GREENHOUSES

							GREENHOUSES
TYPES OF GREENHOUSES
There are two basic types: attached and free-standing. An attached
structure may be even-span, lean-to, or window-mounted.




Attached Lean-To
A lean-to is built against a building, The advantage of the lean-to is that it usually is close
to available electricity, water, and heat. The lean-to has the following disadvantages: •
Limited space.• Limited light.• Limited ventilation and temperature control.

Free-Standing
The free-standing is a separate structure It can be made as large or small as desired. A
separate heating system is necessary unless the structure is very close to a heated
building. The free-standing structure is more easily adapted to the builder's ideas of
location, size, and shape than an attached type. It also provides more light, but requires
more heat at night due to the additional glass.

Earth Sheltered Greenhouse Local resident, Dave Porter has an earth sheltered
greenhouse that is made totally out recycled material. They are partially built into the
ground and can be a part of the structure of a house, saving energy costs while keeping
the costs of heating of a greenhouse down. See Resource
Even Span: consists of side walls,                                end walls, and gable

roof. See Resource for local builder.




Geodesic Domes: is a spherical or partial-spherical shell structure or lattice shell,
extremely strong for its weight, the greatest volume for the least amount of surface area
(and thus, materials) great wind resistance. See Resources

Hoophouse: A hoop house is an affordable and practical type of greenhouse for the
serious gardener. Hoop houses are built out of nursery film, wood and pvc pipes and here
addressing the wind is an important factor. See Resource List

GREENHOUSE CONSTRUCTION
Greenhouses have supporting framework made of wood, aluminum, PVC, iron, or
galvanized pipe.
Glass Type: Glass is the traditional covering. The disadvantages of glass are that it is
easily broken, expensive, and requires a much better type of building structure than
fiberglass and plastic.
Fiberglass Type: Fiberglass is lightweight, strong, and practically hail proof. Poor
grades of fiberglass will discolor and the discoloring reduces light penetration. Using a
good grade, on the other hand, may make your fiberglass as expensive to build as a glass
one. If you select fiberglass, choose the clearest grade. Do not use colored fiberglass.
Plastic Type: Cheaper, can be heated as satisfactorily as glass greenhouses.
Plastic structures can be made of polyethylene (PE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC),
copolymers of these materials, and other readily available clear films.
Polyethylene – Cheap & lightweight. It also stands well in fall, winter, and spring
weather, and lets through plenty of light for good plant growth. However, constantly
exposed to the sun deteriorates during the summer and must be replaced each year.
Ultraviolet-inhibited polyethylene lasts longer than regular polyethylene. A polyethylene
type loses heat more quickly than glass both during sunny periods and after sunset.

WIND build windbreaks in the direction of your wind source.
Windbreaks: Clumping bamboo, this is an invasive species and will spread, does take a
certain amount of water to grow - use your greywater on this plant. Berms. Traditionally
a mound of earth but here you create berms made of trees. Plant trees in 3 levels, short,
tall, taller - the tallest trees towards greenhouse - so that the wind moves up and over the
trees, with 30% of the winds needing to go through the trees. Strawbales can also be
used as berms.

HEATING: Ground can be heated by running coils in the ground, see resources. Also,
use black barrels filled with water that gather heat in the day.
LIGHT SATURATION: We have high light saturation so if greenhouse doesn't have a
glass roof or is partially surrounded by trees greenhouses will still get plenty of light.

RESOURCES FOR GREENHOUSE:
Green House Construction: Abi Allen Abi Allen 860-4899
Window Source - Check fire department for windows taken out of trailers
that are used in fire training.
Geodesic Domes - www.geodesic-greenhouse-kits.com
The Growing Dome, a geodesic greenhouse developed by Growing
Spaces. www.geodesic-greenhouse-kits.com (800) 753-9333
The Earth-Sheltered solar Greenhouse Book is $24.95, Available at
undergrounhousing.com or
(800) 328-8790
Hoop House Construction: http://westsidegardener.com/howto/hoophouse.html

Area Libraries:
Sustainable San Juan: sustainablesanjuan@yahoo.com or 334-1840
Seeds of Changes: seeds of change.com hoophouse & supplies
Worms Way: Solar/hydrophonic wormsway.com
Solviva design for sustainable living: solar design, year-round organic energy self-
sufficient food production, non-polluting wastewater management, ... www.solviva.com
Oakhaven Permaculture Center Call for a tour of their greenhouses
4179 County Road 124, Hesperus, CO 81326 (970) 259-5445
Types of Greenhouses: http://www.envirocept.com/gh_guide/greenhouse_kits.htm

ARTICLES:
Permaculture Activist - Magazine
"The greenhouse effect - heat the Earth" an article by Peter Bane - heating the
ground www.permacultureactivist.net/backissues/BackIssu.htm -
Earthsheltered Greenhouses - Mother Earth News Issue # 202 February/March 2004
Mike Oehler

Reference: Envirocept http://www.envirocept.com/gh_guide/greenhouse_kits.htm