Recycled Green House Pics

[barefootgardener]

Originally Posted by casino

Very nice, congratulations on your building skills. It can get a little stressful putting together a project using scrap material but in the long run I bet your GH is much better built than a "kit" greenhouse. I am starting to build a baby GH ( 8x16) in my city backyard from recycled materials. Designing and building the GH from re-cycled materials requires a lot of thought and the finished product looks so easy. I can see many hours of enjoyment in your GH, good job.

Thank you for the kind words. I am really enjoying it. We had some nice sunny days recently, so spent some time cleaning it out this past week as I needed to move my seedlings in and out.
I will be planting some of the beds with greens and kale soon. I have some lettuce and cabbage started in the house and in containers.

Supposed to get a wintersnow/sleet storm tonight and through tomorrow, and the last couple days have been overcast, so the GH temps are hovering around the 40's so far this week..last week had a brief warmup in the 50's and lots of sunny days, so the indoor temp was around 78 degrees..very nice for the seedlings.

I am happy you are getting the chance to build your GH..I am sure you are putting a lot of thought and time into it as well. When using diff. size windows and doors it does take planning to get everything to look cohesive..I painted the trim and everything green to bring it all together..Your 8 x 16 Gh will be big enough to start lots of seedlngs. And to grow lots of goodies..Please post pic's when you can..Would love to see it!

[lurley]

Casino, I don't know if you have all of your materials together yet or not, but our nearby big city (columbus), has a habitat for humanity re-store. Tons of things that have been taken out of houses from remodels, along with brand new stuff is donated for sale really cheap and the funds go to habitat for humanity. I got some really great double pane windows there I used for ventilation in my chicken coop. Only 25 bucks a piece. I'm betting they probably have a store somewhere near you. Detroit, Grand rapids, or troy maybe?

[bullish]

I also visit the Habit for Humanity store and I agree you can find some really good deals on windows and many other homebuilding items.

Lowes often has a section of clearance windows and doors that changes every other day, so it may be worth checking every couple of days. You just need to find where they hide the clearance windows and doors, in the store!

[happydog]

Wow, your son builds you nice things for Mother's Day! You're so lucky!!!

and the greenhouse is nice too. Very inspirational, thanks for sharing!

[barefootgardener]

Originally Posted by happydog

Wow, your son builds you nice things for Mother's Day! You're so lucky!!!

and the greenhouse is nice too. Very inspirational, thanks for sharing!

Aww..Thank you..I am a lucky mom indeed..It all started with Lego's when he was three..Some of the things he built w/Lego's at a young age would blow you away..

[barefootgardener]

Lurley and bullish, I agree Habitat for humanity is a great place to find a good variety of used doors and windows..the one in our area has a 50% off deal at least once a month..

With the warmer season upon us, people will be doing some remodeling and will be replacing windows and doors..many will be on the curbside to pick up, or will offer for free in the paper..Check Freecycle also...

[Sundrops]

For those looking for windows and such to build a greenhouse don't forget about your local window replacement stores. I pass one everyday while driving to work. A lot of times the guys who work there put the good windows that can be used outside of the dumpster and people can just pick them up. I've got lots of goodies that way. In fact everytime I go by and see good windows it makes me sick that I don't have anyplace to put them. You may need to just make a stop and talk to the business owner. It benefits them as well because they don't have to pay the dumping fees to get rid of them. I was collecting them but then run into a good deal on polycarbonate panels (and I do mean a good deal!) $2.00 each for 4 1/2' by 10 1/2' panels. Brand new. Picked up a hundred sheets. I have a new greenhouse in the plans, and now don't need the windows I've collected.

I built my first little greenhouse out of used storm windows and have been using it for the last 14 years. It is still in good shape and I hate to tear it down to build the new one, it's just too small.

Another good thing to get your hands on are jolousy windows. I have 5 in my little GH - they are great for ventilation. Just crank them out and close them at night. I have 3 on the west side and 2 plus the storm door on the east side. The wind blows right through there. I love them.

[barefootgardener]

Originally Posted by Sundrops

For those looking for windows and such to build a greenhouse don't forget about your local window replacement stores. I pass one everyday while driving to work. A lot of times the guys who work there put the good windows that can be used outside of the dumpster and people can just pick them up. I've got lots of goodies that way. In fact everytime I go by and see good windows it makes me sick that I don't have anyplace to put them. You may need to just make a stop and talk to the business owner. It benefits them as well because they don't have to pay the dumping fees to get rid of them. I was collecting them but then run into a good deal on polycarbonate panels (and I do mean a good deal!) $2.00 each for 4 1/2' by 10 1/2' panels. Brand new. Picked up a hundred sheets. I have a new greenhouse in the plans, and now don't need the windows I've collected.


I built my first little greenhouse out of used storm windows and have been using it for the last 14 years. It is still in good shape and I hate to tear it down to build the new one, it's just too small.

Another good thing to get your hands on are jolousy windows. I have 5 in my little GH - they are great for ventilation. Just crank them out and close them at night. I have 3 on the west side and 2 plus the storm door on the east side. The wind blows right through there. I love them.

Sundrop,
What a deal on the polycarbonate panels! Good for you! What size GH do you have planned? Be sure to post pics on the construction and finished G.H.

I am sure if you place an ad in the paper or on freecycle, someone would be happy to take the windows off your hands. Probably someone else who would love a GH..

[Sundrops]

My plans currently are for about a 16 or 18' X 26'. I will probably have lots of PC panels left over.

I am so mad at myself because I got the PC panels last summer and had intended to have my GH built for this season. However, I also am planning a small pole barn for my garden hobby (32' x 30') and attaching the GH to it. So...........until I get the barn built I can't attach a GH.

I've sworn not to build unless I can pay cash (I hate debt) and the barn came in a little over my budget. So......I am tweaking the design and have high hopes for this spring/summer.

Wish me luck and yes, I will be sure to send lots of pics.

[barefootgardener]

Originally Posted by Sundrops

My plans currently are for about a 16 or 18' X 26'. I will probably have lots of PC panels left over.

I am so mad at myself because I got the PC panels last summer and had intended to have my GH built for this season. However, I also am planning a small pole barn for my garden hobby (32' x 30') and attaching the GH to it. So...........until I get the barn built I can't attach a GH.

I've sworn not to build unless I can pay cash (I hate debt) and the barn came in a little over my budget. So......I am tweaking the design and have high hopes for this spring/summer.

Wish me luck and yes, I will be sure to send lots of pics.

Sounds wonderful to me, but at least you still have your recycled GH to use until your pole barn and attached GH are done. That will be a nice sized Gh to grow lots of little seedlings into big plants!

I dont blame you about the debt! Get's people into trouble..My grandparents and father always paid cash for everything..If you cant afford it..you dont need it, as they always said..

Good luck! hope you get it all accomplished this year!

Ginny

[bobberman]

My problem with greenhouses is heating them and if its worth the big expense! I have a solar one with water storage and the north wall insulated. Where does the sun come up on the length or width! Where you are located can you extend the growing season without heat more than a month or two!
+++
Your greenhouse is very nice. I have 9 sliding double glass doors thast are 4 by 6- foot 8 inches ready to make a another one. I am thinking of making a 36 foot south wall with the doors setting on a foot high wood border! That will give me a app. 8 foot south wall! Should I slant the doors or leave them on a 90 degree angle? So I guess it will be 8 or 10 by 36 rectangle but I am not sure what I will do with the roof am thinging of a 12 high foot north slant wall to meet at the center of the rectangle and then angle the top to the 8 foot windows and cover the 4 foot section above the windows with double plastic!. Not sure yet any suggestions?

[barefootgardener]

Originally Posted by bobberman

My problem with greenhouses is heating them and if its worth the big expense! I have a solar one with water storage and the north wall insulated. Where does the sun come up on the length or width! Where you are located can you extend the growing season without heat more than a month or two!
+++
Your greenhouse is very nice. I have 9 sliding double glass doors thast are 4 by 6- foot 8 inches ready to make a another one. I am thinking of making a 36 foot south wall with the doors setting on a foot high wood border! That will give me a app. 8 foot south wall! Should I slant the doors or leave them on a 90 degree angle? So I guess it will be 8 or 10 by 36 rectangle but I am not sure what I will do with the roof am thinging of a 12 high foot north slant wall to meet at the center of the rectangle and then angle the top to the 8 foot windows and cover the 4 foot section above the windows with double plastic!. Not sure yet any suggestions?

Bobberman, sorry for the slow response. I just read your message.

As of today, we have no expense in heating the GH as it is still unheated. It extends my growing season for heat loving crops at least 2-3 months. I move my coldframe into the GH in April, and leave my seedlings in that, which I tuck in some water bottles filled with hot water, for more protection. At night, when the temps drop, I also cover with blankets. I plant tomatoes in (GH) ground around the first of May. I still protect my seedlings with some sort of cover at night, and tuck in water bottles around each seedling when temps drop at night. The GH protects the mature plants from frosts, into the late fall. It is only when we have a really hard freeze, that it effects the plants closest to the windows, if not covered. The ones planted in middle of GH always survive a hard freeze, with no protection..The plan is to eventually make a solar water barrel for xtra heat. Oh and the sun comes up on the front East width side..But the sun fills the whole Gh from all angles since it is made of all glass and roof is polycarbonate panels.

Your off to a great start for another GH with all those saved patio doors. I am a little confused by your plans. I am not a professional, my husband helped me with my GH..Had to figure the plans out on paper, once we had the dimensions of all the windows and doors..Plus you figure in your framing etc. Wish I could help you more on that. Maybe someone else would be more helpful. If you hadnt done it by now, I would suggest some internet sites that show plans of other peoples recycled GHouses.

I will be looking for more updates from you! Looking forward to seeing your finished GH. Thank you, and Good luck!

Ginny

[barefootgardener]

GH. Early July 2011

The collard greens and swiss chard grew really huge! First time I grew them in GH.

[bobberman]

I have swiss chard that is still growing for three years along with lots of parsley! Just cut the flower seeds when it wants to go to seedf. Leave the side shoots on and you will have a plant with a 100 small leaves growing from side shoots. You can take a side shoot and start a new plant! try nasturtiums theyreally do well even in the shaded area in the greenhouse!

[bluebonnets]

Beautiful greenhouse!