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Devious Experiments with a  Truly Passive Greenhouse Movie



click here to buy the HD Streaming version for $15

click here to buy the tiny download version for $25

click here to buy the HD download version for $35


About the Truly Passive Greenhouse


The Truly Passive Greenhouse

The problem: All greenhouses in a cold climate need heat.  So they consume energy and require human discipline.  At the same time, it is possible that on a sunny day, a greenhouse can get hot enough to kill everything inside.  

The solution: We have a plan to create a greenhouse that requires no heat, and will never overheat.  Mostly, we will use the heat from the summer to heat the structure through the winter.  And if we have a moment of excess heat we will passively store it and save it for later - with no harm to the plants, all with no need for human discipline.

The Greenhouse is Built, and the Movie is complete!

wofati greenhouse
front view of the greenhouse
view from above of wofati greenhouse
aerial view of the greenhouse
Greenhouse Door
kyle at the wofati greenhouse door
Greenhouse steps
rock steps
Josiah
Josiah was in charge of the build!


You can read more about the construction, and see lots more pictures in this thread: The First Wofati Greenhouse Design

$15.00

Devious Experiments with a Truly Passive Greenhouse - full movie
  • This is for The Truly Passive Greenhouse movie
Seller paul wheaton
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That excerpt is awesome! I am so glad I backed this project.
 
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Yeah pretty dope.
 
Jim Misencik
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This came at the perfect time, getting ready to design a greenhouse for my market garden next year - can't STAND the polytunnel plastic structures. Was already thinking a sink it ~3 feet into the ground but those little ideas in the vid got my brain working.
 
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Ditto!
 
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Fanf.....g[Tastic excerpt!!!
 
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👏👏👏👏👏👏
This is such an educational video. Everything is is explained. I'm proud to have been part of the kickstart.
 
steward
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Bee Harris posted these pictures in his Bootcamp thread

Bee Haris wrote:

The reflective tubes Grey and I fabricated


Grey installing the reflective tubes in the greenhouse


passive heating and cooling tubes in greenhouse
Project complete. Now we see if this will work!


A view from the outside, after our tubes were installed




And check out this epic cob sunflower on the greenhouse that Magdalene made!

cob natural plaster sunflower

And the snowflake that Grey woodburnt!

woodburned snowflake

 
author and steward
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the west well, with the 1 inch destratification pipe (2.2 degrees improvement), is performing better than the east well with the 1.5 inch destratification pipe (1.7 degrees improvement).  

I think it is acceptable to say that the 1 inch destratification pipe wins this test.
 
pollinator
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To test whether the pipes are what's driving the temperature change, cap the pipes. If the temperature trend continues unabated, then the pipes aren't responsible.
 
paul wheaton
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When the pipes were not there:   weeks of a rock solid steady 46.2 degrees.  

And then we added the pipes:  no change.

And then we added the reflectors:  now we see change.

 
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Any update on the release date?
Thanks,
Hugh
 
paul wheaton
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Part 1 has already been released.  

Part 2 ...  maybe two weeks?

 
Hubie Hew
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I guess I missed the email.
Where can I access it since I don't see it in "My stuff"? The only wofati stuff I have in there is the pre-order link and the microdoc.
By the way, I did the $15 pre-order.
Thank you Paul.
Hugh

paul wheaton wrote:Part 1 has already been released.  

Part 2 ...  maybe two weeks?

 
paul wheaton
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This is a thing we made just for kickstarter backers at a higher level

https://permies.com/t/170111/Devious-Experiments-Passive-Greenhouse-Part

 
Hubie Hew
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Okay Paul, last question for today since I'm obviously confused.  That link takes me to something you put up 4 months ago and is asking for $25 to view it.  
What did I get for the $15 pre-order purchase I made a few weeks ago?  
I truly appreciate that you're replying to my questions so quickly.
Hugh

paul wheaton wrote:This is a thing we made just for kickstarter backers at a higher level

https://permies.com/t/170111/Devious-Experiments-Passive-Greenhouse-Part

 
paul wheaton
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You get the final movie when it is done.  Parts 1, 2 and 3.

 
Hubie Hew
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Thank you.
That answer begs the question...
Never mind, I said I'd only ask one more today.  
Hugh

paul wheaton wrote:You get the final movie when it is done.  Parts 1, 2 and 3.

 
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Hugh Humes wrote:Thank you.
That answer begs the question...
Never mind, I said I'd only ask one more today.  
Hugh

paul wheaton wrote:You get the final movie when it is done.  Parts 1, 2 and 3.



Is this still a kickstarter - I would like the wofati green house plans. Where can I get it?
 
Nicole Alderman
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Lisa Sture wrote:
Is this still a kickstarter - I would like the wofati green house plans. Where can I get it?



The kickstarter for this one finished two years ago, I believe. But I believe you can find the plans here: First WOFATI Greenhouse Plans
 
Lisa Sture
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Nicole Alderman wrote:

Lisa Sture wrote:
Is this still a kickstarter - I would like the wofati green house plans. Where can I get it?



The kickstarter for this one finished two years ago, I believe. But I believe you can find the plans here: First WOFATI Greenhouse Plans



There was talk about 3 films though and it only looks like one …
 
paul wheaton
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Lisa Sture wrote:

Nicole Alderman wrote:

Lisa Sture wrote:
Is this still a kickstarter - I would like the wofati green house plans. Where can I get it?



The kickstarter for this one finished two years ago, I believe. But I believe you can find the plans here: First WOFATI Greenhouse Plans



There was talk about 3 films though and it only looks like one …



Do you have a link for this talk?
 
Hubie Hew
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paul wheaton wrote:

Lisa Sture wrote:

Nicole Alderman wrote:

Lisa Sture wrote:
Is this still a kickstarter - I would like the wofati green house plans. Where can I get it?



The kickstarter for this one finished two years ago, I believe. But I believe you can find the plans here: First WOFATI Greenhouse Plans



There was talk about 3 films though and it only looks like one …



Do you have a link for this talk?



Good day Paul.  
Lisa quoted my question and your reply so I believe she meant three parts not three movies.  Eagerly awaiting the final video.
Hugh
 
paul wheaton
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We are talking about making a trailer and this is the script we have so far.  Suggestions? Comments?

We built a greenhouse in montana that uses zero electricity.  Not even a fan.  And we did it with mostly logs and mud found on the property.

Our design starts with adding a trench.  Then a berm on the north side.  A trench under the trench. Destratrification pipes. Thermal wells. And our wofati designs.

Nothing like it has ever been tried before.  And our results are magnificent!

Zero cement.  Zero paint.  Less than 1% of the plastic and glue used in standard greenhouses.  Zero energy and the interior stayed above freezing while the outside temperatures dipped to 12 below.  

This started off as a crazy experimental idea, and more than 2000 people threw money at us with the instructions to try!  At Wheaton Labs we are bonkers about experiments.  So the permaculture bootcamp took it on!  Josiah led the roundwood timber framing build and Kyle made dry stack steps and a door with a wooden spring in the latch.

The two hour movie starts with the detailed design, moving on to the build and wrapping up with the remarkable results.  

 
Lisa Sture
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paul wheaton wrote:We are talking about making a trailer and this is the script we have so far.  Suggestions? Comments?

We built a greenhouse in montana that uses zero electricity.  Not even a fan.  And we did it with mostly logs and mud found on the property.

Our design starts with adding a trench.  Then a berm on the north side.  A trench under the trench. Destratrification pipes. Thermal wells. And our wofati designs.

Nothing like it has ever been tried before.  And our results are magnificent!

Zero cement.  Zero paint.  Less than 1% of the plastic and glue used in standard greenhouses.  Zero energy and the interior stayed above freezing while the outside temperatures dipped to 12 below.  

This started off as a crazy experimental idea, and more than 2000 people threw money at us with the instructions to try!  At Wheaton Labs we are bonkers about experiments.  So the permaculture bootcamp took it on!  Josiah led the roundwood timber framing build and Kyle made dry stack steps and a door with a wooden spring in the latch.

The two hour movie starts with the detailed design, moving on to the build and wrapping up with the remarkable results.  



I can’t wait -either to get the plans - or to build one! Does it cool when it is too hot outside - the weather is going crazy in both directions alternately!
 
paul wheaton
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The movie is done and up!

Now we wait to hear the reviews ....

 
steward
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paul wheaton wrote:

This started off as a crazy experimental idea, and more than 2000 people threw money at us with the instructions to try!  



Threw money at us sounds casual and whimsical, but I wonder if something else might have a more intentional thing about it.  Something like

This started off as a crazy experimental idea, and more than 2000 thought it sounded mega inspiring, so they pointed their own hard-earned dollars at us, with the instructions to try!  



Small suggestion, take it or leave it.  I like the rest of the script.
 
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My Raspberry Pi 4 is choking on this video.  How can I download it so that I can watch it without the streaming overhead?
 
paul wheaton
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Creighton Samuels wrote:My Raspberry Pi 4 is choking on this video.  How can I download it so that I can watch it without the streaming overhead?



You should see upgrade options for downloads.
 
Hubie Hew
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At the 21:00 mark you’re using an orange tool to help direct the fall of the tree.  What tool is that?  

Edited to say that I found what looks to be the same, or at least similar, tool on Amazon and it’s only $1340.  I guess I’ll stick with my rope puller or my truck winch for the difficult trees.
Very cool tool though.  🤷‍♂️
43A9F971-0E24-4EDB-ABA9-0B6F0461C331.jpeg
[Thumbnail for 43A9F971-0E24-4EDB-ABA9-0B6F0461C331.jpeg]
 
Hubie Hew
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I just finished the movie.  Very well done, the bldg is awesome and the attention to detail is amazing.  I am very impressed with this greenhouse and I’m looking forward to how it performs over the years.  AGS takes time to stabilize.  

Do you think this is scalable?  That is a tremendous amount of work for what appears to be a 10’ x 10’ greenhouse with maybe 2O ft2 of grow beds.  
 
Creighton Samuels
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Wonderful movie, very well done.  I did get my RaspPi4 streaming issue worked out.

I want to comment on the de-strat pipes, but this isn't the proper thread I think.  Can someone please direct me?
 
paul wheaton
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movie trailer

 
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Got a link to on-going test results? — If it is pleasing for you to do so.

Also, is there a discussion on improving the process that you would allow me to lurk in?

Yours in sincere appreciation for your pioneering work,

See-Kay
— grow in peace
 
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I am so glad you made it!

I've never dreamed that was going to be so hard. Loved the timber framing.
This is so much work. How much do you think it could cost to have a TPG (Truly Passive Greenhouse) installed? Was it cost effective?
 
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When I saw the thumbnail of the photo before clicking on the thread--I thought, wow, they've upcycled a bus, into the green house. Then I see that no, you haven't done that. But this is what the buses touring around Mexico City's neighborhoods 20+ years ago looked like. Mexico City Pesero Bus


These buses can be had in Mexico City's junk yards, could I make a mild climate winter greenhouse--kind of like a high tunnel, out of a stripped one of these? Coldest overnight lows, right around freezing, our biggest out-of-season growing issue is the extremes, burning sun around 1 pm with a high in the 80s and a light frost overnight.
 
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Abraham Palma wrote:I am so glad you made it!

I've never dreamed that was going to be so hard. Loved the timber framing.
This is so much work. How much do you think it could cost to have a TPG (Truly Passive Greenhouse) installed? Was it cost effective?




I also would like to know the cost of the Greenhouse as built?
 
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