mother earth news type gurus for a ton of my questions.
his green house is conntected to his home, the back side of his green house has 55gal drums stacked upon each other and they have hoses that run to each drum and the drums are filled with water.
The days sun heast the water and then at night that heat is passed back into the green house keeping it warm, he rarely has to heat the green house with fossil fuels in the winter. this heat also passes into his house during the winter cutting his needs to heat the home. in the summer he drains the barrels so not to over heat the green house. most of the water is storred into his well and then pumped back into the barrles the next winter, he also cacthes all rain water from his house, greenhouse and shed, that water is run into the well for yard use and refilling the barrels.
None of this may be practical for you, but you should be able to find prefab greenhosues in mother earth news, craigs list? and you should be able to buy a water catching drum at your local garden store and use that water for the green house and they may have green house info.
sadly enought he city I live in restricts greenhouses so I have to wait until I move to build one. in tough economis times it would be nice to have your own food source and check out getting a warm composter as well, these things are awesome and make dirt for your garden.
Joe

www.greenboxphotography.com

[jimp 1]

This should get you started:

http://books.google.ca/books?id=YQnRrUvFPoIC&dq=%22solar+gardening%22&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=jX-YSYqEB5mktQOY4_V8&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PPP1,M1

[sunshine 2]

Ooh, now if i ever make it to visit you, i can have a salad made from fresh stuff from your greenhouse.

___________________________________________
meow

I get a Mike hug! I get a Mike hug!

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Quote

Howdy Jaye,

Try this one.

Rodale's Solar Growing Frame.

ISBN 0-87857-305-4

Hee,Hee.


It's late, I'm tired. Forgot this.


And while we're on the subject, look what this man is doing.


www.growingpower.org

Couldn't locate the ISBN in the library...I'll check direct with the source.

I loved the aquaponics in that link!

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

I hadn't thought of Craig's list! I bet somebody is moving up in size and needs to get rid of a smaller one.
I read a little about using a dark drum full of water to collect and retain solar heat (very low-tech, but that's totally me: simple & easy solutions are the best! ).

I was checking out the warm composters, too. I remember being on my grandpa's farm. He had a HUGE compost pile. I sure don't have room or ability to do that in my small backyard (the neighbors would DEFINITELY pitch a fit over that!) so those more modern continous feed, self-contained barrel composters may be helpful.

I like the idea of reusing rainwater run-off as well. We have a TON of that up here in the NW.

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Quote

This should get you started:

http://books.google.ca/books?id=YQnRrUvFPoIC&dq=%22solar+gardening%22&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=jX-YSYqEB5mktQOY4_V8&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PPP1,M1

Hoo Nelly that's a bit of an in-depth read...but I did pick out some good info. thanky!

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.

[ACMESkydiver 0]

Quote

Ooh, now if i ever make it to visit you, i can have a salad made from fresh stuff from your greenhouse.

-And strawberries for pie!

~Jaye
Do not believe that possibly you can escape the reward of your action.