Walapini near Asheville, NC

We are working on a walapini near Asheville, NC in a small town called Old Fort. So far, the area to be dug is on a hill, and we are digging into the hill from a lower level of land below. There is a creek nearby that is a lot lower than where we are digging, but we have hit water about 5-6 feet down. Any suggestions on this? Also, any budget-minded suggestions to roofing/venting? Heat in winter?....average lows are in the 20's in the winter, but can get down to a little below zero. I know that we can get some average-joe plastic to cover the top, but what else might be a possibility that would hold up longer over time??.....thinking at least 5 years or so. Any really basic information.......simple to understand.....would be great. We need all the guidance we can get on this project, planning is necessary in any project.

Michael
Edeninthemountains.org

Hi Michael,

Any update on your progress? I would like to build a pit greenhouse just northwest of you in Burnsville, NC, and though I have not yet begun digging, it might be mighty useful to hear of your negotiations with these wet mountains. Thanks in advance.

Holly

Michael,
I am building one as well in Canton, Nc, but on top of a hill with no groundwater close. Is there a way to drain the water away? If so, perhaps you could use it instead of fighting it, like develop a great drainage canal and direct all the groundwater into your canal to leave the greenhouse. I'm going to put a drainage canal down the center of my walipini to drain the stairwell and have a drain for any unplanned indoor flooding. I'll be putting a walkway over the canal so theres no wasted space. I'll be putting a rocket mass heater in there sometime as well.

My construction has seemingly taken forever with all sorts of other priorities taking over, but it looks like it should be nearing a roofing phase very soon.

Is yours finished yet?

I would love to hear about the progress of these attempts!