This page introduces my thoughts and experiments with easy to build and easy to install greenhouses.
(Skip introduction-- Click to see Roll Top Garden Cover)
See my original 'eyelid-greenhouse' still under development!
We neglected our vegetable garden about 30 years. In order to focus on income paying jobs (during the boom years). As of 2009 job prospects are diminishing. My earlier interests in self-sufficient living styles has increased a lot. Boosting organic soil fertility will take more years. This is essentially hard labor, which can need strong inspiration. Many years of creative concrete promotional efforts, convinced me that path is not actually profitable monetarily. No matter, i am thankful for the experience and can now move onward to more humble pursuits. I worked hard at rebuilding green-manure-compost piles, and bed drainage, in 2009.
Above: Cold-Frame during December 2009, frozen snow-scape outside- With barely thawed ground inside. Later in the winter, a solid crust of frost hardened the ground. Low winter sun angle and deeper snow reduced heating. Below-- After plastic sheet removal, March 2010, weather is barely above freezing, the Kale seems OK. (Actually 2 different garden beds, with same winter treatment).
The2009 summer growing season in Maine was very rainy, damp and overcast, with infrequent days of sun. It appeared that 'hot houses', 'hoop houses' and protection from long periods of damp days, did help many gardeners avoid the dreaded blight. With new determination, i improved my raised beds, added new compost and also some fine, local sand, (with lots of wheel barrow work).
Above, same kale in flower, during May. While the leaves are smaller in this second summer season, these plants have been regularly harvested for the larger leaves and for the flowerets. Yum! One of my favorite, nutritious, organic crops. I'm shifting over to fully green-weed-compost and teas of the same, once rains desist. After so many years devoted to other work occupations. Besides, the honey bees and bumble bees love these blooms. (Please recall, all of these pictures are purposefully blurred to assist 'dial up' and mobile connections).
Long term healthy soils, complete with organic eco systems, also greatly forestalls the effects of bad seasons-- 2009 was surely a wake up call-- Given the destruction of economies by financiers who use elaborate investment instruments which amount to little more than illusive betting and gambling schemes. (Covered up with many layers misleading terms, encouraged by complicit office holders. Well, until actual assets are called for and are then found lacking. This is becoming more apparent, regardless of scripted media lies. This combined with war mongering by the hoped for elected leaders of change, means we are momentarily doomed by incompetents in office. Too much financing goes into destructive war industries. True: "It is easier to make nothing out of something. It is hard to make something out of nothing." Also, it requires effort to maintain good things.)
My 34 year old grape trellis frame works of rebar are still standing and without coatings other than natural rust. Just to behind our pup, can be seen a crude stick jammed under circular top of this grape arbor. This arbor had a huge ice slide fall on it a few years ago, which snapped one of the rebar supports. Over the years, #3 rebar rod, (3/8ths inch or nearly a centimeter in diameter), has proved to be the best priced framing and very durable in the garden frameworks. By comparison, metal tubing presents more surface area for corrosion. Plastic risks buying PVC which is a vial polluter of the planet. (Though other plastics might one day provide better options-- Don't hold;d your breath for that one). I should also describe my thinking about arbor construction, but separately, someday. Here again, follow some new #3 rebar arches made from half length rods, (each about 10ft long). These are very simple to install, all by one's very own self.
My trusty kale was slow growing during the foggy and rainy summer of '09. I decided to cover it over with my rebar arches and cheap plastic sheet. This also promotes winter greens, but next year my soil improvements should give a much better yield. I say this to encourage people to persist, even though beginnings are often difficult to endure. Take courage. Find some land, in a region with reasonable rain fall. Start gardening. Or associate with small farmers and gardeners.
A cheap greenhouse frame which opens up like an eyelid. Click here
This style of 'crawl-through cold-frame' easily adapts to most any garden layout, even after the fact. Even as an after thought! One can delay it until the last minute, (because summers have so many other demands). If the season turns too wet as 09 did, just roll yourself some #3 rebar. With a swirling flourish, spread out a sheet of plastic, for covering. It is always good, health-promoting exercise, besides.
Snow or dirt generally seal the plastic edges against the ground. Snow is easy to brush off the south face. Let not a cold winter depress oneself. Crawl into your creative-shelter and reconnect with earthen energies. Frost is reduced a great deal, even by one thin plastic layer. Empower self, escape the big-box depression of life energies.
These are crawl-through houses. Also called 'hoop houses', but i prefer the name arch-houses. My '09 kale was not even half as good as in better years, of the past, but it has been worth the low cost investment in steel and plastic. Ground freezes less than expected inside, allowing one to continue digging leaks and potatoes.
Picture of four 'greenhouse types'-- Left top: wavy dome -- Foreground- rebar cold frame --Top middle- attic garden -- Top right- planar curved
Above is yet another variation of plastic sheet over steel rod. It's a much older frame experiment. Originally it was a study of using only quarter-inch-thick steel rings. Later some 3/8" rebar (number 3 rebar) arches were added, because it was too minimalist. (In my study to reduce and minimal-ize the steel framework). The season was early spring. The fact is, that domes can be made with simple lengths of rebar. Below shows March wind effects, as leaves in the woods have not budded yet. Very simple covering with 20X20 ft of 6mil PE plastic sheet. Held down by stones and logs. Note that plain, out of the box plastic sheeting is used without re-seaming, without concern over loose folds. This page focuses on rough and ready cost savings.
Even in the winter, projects can proceed. Keep's one active and with ice and snow covering your garden space. Simply use a short piece of rebar as an 'ice-pick' like chisel. Pound your way through the frozen ground. (This should not be so difficult in an established growing soil). Then insert a series of arched rebar lengths. (I'll add some demo pictures on rebar bending, though intuition should go a long way for you). Call them 'hoops' if you prefer, except that the word hoop is defined as full-circle rings. Cover with a sheet to accelerate the spring thaw for a few garden beds. Get an early start this spring, as temperate climates offer short growing seasons. There is no time to loose. Too many warm climates are draught ridden, be thankful in wet, cool climates. Plan for your well being, take greenhouse action.
Upgrading this frame: New Eyelid Greenhouse made easy and it is low cost competitive, with good growing advantages.
This is an old, rebar 'wigwam' frame, (but with ringed purlins) . It is shown above with bean crop quick start up germination. A picture showing how a half circle rebar will be used to form an 'eyelid' greenhouse effect-- Visit again, by June 2010, we will trust the summer arrival, here in the cold north. (Not to worry though if freak weather clod or blighty rains return for the summer of 2010.! We will simply 'close-the-lid' for bad spells of weather! Keep ahead of the curve! Do so on a normal person's budget!
A much more advanced approach to short season gardens now follows. One of my plans for 2010 garden is to cover the main section, almost completely. Something like 20'X 20', or larger. Above is my general frame structure comprising 16 or more 'pillar like' hollow-bar-frames which connect together. (Progress photos will be linked in summer of 2010. Pictures are generally abbreviated for easier downloading over dial-up).
I have been meditating about the design for some time. It is in addition to a smaller self-heating design still under slow development. (Click here). Low employment leaves me time, while i did buy rebar in the boom years. My region, Maine USA, has long periods of cold weather, with snow. I am considering ways to easily drop snow through the 'valleys' of the plastic-- So that a wheel barrow can catch one load, at each point along the path. Then be dumped outside-- This should be reasonable winter exercise, for those who do not like gyms or sterile exercise machines-- A poor man's exercise, productive and useful exercise in the cold winter. 'Uninsulated' and 'unheated' green houses have proved worthwhile, especially in hard economic times.
My schematic diagram above, indicates that a 20ft sheet of plastic will be spread out by a quick roller action. Yet a simpler method than roller construction may yet transpire. (Updated report planned for Summer 2010). Cold frames will speed up spring-soil-warming, for earlier planting and start up. Covers will protect against early and late frost. It will allow wanted full sun at times. It will provide for simplified opening and closing. It will allow closing during prolonged summer-damping periods (like summer of '09 was in Maine). It will allow extended fresh harvest during winter. It will be low cost. It should also help forestall blights in damp rainy summers, like 2009, (in the Northeastern USA).
It may ultimately include a provision to sift snow loads to ground. In short, it will be a roll-top greenhouse and work almost like a huge roller-window shade. The pillar like frames will include truss like ties for rigidity. Also, vine plants can be easily hung. Other details will be revealed with time. Here is a separate page on 'container gardening' which i might use in a roll top greenhouse. Also,another page of mine-- Lots of related ideas live on this website...Here are some of my visions for greenhouse-container-gardens. Or perhaps 'indoor-hanging-gardens'. Also, here is my 30 old (gradual research home), translucent dome, roof-garden or attic-greenhouse.
I think this computer-design read out resulted from 24 pillars (in my CAD model). So 500 lbs of rebar investment might do the job. I bought a bundle of long rods when income was good-- Plan ahead, invest in practical materials. My garden has sufficient slope to induce some slight draft for good ventilation, good drainage has been vital. Yet also provides water retention in draughty summers.
May 2010 progress picture above-- The elevated roller is difficult to install from scratch. I'll link another 'how-to' page later (here). Regardless of weather extremes, a roll-top garden cover will "save the day". A blighty-wet summer can be kept dry enough for organic stamina against crop loss.
My 09 kale was not even half as good as in better years, but it has been worth the low cost investment in steel and plastic. At least it made it through the winter, ready for early spring food. With the economic depression out of control, one can at least focus on better gardening years ahead. Now that the boom years are past. There is little incentive, to try to make money with more refined art. That never stops me from trying. Some more low-cost methods will follow. First off, how does one heat up soil in cold country? Also how can low cost composting become accelerated, during the early part of the growing season.
Above are shown easy ways to temporarily cover the ground in very-early spring. By late April, some ground - warmth can be forced downwards. One simply re-uses the "greenhouse sheets". This greatly helps outdoor germination. It also helps early plant breathing (transpiration). It also fast-forwards the weed seeds, bugs, and green-compost action. This allows one to manage these things earlier, for the season ahead. After warmer weather stabilizes, the sheets should be folded up and stored well out of the sun, for use next year or other purposes, still. The sun's UV (ultra violet spectrum portion) is known to deteriorate many common plastics. THere are some UV resistant types available, if one hunts them down and pays more for them. One has to rationalize low-cost-living along with cold climate living, to take advantage of these benefits. Gardening and art can be very laborious.Take heart, it can be very healthy. Network with people who encourage one another. Make it feel interesting for oneself and for others at the same time. Blog about it!
The tinsel culture is dying, big-box mentalities are proving questionable in many ways. Let all sides of the issue talk. Why should jobs get exported away while public assets are shipped off to glib war mongers? American debt skyrockets into oblivion. How will this be paid, with slavery? Consider local trades and local services as a means to establish harmonious, sustainable society, based upon common good for all citizens.
Note: These pages are placed in the public domain and are furnished "as is". The author assumes no responsibility for the use or misuse of the concepts in this series. All authorities should be satisfied first, as might be required, by relevant laws, before any building proceeds.
