Kellybell hartley

I am so grateful for your input! Im in the planning stages of our greenhouse and to be honest we have way more problems with heat @ 100-114F for weeks this summer.. and a record drought. as for the few very cold days I plan on using a rocket heater and other passive solar heating in the design..Is anyone getting good results with any type of passive cooling system?

I have been researching the thermo mass heating and cooling qualities of Phase Change materials such as soy, paraffin and various salts encapsulated and placed on the north wall...

Im new here as well ..to post that is , however Ive been reading for years and im so excited that you have asked this question for I to am thinking of putting a pond in my green house (still in the planning.

Does bermed (terraced planting beds) earth have the same ability to give off heat as cob?

I live in Oklahoma...and as you know we are always challenged when it comes to gardening..LOL Ive been exhaustively researching these ideas about 365 gardening and preserving while living off of the grid, so before I call out the earth movers I want to make sure i have all of my ducks in a row!.....I was very interested in this site... http://greenhouse.taroandti.com/2008/02/28/earth-sheltered-pit-greenhouse/ It seems they are doing a hybrid type at a low cost.
I would love to find others in my area that might have some experience with this and i also have a few questions for the forum?.....

1. I notice everyone is planting on the floor. Wouldn't it be better use of the space to do a terraced planting along the walls and this would act as a berm as well?

2. Although i am knee deep into self efficiency My moto is( purposeful can be pretty at the same time)... So has anyone added some of the more aesthetic details to their plans... ponds, decorative elements ect?

3. could i figure out a way to incorporate a tropical zone for figs and citrus .. a zone where i could let plants go dormant if need be... a cactus area... a fish pond/aquaponic area and a little mushroom area? or am i looking at digging several different houses?

I live in Oklahoma...and as you know we are always challenged when it comes to gardening..LOL Ive been exhaustively researching these ideas about 365 gardening and preserving while living off of the grid, so before I call out the earth movers I want to make sure i have all of my ducks in a row!.....I was very interested in this site... http://greenhouse.taroandti.com/2008/02/28/earth-sheltered-pit-greenhouse/ It seems they are doing a hybrid type at a low cost.
I would love to find others in my area that might have some experience with this and i also have a few questions for the forum?.....

1. I notice everyone is planting on the floor. Wouldn't it be better use of the space to do a terraced planting along the walls and this would act as a berm as well?

2. Although i am knee deep into self efficiency My moto is( purposeful can be pretty at the same time)... So has anyone added some of the more aesthetic details to their plans... ponds, decorative elements ect?

3. could i figure out a way to incorporate a tropical zone for figs and citrus .. a zone where i could let plants go dormant if need be... a cactus area... a fish pond/aquaponic area and a little mushroom area? or am i looking at digging several different houses?