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Post by johno on Sept 11, 2007 0:27:59 GMT -5
Some of you may recall my dream greenhouse/tool shed from a thread at idig this time last year. I'm still stuck on it, about a 20'diameter 1-1/2 story octagon with lots of glass. I have done tons of research on it, and designed it down to the last inch.
Then I woke up. If I want a greenhouse this winter, I'd better design something cheap and easy using the materials at hand. In my physical condition, it'll take me two or three years to build what I want.
So, let this be the beginning of a realistic overgrown cold frame. It'll be kind of like 'Junkyard Wars,' only without competition - unless anyone wants to join me (greenhouse wars? junkyard greenhouse?..)
I have three sets of glass doors, all different sizes, of course, and a few windows. I have odds and ends of hardware and fasteners. I have some ratty old 6 or 7 foot 2x4's, and some random width 1x's. There's also some scrap plywood. If I look hard enough, I can probably find everything I need.
More posts to follow...
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Sept 11, 2007 8:05:57 GMT -5
Hahaha, the race is on Johno! I'll post pics later today of the "Glass House/GreenhouseWannabe" that became a home to my turkey poults. Let's just say that it's Funk-tional,   |
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Sept 11, 2007 10:03:35 GMT -5
Isn't it just the ugliest thing you've ever seen? No matter..it's kept my turkey poults safe from the Fox that killed their parents!!  |
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Post by Alan on Sept 11, 2007 21:37:07 GMT -5
As long as is functional and structurally sound that's all that matters, it looks like a good place for overwintered greens to me!
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Post by johno on Sept 11, 2007 22:13:40 GMT -5
"...ugliest thing..." Are you kidding? I thought you had driven through the Ozarks before? Funk-tional ;D I'll have to charge up some camera batteries and show you my materials... |
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Sept 11, 2007 22:18:14 GMT -5
Johno, I'm thinking maybe Paintman got the plans for the Glasshouse in the Ozarks, LOLOL. I'm glad you like it. Let me know when property comes up for sale on your road.  Alan, That's the plan!! Bok Choy, Buttercrunch lettuce; maybe some Black Seeded Simpson and definitely Swiss Chard. Going to put 50 gallon drum full of water to hold heat whenever possible.. |
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Post by johno on Oct 3, 2007 9:41:32 GMT -5
I really need to get my own camera...
But here's what's new.
I dragged some old telephone poles into my yard with truck and chain. I was so excited, two of these poles are about 36' long - lots of potential there... I was going to use them as sill logs because of their weight and rot resistance, but Certified Naturally Grown put the brakes on that idea. So I have some lumberjacking to do; I was hoping to avoid that. Now they will serve as a workstation for hewing and notching cedar logs. Time to call in some favors...
I drew the plan based primarily on the glass at hand. The only problem that has arisen is that my glass roof will be a foot wider than my recycled lumber for the walls. I discovered last year that the glass will stand up to 2" hail if supported only around the perimeter. The problem now is that I'll have a roughly 6" overhang, and that, I'm pretty sure, would break from an impact. A little tricky carpentry can solve that, but it certainly complicates things. I was shooting for simplicity...
The other sticking point is the north wall. It needs to do a few things - most notably: insulate from the cold side of the building, reflect light, and draw and store heat. These functions do not really go hand-in-hand. To top it off, it will require a lot of whatever materials I decide to use (approximately 15' x 6'.) I didn't want to buy anything if possible, and not much if impossible. Some options were: logs, cordwood & masonry, stone, strawbale & plaster, rammed earth. None of these options is ideal. The problems range from too much money to too much work, and all have their drawbacks to boot. Then it hit me; one material will easily give me more insulation than I need, be very little work, and cost little to nothing: used styrofoam boat dock floats. I already have one, and I bet I can get two more - that's all I'll need. Then I have only the heat storage to worry about. If I use clear water containers, reflectivity from the white styrofoam will be excellent. Finding the perfect clear water containers is another problem altogether, but as it stands, I have quite a few 2 liter soda bottles down by the garden already, so they are the most likely candidate. Problem #2 solved, I think.
The footprint (outside dimensions) will be 15' x 11'. I have located this inside the garden, in the northeast quadrant near the entrance. It's too far from the house to run an extension cord, so supplemental lighting will be another problem. I'm willing to work that one out later in exchange for the convenience of saving me countless steps in the future. I like the idea of having my transplant factory in the garden.
Greenhouse climate is where the fun starts. Some of that is out of the way simply by having clear walls and a clear south side of the roof. But that's not enough. The temperature will be too hot in the late afternoon, and too cold in the early morning, without some more attention to detail. I believe I have enough bricks (of various colors and sizes...) to at least pave a path down the middle, if not the entire floor. This will be fantastic for moderating temperature fluctuations. I'd also like to at least build a passive solar air heater, if not liquid heater. I'm quite sure that a radiant floor heating system would do the trick, but I'm not convinced that it's necessary or worth the extra effort (although, I have noticed pieces of black plastic pipe jutting out of the ground here and there, and I'm sure I could dig up enough, complete with fittings, to avoid having to buy materials.) I have propane or wood heat for backup if it gets extremely cold. I also found a small stock-tank. I plan to bury it and use it for heat storage, maybe for goldfish and frogs, too. It'll be handy to get fairly warm water from for seedlings in the dead of winter.
So far, I have staked out the footprint and managed a rubble footing for the north wall. The rock came from the base of the nearest tree, where my wife's grandfather threw them when clearing the yard, years ago. The gravel came from the creek in our back yard. I'll make rubble footings around the perimeter, though they really only serve the purpose of drainage, not so much support, as this will be a pole barn type structure. I can only work on it a few hours a week, due to my condition, but I hope to have it mostly complete by the holidays.
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Post by Alan on Oct 6, 2007 22:38:23 GMT -5
Best of luck on completing your project Johno, it sounds good to me. Please keep us updated and be sure to get us some pics, I wish I had a talapia tank with irrigation set up in my greenhouses...one of these days.
-Alan
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Post by johno on Nov 4, 2007 22:41:20 GMT -5
I got to borrow a tractor with a front end loader and a hoe today! Got my footing and corner post holes dug for the greenhouse. Also got extra rock to fill in the trenches.
Scraped up load after load of topsoil from inconspicuous areas to beef up my garden border - instant raised beds! Also cleaned up an area near the garden where I've been waiting for some stumps to rot - they finally have. Now it's smoothed and I can plant something there, eventually fruit trees and/or blueberries, but maybe tomatoes next year? We'll see how many holes I can dig there in the morning before I have to give it back. I was grinning all afternoon!
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Post by bluelacedredhead on Nov 4, 2007 22:54:30 GMT -5
I can see ya smiling all the way from here ;D
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Post by Alan on Nov 5, 2007 0:29:51 GMT -5
I know what your saying Johno, having a front end loader is a big help, probably a bad Idea for friends and neighbors to loan a tractor with a front end loader on it to me for fear that I won't want to bring it back.....I immediately make a long, long list of things I can't do by hand....as always theres just too much to do with too little "borrowed" time, but I'm going to have me one eventually, one of these days.
-alan
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Post by johno on Nov 11, 2007 1:13:52 GMT -5
Here are some pictures of Eric digging the footing for my greenhouse. I wasn't the one who took them...    I'm the geek wearing black socks and shorts... That's my sister-in-law standing next to me. You can plainly see my compost tumbler... |
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Post by Alan on Nov 11, 2007 11:52:31 GMT -5
LOL, you reminded me of the CSX railroad guys that work out here on the tracks....one guy working....two standing around.
Just kidding and thought you'd get a kick out of that.
Keep us updated and best of luck!
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Post by johno on Nov 11, 2007 18:26:45 GMT -5
Well, he pretty much knows what he's doing... but if you look close in the first pic, I'm giving hand signals whilst sitting on a bucket.
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Post by Alan on Nov 12, 2007 1:27:56 GMT -5
And doing a good job of it...everyone needs a superviser, that's what my dad always tells me anyhow If I didn't know better I would almost think that you were giving him the devils horns and rocking out to the industrial sound of the backhoe. Just pulling your leg buddy. Can't wait to see what you do with this project, I think you have some pretty novel Ideas with it that will turn out great! -Alan |
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