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PVC alternative?

 
mike baron
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posted 6 years ago
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Hi,

I'm thinking of setting up a hoop house over my (tiny) raised beds. I was thinking about using a simple bamboo structure, covered with something.

Now "something" is where I have a problem. PVC is easily accessible, but:
a) ugly
b) not nature friendly

Are there any good alternatives I could use?

Thanks
 
F Agricola
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posted 6 years ago
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Ditto, I've been thinking of an alternative to poly pipe too.

The only options thought up was: bamboo, bundled cane, or perhaps even bundled grape vine cuttings. Though that may be messy on a large scale.

(Apologies: misread the question!)

 
Mike Haasl
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posted 6 years ago
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Hi Mike, you're talking about a replacement for PVC clear greenhouse film, right?

I'm thinking a good approach could be to fit some glass windows or shower doors in an A frame over your "tiny" raised beds.  Then you'd be re-purposing something instead of buying new.

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Carla Burke
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posted 6 years ago
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If you have access to willow - almost any willow - they arch easily, and can be manipulated into all kinds of structures.

Edited to add: Oops! I misread. Have you thought about using fabric? Of course, that could get pricey, if you have very many, or they are very large. But, old sheets, yours or from good will, or other resale, individually, or sewn end to end...

"The only thing...more expensive than education is ignorance."~Ben Franklin
"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light." ~ Plato

 
Cristo Balete
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posted 6 years ago
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Old windows with frames, if you can find them in a recycle place, single pane ought to be the cheapest, built into a squared-off hoop.  They last for a very long time if you take care of the wooden frames, keep them stained, which seems to hold up better in the sun than paint.  

The ends of the beds can be covered with shade cloth or shower curtains over chicken wire that can be raised and lowered.  

An important distinction: Permaculture is not the same kind of gardening as organic gardening.
Mediterranean climate hugel trenches, fabuluous clay soil high in nutrients, self-watering containers with hugel layers, keyhole composting with low hugel raised beds, thick Back to Eden Wood chips mulch (distinguished from Bark chips), using as many native plants as possible....all drought tolerant.

 
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