greenhouse info
 

I searched and came up with 5 pages and not one about the green house stuff that was going on for a while.
I searched google and it looks about 6,000 or so to have a good one built.

I am buying a house with a huge garage and aloft. The garage will hold about 6 cars, it's more of a barn.

Would it be cheaper/easier to convert part of the garage, or should I do it outdoors.

By the way this is on a lake and in the mountains? Hills of northwest jersey, so lots of snow and cold.

Thanks for the help!

Re: greenhouse info
 

If you're talking about converting a garage to a greenhouse I'd look into the viability of installing those skylight tubes mentioned in another thread in this forum. The major problem with a greenhouse is glass walls are fragile and plastic will breakdown and crack.

Outside you can use bell glasses as mini-greenhouses over seedlings and smaller plants. Jars are good enough. You can tip the odds in your favor by growing plants especially suited for cold weather.

Re: greenhouse info
 

After reading up on the construction of earthships here:
http://goldismoney.info/forums/showt...ight=earthship
I thought that maybe a good idea of constructing a small structure similar to this design for a greenhouse. Use the idea of using a south facing hill and burrowing the back of the structure into the earth to help keep a constant temp. The front would be slanted glass of course.

Re: greenhouse info
 

i was just searching for greenhouses for my father in law.
ebay has several diff types with polycarb windows and vents ad aluminum frames. check it out

Re: greenhouse info
 

Greenhouses are pretty simple structures. You could probably design and build a functional greenhouse using products available locally. Six by sixes for posts, polyethylene sheets for covering, or lexan if you want to go high end.
There are some important details, but the structure is not that complicated.
Your local building code requirements may have some say, however.

Re: greenhouse info
 

That's why I started thinking I'd do part of the garage.
Convert part of it. I'll also check out the tubes page.

Thanks

Re: greenhouse info
 

Here is an interesting, very inexpensive straw bale compost greenhouse that produces an amazing amount of heat and hot water.
Since it is designed to be temporary, it might not require permitting.
Although I think this design would be way too hot for the south, it might be worth looking into in a cold snowy climate. In fact, you may be able to heat your whole barn with something like this.

http://ersson.sustainabilitylane.com/greenhse.htm

Re: greenhouse info
 

Re: greenhouse info
 

Greenhouses are very specific.

http://www.greenhousecatalog.com/

Has these new double-walled acrylic panes. Prices for conduit/pvc hoop-based units are incredibly reasonable. Mil plastic is dirt-cheap (if "disposable") If you needed a tractor/Harley shed, I'd so one of these, with or without the double-wall blower/inflater.

Greenhouses are a very --VERY-- special technicality. If you're away for 30 min and the sun comes out, you can have 100% mortality of your seedlings. One thing that helps is to have enough air volume, so it's important to be correctly spec'd to size/use. The new temperature-sensitive balanced gas shocks that open and shut the vents are a must. Seemed like no reason not to hold the tables on 50gal waterdrums as thermal modulator. ...And hide your cistern in plain sight.

A book you really need to get for this is Eliot Coleman's "4-Season Grower". He covers some unique greehouse problems and solutions. This is no joke, as any permenant greenhouse quickly becomes colonized by plant diseases.

For the price, the greehouse add-on wings for the house or garage don't look bad. Or how about a 8x10 double-wall glasshouse to use for that hunting shack you always wanted?
Better buy than stocks right now.

TS

Re: greenhouse info
 

thanks for all the info. I'm glad the site saves this stuff when you comment. reason: I'm going to wait a year. After listening to some of the top people about this market even though my credit is good and we have secured the loan. Some people have been saying be a strong negotiator. Prices are going to drop!!!
I'm not good at negotiating so I'm going to wait about a year and buy then.

Thanks for all the info. Those domes are cool!!!!