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building my first ever greenhouse...

 
gardener
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Location: yakima valley, central washington, pacific northwest zone 6b
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So I am taking on a project.  I am going to build a greenhouse! Yay!  I am doing this while staying on someone else's property with their tools and materials.  So awesome of them, really I am very grateful! Here is the catch: They really don't see the joy in gardening.  They have wanted to build a steel framed tiny house on their old boat trailer.  The idea is that the greenhouse could be utilized as something else once I am done with it.  So I am going to build the frame of a tiny house and cover it with polycarbonate? sheets.  What could go wrong?

I may only build the first 10X10 ft. If things go well, I will end up with a 10X22-24 ft greenhouse. I really want this to be a functional greenhouse soon.  The whole point is to have greens all winter long.  I plan to heat it either with an electric heater or propane heater.  A wood stove is not off the table but seems like a lot of maintenance.  

They have tons of steel, welding, building experience.  I have absolutely none.  I need a project that serves me and my needs while I am here.  I also need to learn some skills.  I am almost positive that this is going to be all on me.  Just thought I would share. I will post updates as it moves along.

Tomorrow I start gathering all the supplies that have kind of been stored in different locations.  Organization of said supplies could take a good week in between chores and other life stuff.

I am excited and terrified.  I really have no idea how this is going to turn out.  

 
pollinator
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Location: Massachusetts, Zone:6/7 AHS:4 GDD:3000 Rainfall:48in even Soil:SandyLoam pH6 Flat
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Because alot of things come in 4ft x8ft sheets. I like to use multiples of 4ft so that I have less cutting to do.
So a 12ft x 24ft greenhouse might make a tad bit more sense. With just the initial 12ftx12ft part happening this year.

I would love to year what you plan on growing in it and what type of glazing you plan on using. Will it be a lean to against the house or will it be regular or earth bermed.
Will you vent your dryer into the greenhouse, will you send your hot shower and laundry water through it to extract some heat in the winter? How do you plan on heating it.
Which one of these shape will you be using?
 
S Rogers
gardener
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Location: yakima valley, central washington, pacific northwest zone 6b
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So I believe it woud be a traditional peak shape.  
Now as far as heating it this season, I think we will just be putting a heater in there.  If he keeps the greenhouse part a greenhouse, I am sure he will want to utilize a more efficient means to heat the place.  But the idea is to convert the entire structure into the future tiny house once I am done with the greenhouse by replacing the poly with his preffered insulation exterior and interior walls.

I plan on growing a bunch of microgreens and other greens.  Leaf lettuce.  Spinach.  Nothing that fruits because I don't think I want to hand pollinate.
 
pollinator
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This might be a great project to include a rmh. :)

Future tiny home....good heat.

It seems the first the rmh build leafs to adjustments on the next build.

That's our plan for experience. Build one outdoors, then build a more permanent rmh indoors.

Anyways just a thought....rocket mass heater
 
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