Building a Greenhouse – Your Way

Photo Credit:  Some rights reserved by knitting iris via Flickr.

Greenhouses are currently experiencing a resurgence in popularity as more people begin to discover the benefits of growing their own fruits and vegetables in a home garden. Because greenhouses provide a warm environment by converting sunlight to heat, I’ve always found they are ideal for maintaining a garden, even during the approaching fall and winter season.

Due to the simplicity of its structure, a new greenhouse is an ideal home improvement project that you can accomplish in order to enjoy the benefits of having your very own garden, which in many cases, greatly increases the enjoyment you can extract from your daily routine. A greenhouse has greatly assisted me on my journey to a green, sustainable lifestyle.

Types of Greenhouses
There are many different types of greenhouses that a person can build. A greenhouse can be a simple lean-to that is built along the wall of a building, or it can be a free-standing structure. Most greenhouses are a freestanding structure and are shaped in the Quonset style, or the half circle that most people are familiar with when looking at greenhouses. Additionally, greenhouses can be made from a variety of materials. Glass, plastic and wood have all been used.

Personally, I think bamboo and hemp are two wonderful materials that are often overlooked in home construction projects. These two are great as decorative and stylistic flourishes and work well both inside and outside the greenhouse. As added incentives, they are both sustainably sourced.

Supplies Needed
When planning a new greenhouse, you need to first decide upon how large of a greenhouse you need. You also need to decide upon the type of greenhouse you will build, as this will also determine the materials needed. A permanent greenhouse will usually be built using a wood frame and a glass exterior. However, many backyard greenhouses can easily be built by using some PVC pipe and plastic sheeting.

Building Process
Once the materials have been selected, there are several ways to go about building a greenhouse. First, there are do-it-yourself kits that are available. These can enable a home owner to easily build a greenhouse with very little planning. Second, blueprints can be purchased so that a homeowner can follow them after purchasing their own supplies. Finally, an experienced person can begin to build a frame on which the plastic sheeting or glass can be attached. Depending upon the building process that is selected, a greenhouse project can be completed in as little as a few hours or as long as a weekend.

Building a greenhouse is a fun project for anyone to do in order to improve their home. A well-built greenhouse will pay for itself as it offers homeowners a way to grow their own fruits and vegetables throughout the year and, for those interested, a chance to incorporate sustainability into your life.

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Steve Allen (19 Posts)

Steve is a freelance writer in Portland, Oregon and loves covering topics centered on Oregon. He is constantly tweeting the latest news in the Portland region and is a welcome contributor to The Environmental Blog.

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