I would like to build a passive
solar greenhouse, and grow food all year long.
~enter reality check~
I live in southern Vermont, on the north side of a mountain, 1300 feet up. We get a lot of cloud cover in the winter. So I'll either have to settle for a season extender, or figure out some way to heat it in the winter. I'm looking into some
solar, but I won't be able to depend on it. I've thought about a
rocket mass heater, but I've read they aren't really suited for greenhouses. Greenhouses aren't insulated
enough to hold the warmth. In case it matters, I plan on using glass. I would love to use double pane if I can afford to. I also plan on growing cold tolerant crops, so I'm hoping to heat to 40-50 degrees F.
So I've been thinking. I can use barrels of
water to trap the day's heat, but not if the
greenhouse doesn't warm up. But can I use a
rocket mass heater and water tubes to 1) warm the soil in the raised beds and/or 2) to heat the water in the barrels?