Steve Mitchell

I'd plant as many varieties as possible.  It will help protect from early/late frosts and disease if you plant a range of different apples - early/late flowering/fruiting etc.  crab apples are good for pollination, varieties that keep well are useful in winter and cider apples are good for...cider!

I've not got the space and access is a problem so selling on isn't an option.  If dry do they compare favourably to polystyrene in performance?  I can only see stats at high temps for these types of bricks.

It's to edge a pit greenhouse, the styrene is expensive!  Any insulation will be covered in poly to keep dry.

The lightweight ones that stop you burning yourself on a oven.  I have a lot!  Are they any use as general insulation?  I'm thinking below grade instead of polystyrene sheets.  
Thanks

My favorite bit of permie culture is the observing (often with a beer) bit!

Today, as I gazed at the hole one day (soon - as in this year) to become part of my Oehleresque greenhouse...
By chance the south side of said greenhouse will have an asparagus bed bordering...
Made me think - perfect border - when the sun is low, no asparagus, no blocking of rays.  When the sun high, gus give good early morning shade!
gus love any feed leeching out of greenhouse too.

Ignore if a stupid idea!

Peace

Haven't done it but you probably reduce light in the greenhouse by 10-15% for each sheet of polycarbonate.  This will affect your plants, how much will depend on how much sun you get, what you are growing and the quality/age of the polycarbonate.  Watch the sun, if it's so low as to only really shine through the walls in winter then putting a big insulating hat on the outside of the greenhouse might be best (removing it once the sun is higher and temperatures are rising).

Thanks all for the responses.  It's always good to have a sanity check from folks that know their stuff!  Good luck with the book Kelly.
Now, only a few more tons to shovel, sieve, bag....

Hi,
I'm building a small Oehler style greenhouse into a 1:3 slope and intending to use bags to hold back earth on the downward sides (both south and west slope away).  Am I right in thinking that the lateral force against these walls will be quite small as the soil and water will want to push down the slope?  It's sand and sandstone below a spades depth of topsoil and the bags are being filled with the sand and smaller stones.  It will be about 5 ft deep to support and have visqueen covering over the bags.
Thanks

Best of luck!  I'm jealous of that digger - I'm digging out for my Mike Oehler inspired greenhouse using pick, shovel, sieve!  Mostly sand and stone.
Where are you in Derbyshire, might be good to compare results once we are both done as I'm in Sheffield

Good point on the cold air flowing onto the bed.  I'm going to proceed with a central pit as it works for me.
Thanks

I've read the book, then just read it again!  I may have missed it but I can't find any explanation regarding the need to shade the cold-sink if livestock is not kept in there.  I get the benefits of doing so, it just isn't possible for me, here,now.