Date: Tue, 31 Oct 2000 07:18:13 -0600 From: "Susan Farrington" <sfarrington@ridgway.mobot.org> To: cp@opus.hpl.hp.com Message-Id: <aabcdefg3174$foo@default> Subject: Re: Greenhouses
To answer Ron's questions:
> What kind of foundation did you use?
> Is your greenhouse portable? Ie., if you moved, could you take the
> greenhouse with you? Is it considered a permanent or temporary
> structure? Did you have to get a building permit for it?
My greenhouse is a temporary structure, with no permanent
foundation. It is a 12 by 12 poly structure, sold by Gardener's Supply
as a "three-season greenhouse." I added the second layer of poly film
to insulate it for winter use, though I don't use it in summer (no
adequate cooling). My primary purpose is to overwinter things that
need some protection, and I heat it to about 40 to 45 degrees. The
foundation is simply treated 2 x 4's, held down by steel rebar rods
pounded into the ground. Heavy duty black weed cloth is the "floor." I
had to build a temporary greenhouse, since I was a renter, and I have
moved it twice now (including a move from Pennsylvania to
Missouri!). I did not require a building permit, as far as I know!
(Ignorance is bliss.)
> Can you easily expand the size of the greenhouse if you wanted to?
> Does the manufacturer provide extension kits?
Yes, I could add another 12 by 12 section, or even a 12 by 16
section (presuming they still sell them... haven't checked lately. I
bought it five years ago.)
> How involved was it installing electrical power to your greenhouse?
> How many electrical outlets do you have, and in what voltage? Did you
> find after you've used the greenhouse you needed additional power?
I use very little electricity in the greenhouse, since my heater is a under
the bench ventless propane heater that has a milivolt thermostat (no
electricity at all). I have a 100 gallon propane tank outside the
greenhouse which feeds it. The heater is very portable, and is ventless,
though you have to provide a fresh air intake (a PVC pipe leading
from outside to the back of the heater), and you need to make a hole
in the greenhouse up high, just in case. If properly functioning, the
heater does not produce any fumes, but I don't hang out there for
extended periods when the heat is running full blast, just in case
carbon monoxide COULD be produced. (Generally I'm in there
during the day, when the heat isn't running much if at all.)
I do need a little electricity, of course, for the inflater fan (to
inflate the layers of poly film), for a couple of air circulating fans,
and for a couple of simple lights for when I go in after dark. My
electrical system isn't entirely kosher: I use the heaviest duty
extension cord from a GFCI outlet on the back of the house. In the
greenhouse, a heavy duty GFCI multi outlet (meant for construction
sites; it cost about $40) is what I plug the various things into.
Needless to say, I'm careful to keep all cords clear of obstacles, and I
keep the outlet well above the ground. Still, it's not ideal. (But
it's cheap!)
By the way, cooling is accomplished by three window vents that each
have solar openers attached to them: when the black hydroulic tubes
heat up in the sun, they push the window open. I have a box fan in the
high window on one end which is set on a timer, running during the
warmest part of the day. That way it draws the air across the
greenhouse from the two open windows on the other side. On cloudy
cold days, the windows stay closed, and the fan runs anyway on its
timer, which is a waste, but I haven't found a more economical way to
cool it down on sunny days. When it's mild, I also leave the door
open, but the windows alone work pretty well even when it's sunny
and 60 or 70 outside. (As I said earlier, I DON'T use the greenhouse
during the summer, when it literally bakes.)
By the way, the greenhouse kit itself only cost about $400 five years
ago, but then you had to add lumber (another $150), extra poly,
lumber for benches, a heater ($400), electrical cords, paint, etc, etc,
etc. By the time I was done, I spent nearly $2000. Good thing I did
that while I still had money (before I came to work at a botanical
garden!).
Good luck... let me know if you have more questions.
Susan
Susan Farrington
Missouri Botanical Garden
P.O. Box 299
St. Louis MO 63166-0299
susan.farrington@mobot.org
(314)577-9402
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