Should You Build Your Own Greenhouse?
Posted by sozmore on Sep 19, 2009
Have you considered building a greenhouse? To be honest this is something that is still on my to-do-list. I plan to do it within the next couple of years when it’s more feasible for me economically. One thing I am doing now is gathering information on the process.
There are definite advantages to having your own greenhouse.
1 Working with nature is good for the soul – I always feel regenerated when I spend time outdoors or in contact with nature in some way. Having a greenhouse will extend the time you can spend outdoors during the year. Early preparation for garden seedlings is a great way to get your hands into the soil before the spring actually arrives.
2 Growing your own vegetables and fruits – This is a great economic benefit as well as benefiting the environment. As we discussed in an earlier post, one easy way to go green is to eat green. Eating more fresh fruits and vegetables help reduce transportation demands as well as reducing packaging in the landfill. And NOTHING tastes better than fresh from the garden produce. One of my favorite mealtime memories from childhood were the meals made of corn, , squash, fried okra, sliced tomatoes and cucumbers. (And yes I’m from the south where we each okra!)
3 A protected place to put delicate outdoor plants during the winter - When I was growing up, my mom would move most of her houseplants outside during the spring and summer. But, when the next fall rolled around it always seemed that there wasn’t quite enough room to bring them all back into the house! A greenhouse would be the perfect place for plants that need protection from the elements.
Some things to consider before building a greenhouse:
1 Your climate and where you can place a greenhouse on your property (south facing, etc.) will determine certain features. For example, if you live in a climate where the summers are hot, you must have adequate ventilation to prevent overheating. Is your climate cold enough to require extra insulation in the winter, etc.
2 What type of materials or package to you expect to use? Will you do -it-yourself or have it built? Will you use salvage materials such as railroad ties or purchase new?
3 What features are most important to you? The floor for example can be concrete, or a combination of boards, gravel, and dirt. You will want to plan for storage of materials such as gardening tools, pots, etc.and of course have benches to work on.
4 Do you plan on automating functions such as watering or ventilation, or do you plan on doing this automatically. This may be affected by your personal life choices, such as how often you travel.
5 Finally, how much space do you need? Do you intend to use it primarily to get seedlings ready for the garden? Or do you plan to indulge a passion for orchids?
It seems to me that planning a greenhouse can be as individual as planning a home. I know I hope to spend a great deal of time in mine once I get it built. I’ll keep you up-to-date on my progress.
Have you built a greenhouse? If so, please share with us by commenting here.
If you are further along in the process than I am, here are few products I saw advertised that may interest you.
One book which may interest you and is free. Edmund Morris’ book Ten Acres Enough is in the public domain and you can download it free here.
Click Here to Download Ten Acres Enough
Another book you may find interesting is a book of greenhouse plans. Click on the image below to get more information or to buy.
