C Pitts

Trace Oswald wrote:That's really beautiful, I love it.

Thank you, I appreciate that! <3

Thank you!  I still have a lot of work to do figuring out how to best use the space.  

The circles were a decorative way to secure the solexx on the end wall.... also provided miter saw fun, had too many angles and needed circles to even things out   lol  

Hey Fam,

Thought I'd share the passive solar greenhouse that I designed.  I got it under roof about 6 years ago but abandoned it for a while... after some crazy family trauma and finally got back to it during the pandemic.  Hopefully I can actually finish it this year. lol    

South facing
zone 6a
WV
insulated north wall and ceiling, 2x6 walls with roxwool insulation
solexx 3.5 glazing  ( love the stuff)
all exposed wood is cedar
sunk about 4 foot into the ground (insulated block),
windows along the bottom glazed wall as well as across the top
I have tubes run through the floor and outside to act as a thermal battery * but have yet to address power
320 gallon rain barrel setup


I plan to add a rocket mass heater down the length of the back wall and will either be setting up some solar panels or grid tying it meh lol   But this will allow me to automate the windows and circulation fan, fan for the thermal battery and possibly a water pump for nft.  I may try aquaponics ( partially for the added thermal mass) it was my original intent and I may go that route later.  The back room in the building will be used to grow mushrooms and some area for storage and prep.

My goal was to grow year round with minimal energy inputs.  This past winter without power or heat I was able to harvest tomatoes until the beginning of Feb.... and kept several trees and herbs and flowers alive without issue.   Sadly I had a data logger in there and thought it was on..... it was not.    Ill try to update the thread as I actually collect data, finish the build out and figure out how to best use it. lol


Thanks for checking it out.... i always welcome opportunities to learn and grow and welcome any ideas and input!! <3


The pictures below are to show the inside and window design that I went with.

Here is a link to a timelapse o the build that I never really finished. lol
https://1drv.ms/v/s!Ak-5EM4JX9eWgROzKYdPEaP2xMv5

Hi Tom,

Look up shallow frost protected foundations... it may help you in your journey.

One of the principals of this is to artificially raise the frost line around the building... no water no frost heaving.

Thanks all for the ideas.... I found a decent source for cement board which im leaning toward, and already have rock wool insulation on site for the walls. But was thinking about a plaster/ vertical cement over it (thinking of a sculpted tree on the wall etc etc) However Im curious as to the mix I will need , being that ill have a rocket mass heater along that wall and curious about cracking.

any of you do a plaster or vert concrete mix in a greenhouse?

thank you all again!

I would be very interested to learn more about these ... I am about an hour away as well. (morgantown wv)

It could be put inside an 8" steel tube or chimney pipe to keep those lined up.

From what ive been reading lately it sounds as if metal riser liners are a bad idea ... as they break down in the heat. Curious...could you cement these together?

thanks

Thank you both so much for taking the time to reply!!

I actually scored some hardie plank siding from craigslist for the exterior. The only problem i have with it for the interior is its not rated to be hung on a ceiling .... and was looking for a solution i could use on the wall and continue up the ceiling. IM unfamiliar with fiberrock.... ill have to look into that.... curious if thats what they call greenboard?

thank you both!!

Hello Permie People!!

Im new to the forum... well to the posting side... ive been a lurker for years! lol And would like to give everyone a big heartfelt thank you for all of the great info, tips etc you all rock!

OK.. on to my question..... the image above is a sketch up pic of the passive solar greenhouse im building... just got it under roof. IM a glass blower by trade but am a recovering union carpenter ( former life) and have always been interested in alt construction. And this is my attempt to play with some of the useless knowledge that ive accumulated over the years.

Since this is sort of an experimental building (to me) and with the possibitly of selling in the next 10 years I opted to stay in the convention construction material realm.... for resale reasons etc... ( not everyone can see beauty in earthen walls like I do) The building 20x20 sits on a hillside, the foundation on the front portion( greenhouse) is about 5-6 foot deep ( concrete block- sealed), the back 6 foot is more of an enclosed pole building style to house some milking goats (nigerian dwarfs) and a work/ milk bench. The building is insulated with rock wool and the face is exposed cedar with solex covering.

Im planning an aquaponic set up and rocket mass heater ( which im sure ill be back on here asking questions for)

Her eis the question finally.... im sort of stuck at the moment and could use some recommendations/ ideas. Im not sure what to do on the interior greenhouse insulated walls... being im expecting humid air and the mass heater heat etc Some of the solutions ive been thinking about would be... plywood with a white pond liner on the outside ( drawbacks- plywood in a wet area scares me and not sure how it would look), ive seen all sorts of plastic, vinyl wall board solutions but most are pricey and would like to avoid adding more plastics to the mix if possible. Being an artist i had a vision of some sort of concrete art adorning the back wall... not sure if i can do a vertical concrete face over plywood/ drywall etc or perhaps a tuffa? or how it would hold up.

But any ideas would be appreciated .... perhaps this has been addressed elsewhere? or one of you have a magical solution?

Thanks in advance for the time taken to read through this and possibly helping!

I think i got enough info in there let me know if i missed something... ive been doing a time lapse of the building ill share when complete if interested.
thanks again!