Question for Darrel: How much $ to build your design?

How much money would one need in order to be able to build a design using your concepts if they freecycled 1/2 of the materials?

In addition to the above question, what is the most feasible size of greenhouse you can build for around $200? I do not have much building experience and was thinking it may be easier to just buy one of the Harbor Freight models as a first greenhouse but really don't want to waste the money if something could be made that is of better quality.

sustainable design is site specific. A greenhouse should be designed to suit the needs of the grower and the climate it is built in. So there is no answerto the price issue before a design is made. my building cost $90,000 when built in 1988. using solar and wood heat, we saved $90,000 in fuels cost compared to commercial greenhouses in the first 15 years

I built a wood framed high tunnel, 15 ft by 45 ft, with 6 mill plastic for under $300

Darrell Frey wrote:I built a wood framed high tunnel, 15 ft by 45 ft, with 6 mill plastic for under $300

How long does the plastic last? I was considering a lean to style greenhouse on the south side of my brick home. There is a large window that goes into the house that I could open in the winter to allow some solar heat into the house. One other big question though is, are there any considerations that I need to think about if I heat something like this with wood. Do I need to have the chimney taller than the house itself to prevent smoke from entering my home? Thanks again.

Kim,
The 6 mill plastic last about 5 years. We built our tunnell and a similar wood framed 12 x 16 ft greenhouse so that hen we replace the 20 year old acrylic glazing on the bioshelter with new glazing, e cn reuse the old panles on the smaller structures. Definitley you need to have the chimney high enough that sparks do not fall on th plastic or smoke get into your house. Generally a chimney is required to be at least 3 ft above the roof top.