Gardening First project for the spring/summer.

My first project for the late spring/early summer is a green house.
Wife wanted to buy a prefab. Pretty expensive. I never could get my head into it.
We want a 4 season green house and these were touted to be....but I could never get
my head into that either. ....so, off I go into the internet. Found some real 4 season
houses designed for Canada and such. Much different than the prefab job.
Now I can get my head into it because I can build it. Basic design is north wall/roof
are solid and insulated. East/West have limited windows but some. South wall is
the money wall. The place I have to put it needed some work....hahaha.
...and of course, what would any REAL project be without some dirt/concrete work.
Glazing is going to be triple wall polycarbonate panels.
This was last week's work. I'll post pics as I go.

 

This is this weeks work..so far.
Blocks laid/grouted/ anchor bolts set.
Caissons poured/anchor bolts set.
Concrete is done. YEA!

 

I like where this is going! Keep up the good work and updates with pictures

 

That looks pretty big! Will it be all solar heated, or will you have a boiler of some sort? In Colorado (ahem) that project should pay for itself.

 

No, you have it wrong - a project is only termed a "real project" when blood is drawn (maybe that is just in my case ?).

Seriously, looks like you have a good plan - and you have made a good start. This will be fun to watch!

 

8x10 When needed heat is going to be old Coleman catalytic.

 

No, it's not just you. Blood shed digging out the fitzers and locust roots.
Fitzers were not too bad....but those locust roots put up a valiant fight.

 

...so, 10am Wed morning is my Fri afternoon.
Very grateful for my part time job....but it sure gets in the
way of building stuff. I drew out my walls on the garage floor.
I would usually do this, if I needed to, on the subfloor of whatever I was
working on....but in this case.....no subfloor.
This is the fun part.

 

What's a fitzer??

 

The blue pfitzer juniper (Juniperus x pfitzeriana) is a commonly planted evergreen shrub. It has sharp, feathery needles of grayish green and a vigorous, spreading habit. Mature specimens can reach 5 to 6 feet in height and grow from 10 to 12 feet in girth.


They are a royal PITA to maintain.

 

Thx for the clarification.

Nice concrete and block work.

I'll be over here with the popcorn and beer crowd.

 

Thanks!

It is beautiful wood. Like aromatic cedar.
I'm thinking I can find a box or two in here.

 

The cedar comment made me chuckle.

Was cutting a few days ago, and the dog loves to roll in the chips.

I figure I need to get hold of some cedar so she smells nice.

 

Cold, rainy day. We needed every drop. It has been raining since midnight and poured
down all day. Great day to work in the garage and build the green house moduals.
I embeded a 1x4 brace in the west knee wall. It is the only real lateral strength
to that wall. South knee wall was pretty straight forward. Standard framing.
East wall is going to have two windows. For strength, I could not just bang it together
with nails. It is all glued w/liquid nails and screwed. Got the rafters cut to length and
the birds mouth cut. Drilled the holes for the pocket screws. First time I have used
the mobile jig. Works very well. Again, for the rafters, I wanted more strength than
banging them together w/nails. ....plus, I just wanted to see if I could do it.
A good day.

 

Very nice! My wife wants a greenhouse too, excited to see how yours comes out.

 

Looks kind of like this.

Small-Greenhouse Plans for Winter Growing - DIY - MOTHER EARTH NEWS

 

....sort of.....south yes....north no.

 

Took it a bit easy today.
Finished the rafters.
Treated myself to a 21mile bike ride. Nice and sunny today.
Finished the door way frame.
Should be getting dry enough on the site to get the
4x6 base set and start putting these parts and pieces together.