Living in a Greenhouse.

[plowjockey]

DW and I are talking about building a small greenhouse, which will need some heat to be useful throughout the year.

That said, we have talked about the possibility someday of a larger atruim-type addition to the house, but using greenhouse type insulated windows throughout. We figure that having a heated (including solar heat) living area, such as a family room and sharing the area with growing plants, will coexist well.

We can enjoy the area and tend and enjoy the garden plants, throughout the winter.

Also we had just read that small farmers, that can supply homegrown foods during the winter, is a very hot commodity.

Anybody have a setup like this?

[nc_mtn]

My "dream home" WAS a round house with a greenhouse all around the outside of it... Then I got to thinking about the summer and how hot and humid it would probably be.
I could be wrong and when I saw how much my dream would cost, I decided against it...

[jwal10]

I have an air lock entry on my cabin, it also stores heat and radiates it into the house. 8' wall of windows, concrete floor and concrete block wall opposite. Works well but not where I would want to live, Too hot. I have started plants in there and keep some plants in there during the winter. A good greenhouse that can grow vegys during the winter when vegys are expensive is nice. My greenhouse is a leanto to my shop and I don't heat it other than passive solar heat from a block wall. I grow strawberries, zuchinni and tomatoes all winter. It is usually too warm and humid to be comfortable. I am sure a lot of that is from hydroponics, the fish tanks give off a lot of moisture....James

[haypoint]

The R factor for insulated glass windows is nearly zero when compaired to "real" insulated walls and ceilings.
Greenhouse humidity is a problem.
If you used it in the winter, during the day, without the humidity of plant production, then shut it down when the sun stopped heating it, it could work,

Winter plant production for vegetables is slow. I would think anything under 2000 square feet wouldn't be worth the bother, beyond supplimenting the family's vegetables.

[MaineFarmMom]

Originally Posted by plowjockey

Also we had just read that small farmers, that can supply homegrown foods during the winter, is a very hot commodity.

Anybody have a setup like this?

I grow/harvest greens in unheated high tunnels in winter. On a 30*, sunny day without wind the 12' tall tunnel will warm up to 80* briefly. The over night temp is only 10-15* warmer than outside.

Originally Posted by haypoint

Winter plant production for vegetables is slow. I would think anything under 2000 square feet wouldn't be worth the bother, beyond supplimenting the family's vegetables.

That's an awful lot of food for one family.

[meanwhile]

Mold? Would it be damp and moldy?

[Wolf mom]

Get The Solar Greenhouse Book by James C. McCullagh. (used, amazon - $5.00)

He says the best is a greenhouse attached to your home. You build it so you can close it off. Summer heat can be stifling. I have a friend who built one attached to their house, really saved on heat during the winter & fresh tomatoes & herbs all year round great! They only wish it were larger.

Another woman I know who has an attached GH cleans hers well, closes it off during the summer & uses it to dry fruits. Hers is an old patio conversion.

Greenhouse glazing? The best is old, single pane glass. Everything new is coated and doesn't radiate enough heat.

I took a class by a professor who was a friend of & worked with McCullagh. The book is the best investment you could make - especially since you're just in the "thinking about it" stage.

If you build an attached greenhouse, please don't confuse it with a sunroom....You need to take care with a greenhouse - make sure there's no invasion of bugs, fruitflys etc.

My house is not orientated correctly to take advantage of the south sun (orientate within 10 degreed of South) so hopefully this summer It will be built on the back of my carport to give heat in there when it's enclosed.

Have fun!

[pancho]

My house has a greenhouse attached to the east and south sides. I enjoy it quite a bit.
The humidity is high but seems to help the plants grow. When the sun is shining it warms my house and retains heat for the night time. The plants are just an added benefit. I also keep a few birds free flying in the greenhouse. It is nice to wake up to birds singing every morning.

[familyman888]

I'd really like to see some of ya'lls pictures with greenhouses. I'm really interested.

[Patt]

It sounds like basically you want a conservatory right? Something like this:

http://www.selftrading.co.uk/self-bu...s-conservatory

I would love one too!

[Windy in Kansas]

May I inquire as to whether you have ever visited a greenhouse during the winter and the other seasons of the year?

Even during winter the heat from solar radiation can be stifling because of the high humidity. One goes from full heating to venting all on the same day. The heat required for one can be tremendous and costly and I am aware of the differences between a commercial house and the heat sink buffering that could be accomplished in a home style of one.

My suggestion would be for you to go to a facility and spend a few hours there if that could be arranged. Better yet would be to spend all day there.

I always wanted a greenhouse for myself until I worked for a commercial grower, first re-skinning the units and then at odd jobs and finally delivering product.

[ronbre]

my sister built a huge sunroom on her house with the idea of her plants in there..but ended up having to put up tons of blinds and drapes as it was just too much heat and too much sun

[highlands]

Humidity is a big problem. Ventilation helps a _lot_. Earth air tubes help warm the incoming air. I like living in a greenhouse. I partially implemented it at one point of having the house wrapped in a greenhouse. We had that for several years (4?) and it was great. The 70' long greenhouse on the south side was worth 3 to 4 cord of firewood. It heated our house. We did not heat the greenhouse at all but rather closed it off at night and lit it settle down in temperature to about 45°F. We're in the mountains of northern Vermont. Cold here.

Cheers

-Walter
Sugar Mountain Farm
Pastured Pigs, Sheep & Kids
in the mountains of Vermont
Read about our on-farm butcher shop project:
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/butchershop
http://SugarMtnFarm.com/csa