Over the last few months, a few of you have asked to see a closer look at the "mechanics" of my greenhouse. I am showing you the main things I thought were important. If I missed anything...please let me know and I would be glad to send you a shot or two more!
This is a view of the rafters. The whole building is built the same way you would frame a single car garage...except the floor is treated deck wood. That way the water will run through and into the soil below.
I hung white cotton sheets on half of the roof rafters to shelter the young (and old) plants from the hot burning sunshine...and yet still let enough light in to encourage proper growth.I have a gas heater that sits on the floor in the middle of the room on the east side against the wall. A chimney vents the heater through the roof.
The chimney.
This fan hangs about three feet above the heater and moves the very warm air around to heat the whole room. I did not want an overhead forced heat furnace as the warm air coming directly out of it would dry and burn the plants. This way I control where and how fast the air moves around.
See the space between the roof rafter and the wall frame? These are the vents that allow the hot air to escape in the summer months when it is scorching hot outside. I also use a fan to blow some of the very hot air out the front door.
My power bars...which are powered by an extension cord run from a breaker in the garage. The cord itself is strung from overhead so we do not mow or trip on it. There is cable t.v. in here as well. That cord was buried with the gas line...but the power would have been a pain in the bum to put in professionally, so we chose to go this route...and it works well for me.
Again...those vents...(this is foreshadowing...lol)
An outside view of the way it was put together....
and another. The dark flooring you see on top of the wooden deck boards is my winter flooring. All it is is 2x2' foam tiles that you use in garages etc. They help the floor from bringing so much cold air inside in the frigid winter months.
I cut and hung these blinds myself! It was so super hot when the sunlight hit the front of the building in the summertime...so I hung these...it also helps in the winter to hold the heat in at night when it is the coldest.
What the heck is this? It's pink Insulation...(the pink part of my post)
What am I doing with it in my greenhouse???
It goes in those vents that I mentioned earlier. It holds the heat in when I have to keep the furnace running all the time.
You would not believe the difference it makes at this time of year!
I buy a big bag of it every fall. I pull it out and use an electric carving knife to cut it to the right size for each vent. Then I fold it in half and stuff it into place!
Voila! plugged vents! (see my crowns hanging there?) lol
another view.
And this is what it looks like from outside...it is not pretty...but it is pink...and effective!
A view from the top...and to show the roof construction..
And my little piece of heaven on earth is ready for the long cold Alberta winter!
Those flowers? yea...they are long dead now...These photos were taken on Tuesday of this week. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night we had killing frosts....and all that is left is the mushy black frost burned corpse of what was once so pretty!
Ah...fall in Alberta...comes on way too fast!
(Tonight we expect snow/rain mix...so my weekend is going to include ripping out all the beds if it is warm enough!)
This is a view of the rafters. The whole building is built the same way you would frame a single car garage...except the floor is treated deck wood. That way the water will run through and into the soil below.
I hung white cotton sheets on half of the roof rafters to shelter the young (and old) plants from the hot burning sunshine...and yet still let enough light in to encourage proper growth.I have a gas heater that sits on the floor in the middle of the room on the east side against the wall. A chimney vents the heater through the roof.
The chimney.
This fan hangs about three feet above the heater and moves the very warm air around to heat the whole room. I did not want an overhead forced heat furnace as the warm air coming directly out of it would dry and burn the plants. This way I control where and how fast the air moves around.
See the space between the roof rafter and the wall frame? These are the vents that allow the hot air to escape in the summer months when it is scorching hot outside. I also use a fan to blow some of the very hot air out the front door.
My power bars...which are powered by an extension cord run from a breaker in the garage. The cord itself is strung from overhead so we do not mow or trip on it. There is cable t.v. in here as well. That cord was buried with the gas line...but the power would have been a pain in the bum to put in professionally, so we chose to go this route...and it works well for me.
Again...those vents...(this is foreshadowing...lol)
An outside view of the way it was put together....
and another. The dark flooring you see on top of the wooden deck boards is my winter flooring. All it is is 2x2' foam tiles that you use in garages etc. They help the floor from bringing so much cold air inside in the frigid winter months.
I cut and hung these blinds myself! It was so super hot when the sunlight hit the front of the building in the summertime...so I hung these...it also helps in the winter to hold the heat in at night when it is the coldest.
What the heck is this? It's pink Insulation...(the pink part of my post)
What am I doing with it in my greenhouse???
It goes in those vents that I mentioned earlier. It holds the heat in when I have to keep the furnace running all the time.
You would not believe the difference it makes at this time of year!
I buy a big bag of it every fall. I pull it out and use an electric carving knife to cut it to the right size for each vent. Then I fold it in half and stuff it into place!
Voila! plugged vents! (see my crowns hanging there?) lol
another view.
And this is what it looks like from outside...it is not pretty...but it is pink...and effective!
A view from the top...and to show the roof construction..
And my little piece of heaven on earth is ready for the long cold Alberta winter!
Those flowers? yea...they are long dead now...These photos were taken on Tuesday of this week. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night we had killing frosts....and all that is left is the mushy black frost burned corpse of what was once so pretty!
Ah...fall in Alberta...comes on way too fast!
(Tonight we expect snow/rain mix...so my weekend is going to include ripping out all the beds if it is warm enough!)
Comments
We won't be getting a frost here for three weeks still but I sure could use that giant greenhouse. You are so lucky to have it.
~Karrie
Debbie
You work so hard for these blooms no wonder you have such a beautiful yard - you are one amazing gal. Thanks for showing this - I would love a greenhouse some day.
Just came by to say hi.
Some work you been gettin' done there. =0))
Looks like it will be cozy.
blessings
barbara jean
My goodness what an amazing post.
I love the photos that help show all the many tiny details that went into this vast "small" project :)
You really make me want a greenhouse all my very own ,with electric for cable T.V. :)
I am not jealous of you only wish we could all have a fabulous place like yours to ecape too.
I am sorry to hear the frost got to your gorgeous flowers.
Oh well life happens .
Now you have a good reason to order more seeds and bulbs to plant.
Blessings to you and yours.
Happy Gardening Adventures .
Big Hugs from Texas
YOU DON"T PLAY around do you? way to go!
seeya,
lynn
the best is yet to come
Your greenhouse is spectacular. And, the insulation idea is perfect - and pink.
We are having beautiful weather today -- 12 deg & sunny; a great day to see the Scarecrow Festival in Mahone Bay. Check me out tomorrow for pictures!
AWESOME INFORMATION.... thank you!
I am going to attach your link to my Friday!
THANK YOU!!
Justine :o )
QMM
How did you know how to build this greenhouse..I'm sure you must have done a lot of reseach on it before hand. Sounds like you have got a system that is efficient and works well. While you're pulling up the flowers that have been hit by the frost, will their seed pods be any good? If you have any seed pods you have an abundance up, I'd love to be a recipient. No Black Eye Susans..my daughter dugs hers up today to put in a driveway gate and bought them over to me to plant. I only wanted the seeds but guess the plants are even better. She needed to thin all of them anyway. Will have to see if I can talk her out of her garden phlox that's a pretty light lilac color and some thread-leaf coreopsis.
Blessings,
Sandra
We are getting rain and everything is growing and blooming.
Barbara
Oh and Happy SITS Saturday Sharefest!
Happy Twirls
Thanks for popping in, sweet friend,
Be a sweetie,
Shelia ;)
And all the best for winters!
Girl, you are one busy lady. Just don't work to hard, o.k? You got alot going on now that it's Fall so don't forget to relax a bit!
Don't forget to eat either!!!!!!
I loved seeing all this, Tootsie...
Whoa boy....that's sure a lot of work, isn't it? I can't even imagine how many hours you spend creating your fabulous posy gardens....but soooooo worth it.
Ever green with envy,
Spencer
Donna
Donna
I don't think I would make it up there... I would freeze to death. I love warm weather.
Well my friend, it looks like you're ready for the winter! Ohhh...I just bet you hate to see it coming...it would be pretty hard to see! It looks like your set up though...wow, you have a very intricate system going there for your greenhouse! At least you're able to keep a few plants going with the heater system and all! So my friend, what do you do with all your time through the long winter months? Darlin', it's already getting cold at my place too...in fact, we are supposed to get down in the 30's this week...brrr! I'm not sure if I'm ready for the snow yet...but like you, we've gotten everything "winterized"!
I'm so glad that you came by for a visit the other day and took a peek at my dining room mosaics...sure appreciated your sweet note...thank you, Darlin'!
Warmest wishes,
Chari
acreativemomma.blogspot.com